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Planetary Radio
Let The Planetary Society’s weekly podcast take you to the outer reaches of the Solar System and beyond. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed visits with scientists, engineers, mission leaders, astronauts, advocates, and writers who provide their unique and exciting perspectives on the exploration of our universe. New episodes are published every Wednesday.
We are proud to feature Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition on the first Friday of every month. The Planetary Society's Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier dives deep into the policy and politics behind what we do and where we go in space.
You can also enjoy Planetary Radio: Book Club Edition every month. Hosted by the creator of Planetary Radio and The Planetary Society's Senior Communications Adviser, Mat Kaplan, the Book Club Edition podcast features discussions with authors of space-themed books
Latest Episodes
As NASA struggles to return humans to the Moon by 2024, it's worth asking: why did it stop in the first place? Space historian John Logsdon joins the show to discuss the politics behind the decision to abandon the Moon in 1972. Casey and Mat also discuss the proposal to offer a $2 billion prize for sending humans back to the Moon and establishing a base there, and why that's not good public policy.
First we return to JPL for an update on the Mars Helicopter that has just been attached to the belly of the 2020 Mars Rover. Then it’s across the pond for a review of the amazing science coming from the Rosetta mission that spent years exploring comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We wrap things up with another What’s Up view across the solar system and beyond.
Astrobotic is one of several companies that are building small, robotic landers to take commercial payloads to the surface of the Moon. With a new contract from NASA to support his company’s work, CEO John Thornton looks forward to touching down in 2021. Senior editor Emily Lakdawalla can’t wait for the Europa Clipper to reach Europa, one of Jupiter’s ocean moons. Who doesn’t want more cow bell? Chief scientist Bruce Betts gets his share as he helps us explore the current night sky in What’s Up.
Online & On the Air
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