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Planetary Radio Show Archives: 2012
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Beginning a New Year In Space
12/31/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Casey Dreier, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator, The Planetary Society
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Planetary Society experts review the challenges and triumphs of 2012 and look forward to a new and exciting year. You’ll hear Bill Nye the Science Guy, Emily Lakdawalla on new missions, Casey Dreier on “Saving our Science,” and Bruce Betts’ review of great projects, as well as a musical rendition of “Random Space Fact.”
PLANETARY RADIO LIVE: Special Curiosity Report Continues
12/24/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Richard Cook, Curiosity Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- John Grotzinger, Curiosity Project Scientist, California Institute of Technology
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Our fascinating, live conversation with Curiosity Project Manager Richard Cook and Project Scientist John Grotzinger continues. Richard and John are joined on stage by Bill Nye the Science Guy, Emily Lakdawalla and Mat Kaplan.
PLANETARY RADIO LIVE: Celebrating Rover Curiosity
12/17/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- John Grotzinger, Curiosity Project Scientist, California Institute of Technology
- Richard Cook, Curiosity Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
The leaders of the Curiosity mission join Bill Nye, Emily Lakdawalla and host Mat Kaplan for a live conversation about the thrilling mission on Mars.
First Earth-Sized Exoplanet is Next Door!
12/10/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Xavier Dumusque, Astronomer, University of Generva
Xavier Dumusque is the young astronomer who was lead author for the announcement of the first exoplanet found in the Alpha Centauri system, just 4.3 light years from Earth. It's also the first Earth-sized world found outside our own system.
All Together Now! The News From Curiosity
12/03/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- John Grotzinger, Curiosity Project Scientist, California Institute of Technology
Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist John Grotzinger's fascinating comments at the December 3 press conference, followed by analysis from Emily Lakdawalla.
Approaching Pluto, and Learning About Uwingu From Alan Stern
11/26/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern returns with a Pluto mission update. He also introduces us to Uwingu.
Dawn Mission Update and At Home With Marc Rayman
11/19/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Marc Rayman, Dawn chief engineer and mission director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dawn is on its way from Vesta to Ceres, the biggest of the asteroids. Mission Director and Chief Engineer Marc Rayman says all is well, with much more great science to come.
Celebrating Carl Sagan With Lou Friedman, Lynda Obst, Kip Thorne and More
11/12/2012 | 30:39
Guests
- Chas Beichman, Executive Director, NExScI
- Louis D. Friedman, Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
- Lynda Obst, Film and television producer, Lynda Obst Productions
- Kip Thorne, Richard Feynman Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics, CalTech
- Melissa Rice, MSL Science Team Collaborator, Caltech
November 9 was Planetary Society founder Carl Sagan's birthday, so we gathered a few of his close friends and several young scientists he inspired in front of a live audience. They also helped us celebrate Planetary Radio's 10th anniversary!
Curiosity Sniffs Martian Air/Shuttle Endeavour Opens to the World
11/05/2012 | 30:58
Scientists have revealed the first data gathered by Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory Rover, about the Martian atmosphere, while Space Shuttle Endeavour has opened to the public.
10/29/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Kris Zacny, Vice President and Director of Exploration Technology, Honeybee Robotics
It’s called PlanetVac, and it’s an amazingly simple way to collect a soil sample on Mars. Or on the moon. Or on an asteroid. We’ll learn about it from Kris Zacny of Honeybee Robotics.
Amazing Science at the 2012 DPS Meeting
10/22/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- Bill Borucki, Kepler Principal Investigator
- Heidi Hammel, Vice President of the Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- William Hartmann, Planetary scientist, author, and artist
- Jim Bell, President of the Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- Rosaly Lopes, Planetary Scientist and Leading Volcanologist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The 44th Annual Meeting of the AAS Division of Planetary Sciences hosted hundreds of researchers and revealed volumes of scientific results. Join us at the conference.
Amateur Astronomers Work to Save Earth!
10/15/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Robert Holmes, Shoemaker NEO Grant recipient
- Gary Hug, Astronomer, Sandlot Observatory
The Planetary Society's Bruce Betts provides an overview of the Shoemaker NEO grant program, and we meet two dedicated grant recipients.
Exploring the XDF, The Deepest Image of Our Universe, With Garth Illingworth
10/08/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Garth Illingworth, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz astronomer and XDF Principal Investigator Garth Illingworth takes us on a tour of this magnificent new image.
