Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Hope for Pluto—Should We Re-Redefine Planets?

08 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary geologist Kirby Runyon is lead author of an abstract that proposes a new, geophysical definition of what a planet is.Learn more about your a...

Space Policy Edition #10 - Special Guest Laura Delgado Lopez, SpaceX to the Moon, looming budget cuts

03 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Laura Delgado Lopez from the Harris Corporation joins us to talk about the growing number of countries getting into the space business, particularly i...

The Worlds of TRAPPIST-1

01 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The discovery of seven, Earth-sized planets in a nearby solar system was announced last week. Astrophysicist and planetary scientist Sara Seager joins...

Planetary Radio Live: Near Earth Objects—The Killer Asteroid Threat

22 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Leaders of the quest to find, understand and protect ourselves from the asteroids and comets called Near Earth Objects gathered with host Mat Kaplan f...

Nazis in Space? Rod Pyle’s Amazing Stories of the Space Age

15 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Rod Pyle reveals bizarre yet fascinating space projects of the past in his new book. Pyle also exposes previously classified information about mission...

Earth Microbes! Welcome to Mars

07 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

University of Arkansas grad student Rebecca Mickol and her team have demonstrated that some Earth bacteria can survive in the extremely thin atmospher...

Space Policy Edition #9 – Congress Plots New Space Legislation Amid Trump’s Tumultuous First Two Weeks

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It’s still too early to say where the Trump Administration will take NASA, but there are a few hints. Congress is not waiting. Casey, Jason and Mat ...

The Final Countdown at Saturn

31 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio’s most frequent guest, Project Scientist Linda Spilker, returns with another update on the Cassini mission that is approaching its g...

Ice, Snow and Lava: Exploring Antarctica’s Mount Erebus

24 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Earth’s southernmost active volcano may also be its most remote. Rosaly Lopes and Michael Carroll recently spent a few frigid days on the slopes of ...

Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan Leaves NASA

17 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For well over three years, planetary scientist Ellen Stofan has worked directly with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to help coordinate and expand t...

Ben Miller Says The Aliens are Coming!

10 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We are joined by British physicist turned comedian and actor Ben Miller, author of The Aliens are Coming! The Extraordinary Science Behind our Search ...

Space Policy Edition #8 - A Transition "Trumpdate", 2016 in Review, and Answering Your Questions

05 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

After an opening update on the presidential transition, Casey, Jason and Mat share their nominees for the biggest space exploration events of 2016. Th...

A Little Rocket Company Shoots for the Moon

03 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

CEO Randa Milliron introduces us to Interorbital Systems, which wants to put your payload in orbit for as little as $8,000. Can they do it?Learn more ...

Marvelous Martian MAVEN

27 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

MAVEN, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution orbiter, has gone a long way toward solving the mystery of the Red Planet’s missing water and air....

Art That Captures the Beauty and Science of Space

20 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Marilynn Flynn, Simon Kregar and Rick Sternbach are masters of space art. They talk about how their work furthers science and captures the imagination...

A Giant Telescope and Remembering John Glenn

13 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Space historian John Logsdon remembers American hero John Glenn. Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye was a big fan of the Friendship 7 astronaut—less so ...

Running Before the Sun: Astronomer Jay Pasachoff

06 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

No one is more excited about eclipses than famed solar astronomer and author Jay Pasachoff. He looks forward to the total solar eclipse in August of 2...

Space Policy Edition #7 - The Trump Administration: What Can We Expect for Space?

02 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The SPE team reviews the outlook for human spaceflight, planetary science, Earth observation and much more under the upcoming Trump administration. Le...

Leading the Search: Bill Diamond of the SETI Institute

29 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The SETI Institute is about much more than the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. President and CEO Bill Diamond of the Institute explains.Lear...

To Mars! With National Geographic

22 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The National Geographic Channel’s “Mars” miniseries has begun. Mat Kaplan attended a kickoff for the ambitious docudrama last summer. You’ll h...

Pluto and Titan and Iran, Oh My!

15 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Back to the annual meeting of the AAS Division for Planetary Sciences this week, where Mat Kaplan visited with experts on worlds of ice including Tita...

Inside Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo

08 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Host Mat Kaplan traveled to California’s Mojave Desert for a tour of Virgin Galactic’s The Spaceship Company, where the second SpaceShipTwo was bu...

Space Policy Edition #6: Election 2016! Where Do Clinton and Trump Stand on Space?

04 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Just in time for election day in the USA, we take stock of the major candidates' space policies (as far as they go), comparing statements and policy o...

Matt Taylor Rocks Rosetta

01 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Mat Kaplan talks with Matt Taylor, the Rosetta Project Scientist, just two weeks after the spacecraft touched down on 67/P.Learn more about your ad ch...

Alan Stern and a Triumph at Pluto

25 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Stern of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond was in Pasadena for the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society’s Division fo...

Charley Kohlhase and the Greatest Voyage

18 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How did the Voyager spacecraft manage to weave their magnificent way through the outer planets of our solar system? Mission Design Manager Charley Koh...

Trekkin’ Across the Universe With Andrew Fazekas

11 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Night Sky Guy, Andrew Fazekas, talks about his beautiful new, Star Trek-inspired guide to the real wonders of astronomy.Learn more about your ad c...

Space Policy Edition #5: The U.S. Senate takes on the politics of Mars

07 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We take a deep dive into new space legislation working its way through the US Senate. It embraces Mars and NASA's big rocket. But Elon Musk and SpaceX...

Farewell Rosetta!

