Planetary Radio • Sep 26, 2018

SpaceX Builds a Big Falcon Rocket

Please accept marketing-cookies to listen to this podcast.

Download MP3

On This Episode

20180926 gwynne shotwell

Gwynne Shotwell

President and Chief Operating Officer for SpaceX

20180926 doug hurley

Doug Hurley

Verteran of two Space Shuttle missions

Bruce betts portrait hq library

Bruce Betts

Chief Scientist / LightSail Program Manager for The Planetary Society

Kaplan mat headshot 0114a print

Mat Kaplan

Senior Communications Adviser and former Host of Planetary Radio for The Planetary Society

A mostly SpaceX episode as the ambitious company provides updated details regarding its huge new rocket and introduces its first astronauts. Mat Kaplan shares more from the company’s headquarters, while Planetary Society Digital Editor explains and explores the BFR. Jason also celebrates the successful landing of two asteroid “rovers” from Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft. And we’ll tell you What’s Up in the night sky as we offer another space trivia contest.

A performance inside the Big Falcon Spaceship (BFS)
A performance inside the Big Falcon Spaceship (BFS)
BFR in flight
BFR in flight Artist concept of SpaceX's Big Falcon Rocket in flight.Image: SpaceX
SpaceX and NASA astronauts
SpaceX and NASA astronauts SpaceX and NASA astronauts are introduced by SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell at the company's California HQImage: Mat Kaplan
SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell with other executives and the SpaceX and NASA astronauts who will fly on the first two human missions by Crew Dragon
SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell with other executives and the SpaceX and NASA astronauts who will fly on the first two human missions by Crew Dragon Image: Mat Kaplan
Crew Dragon capsule under construction
Crew Dragon capsule under construction Image: Mat Kaplan
Mat Kaplan tries the SpaceX Crew Dragon mockup on for size
Mat Kaplan tries the SpaceX Crew Dragon mockup on for size Image: Mat Kaplan
MINERVA-II1 Rover-1A Picture 2
MINERVA-II1 Rover-1A Picture 2 This image was captured by MINERVA-II1 Rover-1A on September 22 at around 2:44 UTC. The image was captured mid-hop after a successful landing.Image: JAXA
iTelescope.net
iTelescope.net

This week's question:

How many times was the Delta II rocket launched, including successes, failures and partial successes?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, October 3rd at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What is the tallest mountain on Ceres?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the September 12 space trivia contest question:

Time again to play Where in the Solar System? Where in the solar system is a crater named Math? (Sadly, unrelated to Mathew Kaplan.)

Answer:

A crater called Math is on Jupiter’s moon Europa.