Curiosity Finds a Martian Stream Bed and Endeavour Flies Home
10/01/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Emily Lakdawalla reports on Curiosity's discovery of an ancient stream bed, and Endeavour flies over the California plant where it was built.
09/24/2012 | 37:42
Guests
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Steve Chesley, Astrodynamicist, JPL
We're live at the Pacific Astronomy and Telescope Show, with JPL astrodynamicist Steve Chesley and Planetary Society Director of Projects Bruce Betts. Steve and Bruce reveal the exciting OSIRIS REx mission to an asteroid and then back to Earth with a precious soil sample. Enter the contest to name the asteroid! Bill Nye and Emily Lakdawalla check in, and one listener will win a Celestron FirstScope telescope.
Celebrating 35 Years of the Voyager Mission
09/17/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Ed Stone, Voyager Interstellar Mission Chief Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Ann Druyan, writer and producer
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Robert Picardo, Actor and director
Voyagers 1 and 2 just reached 35 years of travel in space. What a great reason to celebrate! Join Voyager Project Scientist Ed Stone, Ann Druyan, Emily Lakdawalla and Robert Picardo in this special live edition of our show. Bill Nye reports on a separate celebration in London and on the International Space Station, and Bruce Betts is back in fine form with Mat Kaplan for this week’s What’s Up.
A Conversation With Telescope Inventor John Dobson
09/10/2012 | 28:50
Guests
When John Dobson invented the Dobsonian telescope he changed the face of amateur astronomy. The 96-year old pioneer talks with Mat Kaplan. Emily Lakdawalla loves Curiosity’s self-portraits. Bill Nye the Science Guy is in London to host a youth webcast with International Space Station astronaut Sunita Williams. Bruce Betts keeps us from getting Lost in Space and helps Mat give away a cool Curiosity bumper sticker in What’s Up.
Author David Brin Considers and Writes "Existence"
09/03/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- David Brin, Science Fiction Author
Award-winning science fiction author, physicist and futurist David Brin returns to talk about his monumental new novel, Existence. Emily Lakdawalla previews a very busy month of great planetary science, while Bill Nye invites listeners to learn about a campaign to restore funding for the exploration of our solar system. Bruce Betts and Mat Kaplan give away another space pen in this week’s What’s Up look at the night sky, and a look back at this week in space history.
Remembering Neil Armstrong/ChemCam is Zapping Martian Rocks!
08/27/2012 | 32:11
Guests
- Roger Wiens, Genesis Mission Team Member
Emily Lakdawalla and Bill Nye the Science Guy join Mat Kaplan for a special remembrance of Neil Armstrong. Then we visit with the principal investigator for the first ray gun on Mars. Roger Wiens leads the ChemCam team that is using its powerful laser to zap and analyze Martian rocks. It’s just one of the Curiosity Rover success stories. Win a ChemCam bumper sticker and a Planetary Radio t-shirt in the weekly What’s Up space trivia contest!
More From Planetfest With Andrew Chaikin and Scott Hubbard
08/20/2012 | 1:00:02
Guests
- G. Scott Hubbard, Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- Andrew Chaikin, Author, Speaker, Space Historian
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Our Planetary Radio Live celebration of Mars rover Curiosity at Planetfest continues with more from space historian Andrew Chaikin, former NASA Mars czar Scott Hubbard and Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye the Science Guy. Emily breaks the news about NASA’s choice for a Discovery mission, and Bruce Betts joins Mat Kaplan for a What’s Up look at the night sky and a new space trivia contest.
Planetary Radio Live at Planetfest 2012!
08/13/2012 | 29:46
Guests
- G. Scott Hubbard, Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- Andrew Chaikin, Author, Speaker, Space Historian
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
PlanRad Live welcomes space historian and writer Andrew Chaikin, former NASA Mars Czar Scott Hubbard, and Bill Nye the Science Guy to a live conversation at Planetfest: Curiosity Knows No Bounds, just a few hours before the triumphant landing of the big new rover on Mars. Host Mat Kaplan is also joined by Emily Lakdawalla, Bruce Betts and award-winning barbershop quartet Hi-Fidelity.
Astronaut Tom Jones at SETIcon
08/06/2012 | 43:01
Guests
- Tom Jones, Astronaut
Skywalker, scientist and author Tom Jones joins us in a fireside chat about Near Earth Objects and much more. Emily Lakdawalla tours the Applied Physics Lab in Maryland. Bill Nye the Science Guy put high value on the mission of Curiosity, the MSL Rover, even if it had not landed successfully. What’s Up in the night sky.
