Program Archives

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE STATUS REPORT FROM DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR ERIC SMITH
February 6, 2012
Guests: Eric Smith
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Headed for a planned 2018 launch, the huge JWST will build on the success of the beloved Hubble Space Telescope. The project remains controversial even as components are completed. Emily Lakdawalla...  more »

THE SPACEUP UNCONFERENCE AND A FREE ONLINE ASTRONOMY CLASS
January 23, 2012
Guests: Bruce Betts, Chris Radcliff, Marimikel Charrier
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An opportunity to learn, and an opportunity to hang out with other space geeks—both are presented in this week's show as we talk with planetary scientist Bruce Betts about his free, online Intro to...  more »

IS ANYBODY HOME? ASSESSING A PLANET'S HABITABILITY
January 9, 2012
Guests: Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Bill Nye
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Planets everywhere, and soon we'll have discovered thousands. Now there's a way to score their suitability for life, says astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch and his colleagues. Emily Lakdawalla...  more »

PLANETARY RADIO LIVE CONTINUES! WITH JOHN CALLAS OF THE MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS AND JOY CRISP OF THE MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY
January 2, 2012
Guests: John Callas, Joy Crisp, Bill Nye
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Here's the second half of our December show recorded in front of a live audience. It has much more about Opportunity nearing its 8th anniversary exploring the Red Planet, and about Curiosity, the...  more »

PLANETARY RADIO LIVE! WITH JOHN CALLAS OF THE MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS AND JOY CRISP OF THE MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY
December 26, 2011
Guests: John Callas, Joy Crisp, KJ Williams
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We once again go before a live audience for an all Mars rover show. You'll hear the latest about Opportunity nearing its 8th anniversary exploring the Red Planet, and about Curiosity, arriving on...  more »

NEW MEXICO SPACE ADVENTURE: BACK TO THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY CAVES WORKSHOP
November 28, 2011
Guests: Diana Northup, Timothy Titus, Roger Wiens
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Our New Mexico space adventure ends with more from the First International Planetary Caves Workshop in Carlsbad, including a conversation with geomicrobiologist Diana Northup. Bill Nye reports from...  more »

NEW MEXICO CAVE ADVENTURE WITH PENNY BOSTON AND THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL PLANETARY CAVES WORKSHOP
November 21, 2011
Guests: Penny Boston
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The last chapter of our New Mexico adventure begins in Carlsbad Caverns National Park with the First International Planetary Caves Workshop. We'll make two descents with our guide, renowned cave...  more »

OPPORTUNITY REACHES ENDEAVOUR, AND PLANETARY RADIO WINS AN AWARD!
September 5, 2011
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After years of rolling across the surface of Mars, little Opportunity has reached the rim of huge Endeavour Crater, where it has already found a unique rock that has given Steve Squyres and other...  more »

SCATTERED CLOUDS AND FOG...ON MARS
May 30, 2011
Guests: Mark Lemmon
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Mark Lemmon is part of several missions to the Red Planet and led development of the main camera on the Phoenix Lander. He has become an expert on Martian weather and climate. Bill Nye is also...  more »

RAFAEL NAVARRO-GONZALEZ AND CHRIS MCKAY SAY THE VIKINGS PROBABLY DID DISCOVER ORGANICS ON MARS
January 24, 2011
Guests: Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez, Chris McKay
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Almost thirty-five years ago, two sophisticated Mars landers appeared to find no evidence of organic compounds on Mars. The discovery of perchlorates by the Phoenix lander in 2008 led to new...  more »