More Planetary Radio Live at the Aquarium of the Pacific: Oceans Everywhere
07/30/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Kevin Hand, Deputy Chief Scientist for Solar System Exploration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
- David Bader, Director of Education, Aquarium of the Pacific
We return to the Aquarium for much more of our conversation about seas on Earth and seas on other worlds, featuring Dave Bader, Kevin Hand and Bill Nye. Emily Lakdawalla concludes her video tour of Curiosity's cameras and instruments.
Planetary Radio Live at the Aquarium of the Pacific
07/23/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
What better place to talk about Earth's oceans and the seas of other worlds?
Fire and Ice With Volcanologist Rosaly Lopes
07/16/2012 | 45:56
Guests
- Rosaly Lopes, Planetary Scientist and Leading Volcanologist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JPL volcanologist Rosaly Lopes has discovered more volcanos than anyone else, including 71 on Jupiter’s moon Io. She is fascinated by these fiery (and sometimes frigid) features of our dynamic solar system, and shared her love at the recent SETIcon.
Mae Jemison of the 100 Year Starship Initiative
07/09/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Dr. Mae Jemison, 100 YSS Leader, Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence
Retired astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison leads the 100 Year Starship Initiative. You’ll hear Mat’s conversation with her about this ambitious project in a SETIcon II fireside chat.
Lockheed Martin CTO Ray Johnson
07/02/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Ray O. Johnson, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Lockheed Martin
The Chief Technology Officer for the world's largest aerospace company wants more young people to consider careers as engineers.
More From the Air and Space Museum
06/25/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- David DeVorkin, Senior Curator, History of Astronomy and the Space Sciences, National Air and Space Museum
- John M. Logsdon, Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Our special live show at the National Air and Space Museum continues with curator David DeVorkin, Space Policy Institute founder John Logsdon, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Planetary Society blogger Emily Lakdawalla and science rapper Funky 49.
Live at the National Air and Space Museum
06/18/2012 | 29:52
Guests
- John M. Logsdon, Board of Directors, The Planetary Society
- David DeVorkin, Senior Curator, History of Astronomy and the Space Sciences, National Air and Space Museum
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Join us for the first half of a conversation with David DeVorkin, John Logsdon and Bill Nye.
06/11/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Ray Bradbury, Author, poet, and visionary
- Chris McKay, Famed planetary scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
- David Brin, Science Fiction Author
- Kim Stanley Robinson, Science Fiction Author
We look back to the Planetary Society's 2003 birthday party for Ray Bradbury, with tributes from distinguished fans and eloquent words from the master himself.
Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker With a Saturn Mission Update
06/04/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Linda Spilker, Cassini Project Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Planetary Radio's most frequent guest returns with the latest news from the great ringed world, its moons, and its rings.
Author Kim Stanley Robinson Takes Us to 2312
05/28/2012 | 39:15
Guests
- Kim Stanley Robinson, Science Fiction Author
Kim Stanley Robinson shares his vision of a brave new solar system 300 years in the future with his new novel, 2312.
VIP Tour of a Huge Solar Sail BONUS: Falcon 9 and Dragon Head for the ISS!
05/21/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Mason Peck, NASA Chief Technologist, NASA
- Honorable Dana Rohrabacher, Congressman, US Congress
- Nathan Barnes, L'Garde Incorporated
Join the VIP tour! Planetary Radio visited L’Garde, Incorporated to see how its giant solar sail is coming together. You’ll hear from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck, and L’Garde co-founder Gordon Veal.
Visiting the Spacecraft Technology Expo
05/14/2012 | 28:50
Spaceplanes, spacesuits and rockets, oh my! Mat Kaplan talks to exhibitors and others at the first ever Spacecraft Technology Expo in Los Angeles.
Planetary Astronomer Franck Marchis
05/07/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Franck Marchis, Planetary Astronomer, SETI Institute
Based now at the SETI Institute’s Carl Sagan Center, Franck Marchis recently visited the Planetary Society for a conversation with host Mat Kaplan. He uses several of Earth’s most powerful telescopes to study what he calls multiple asteroid systems.
Cutting-edge Approaches to Protecting Interplanetary Astronauts
04/30/2012 | 28:50
As if extremes of temperature and lack of air weren’t enough! Some scientists believe it’s space radiation that will keep humans from venturing deep into our solar system. Not so, say three teams of NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)-funded researchers. Each is exploring a cutting-edge approach to protecting astronauts on their way to Mars and other destinations.
The Pioneer Anomaly... Solved!
04/23/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Slava Turyshev, Research scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
After decades of mystery and investigation, after the recovery of gigabyte after gigabyte of data stored in obsolete computer formats, the whatdunit surrounding Pioneers 10 and 11 has finally reached its conclusion.
Taking Back the Night -- International Dark Skies Week
04/16/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Scott Kardel, Public Affairs Director, International Dark-Sky Association
There are millions of urbanites who have never seen the wonders of a truly dark night sky. Scott Kardel of the International Dark Sky Association is fighting to restore the sky our ancestors knew so well.
Searching for Pandora With Debra Fischer
04/09/2012
Guests
- Debra Fischer, Astronomer
Yale exoplanet hunter Debra Fischer is about to begin looking for worlds in the star system that is nearest to Earth. She'll tell us about new technology enabling this effort, and how you can join the search.
SETI Scientist Jill Tarter Continues the Search
04/02/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Jill Tarter, Director of SETI Research, SETI Institute
The Director of the Center for SETI Research is thrilled to have the Allen Telescope Array back in the hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence. She also tells us about SETILive.
Big News All Around the Solar System From Emily Lakdawalla
03/26/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Emily Lakdawalla, Senior Editor and Planetary Evangelist, The Planetary Society
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
The 2012 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference attracted many of the world's finest planetary scientists. This year it also attracted Emily Lakdawalla and Bill Nye the Planetary Guy. Emily provides a special report on amazing new discoveries about our solar system.
"Drifting on Alien Winds" With Author and Artist Michael Carroll
03/19/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Michael Carroll, Astronomical Artist
"Drifting on Alien Winds" With Author and Artist Michael Carroll
Discovery of a New and Neighborly Asteroid
03/12/2012 | 28:50
Guests
- Jaime Nomen, astronomer, Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra (La Sagra Observatory)
With Planetary Society help, La Sagra Observatory discovered big near-Earth object 2012 DA14. Guest: Jaime Nomen.
Can Laser Bees Save Earth? Exploring Asteroid Deflection With Alison Gibbings
03/05/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Alison Gibbings, Laser Bees Researcher, University of Glasgow
Can Laser Bees Save Earth? Exploring Asteroid Deflection With Alison Gibbings
Alan Stern: Organics on Pluto and Fairy Castles on the Moon
02/27/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Alan Stern: Organics on Pluto and Fairy Castles on the Moon
Alan Stern Puts His Stamp On Pluto
02/20/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Alan Stern Puts His Stamp On Pluto
Rocketplanes, Space Yachts and New Space Geeks at SpaceUp!
02/13/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- John Spencer, President and Founder, Space Tourism Society
- Geoff Licciardello, XCOR Aerospace
Rocketplanes, Space Yachts and New Space Geeks at SpaceUp!
James Webb Space Telescope Status Report from Deputy Program Director Eric Smith
02/06/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Eric Smith, JWST Deputy Program Director
James Webb Space Telescope Status Report from Deputy Program Director Eric Smith
Planck Project Scientist Jan Tauber on a Mission Milestone
01/30/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Jan Tauber, Planck Mission Project Scientist
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Planck Project Scientist Jan Tauber on a Mission Milestone
The SpaceUp Unconference and A Free Online Astronomy Class
01/23/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Chris Radcliff, Creator, SpaceUp Unconference
- Bruce Betts, Director of Projects, The Planetary Society
- Marimikel Charrier, SpaceUp Foundation
The SpaceUp Unconference and A Free Online Astronomy Class
How "Outside In" Will Rock Your Solar System
01/16/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Stephen van Vuuren, Filmmaker
- Mike Malaska, Volunteer Planetary Scientist
Outside In is a spectacular IMAX movie being made out of nothing but actual photos of our solar system and beyond -- no computer-generated images. Hear how and why it's coming together from its creator, Stephen van Vuuren, and his associate Mike Malaska.
Is Anybody Home? Assessing A Planet's Habitability
01/09/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Astrobiologist
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Is Anybody Home? Assessing A Planet's Habitability
01/02/2012 | 0:28:50
Guests
- John Callas, Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Joy Crisp, MSL Deputy Project Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer
Planetary Radio LIVE Continues! With John Callas of the Mars Exploration Rovers and Joy Crisp of the Mars Science Laboratory
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