04 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The European Space Agency’s magnificent Rosetta mission ended last week as the spacecraft gently touched down on the comet it has revealed.Learn mor...

Rocket Road Trip!

27 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Society Digital Editor Jason Davis returns with the story of the ten-day trek across the South he just completed with two Society colleagues...

Cassini at Saturn: The Final Year

20 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The great Cassini spacecraft has a year to go before it plunges into the ringed planet. Project Scientist Linda Spilker returns with more amazing miss...

OSIRIS-REx: The Voyage to Bennu Begins, With Dante Lauretta

13 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In two years a Near Earth Asteroid now known as Bennu will have a visitor from Earth. OSIRIS-REx Principal Investigator Dante Lauretta reports on his ...

Spinoffs! Sharing NASA Technology

06 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In its nearly five decades, NASA has created or improved thousands of technologies, processes and innovations. Dan Lockney is in charge of making sure...

Space Policy Edition #4: Near Earth Asteroids—Why we go, how we find them, and maybe mine them

02 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of OSIRIS-REx—NASA’s newest asteroid mission—we explore the policy and history of near-Earth Objects: why NASA explores them, how the g...

The Pale Red Dot: A Planet Called Proxima b

30 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The announcement was made just days ago. Co-discoverer Michael Endl tells us about the discovery of a roughly Earth-mass planet orbiting in the habita...

Could the Soviet Union Have Won the Space Race?

23 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Space historian and policy expert John Logsdon joins Mat Kaplan for a fascinating conversation about how the US could have lost the race to the moon.L...

Sailing the Canyons of Titan

16 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Steep canyons on Saturn's moon Titan are filled with liquid methane. That's the discovery just announced by an international team of Cassini scientist...

Subcontractors: Making Space Happen

09 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

You may never hear their names, but there are thousands of small to medium-sized companies without which space exploration and development wouldn’t ...

Space Policy Edition #3: Plutonium-238, Europa via SLS, Cost of the Next Mars Rover Rises

05 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In our third episode, we debate the risks and rewards of tying the future of a Europa mission to the fate of NASA's massive Space Launch System rocket...

Interstellar Dreams Turn Real

02 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Philip Lubin and his former student Travis Brashears have had quite a year. Their bold plan to send tiny probes to nearby stars is now supported by NA...

Anatomy of a Rover—Getting Down to Mars

26 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It takes a lot of terrific components to create a successful spacecraft like Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory. We’ll visit JPL to learn about ...

The Eagle Has Landed: Remembering Neil Armstrong

19 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrate the 47th anniversary of the first moon landing with the reprise of a conversation with author and NBC space reporter Jay Barbree about hi...

Juno Reaches Jupiter!

12 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Return with us to the evening of July 4, 2016 and the exciting arrival at Jupiter of the Juno orbiter. You’ll hear the moment of successful orbital ...

Fighting for Space: Former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver

05 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

She has spent most of her life working toward a bright future for humanity in space, and Lori Garver has lost none of her passion. She visited the Pla...

Space Policy Edition #2: Why Juno? Why Jupiter? Why Now?

01 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This month Jason Callahan, Casey Dreier and Mat Kaplan ask whether the Moon vs. Mars human destination debate makes sense, highlight a new report on t...

Countdown to Jupiter

28 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Juno will enter Jupiter orbit on July 4th. Mat Kaplan talks with the mission’s Principal Investigator, Scott Bolton at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory...

Planetary Radio Extra: Shining a Million Watt Flashlight on an Asteroid

28 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

PlanRad’s celebration of Asteroid Day (June 30th) continues as we call UCLA grad student Adam Greenberg at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.Le...

OSIRIS REx: Ready for a Voyage to Bennu

21 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

OSIRIS-REx will launch toward Near Earth Asteroid Bennu soon. In an early celebration of Asteroid Day, mission leader Dante Lauretta tells us how lear...

JunoCam, The People’s Jupiter Camera

14 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Juno spacecraft will enter orbit at Jupiter on July 4th. It carries a camera that will send back spectacular images from just above the swirling c...

Chris McKay, Larry Niven and Andy Weir at the Contact Conference

07 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Space art and science fiction joined science fact at the 2016 Contact Conference in Sunnyvale, California. We talk with three well-known visionaries.L...

Space Policy Edition #1: How We Got Here: Human Spaceflight at the End of the Obama Era

03 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In the premiere of this new monthly series we briefly examine the latest move by the House of Representatives in the game of NASA's budget and then di...

Getting Humans to Mars

31 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Three NASA leaders talk with host Mat Kaplan about the progress we're making toward leaving footprints on the Red Planet.Learn more about your ad choi...

A Big Test for LightSail 2

24 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Planetary Society’s solar sail spacecraft was in the middle of a critical test as we spoke with the Society’s Bruce Betts and Jason Davis.Lear...

NASA’s Science Leader John Grunsfeld

17 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

John Grunsfeld closes our coverage of the Space Foundation’s 32nd annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. We also meet the leaders of the New Ge...

Dream Chaser: The Return of the Spaceplane

10 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back at Space Symposium for a conversation with SNC’s Mark Sirangelo, leader of that company’s effort to build the Dream Chaser. We’ll a...

At Space Symposium With the Leader of the European Space Agency

03 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The annual Space Symposium in Colorado is a must-attend event for space leaders from around the world. Our coverage begins with United Arab Emirates S...

A Death Valley Conversation About Life, The Universe and Everything With Tyler Nordgren and Jill Tarter

26 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Beautiful Death Valley National Park was the setting for a fascinating conversation with famed SETI researcher Jill Tarter and celebrated astronomer, ...

Exploring Europa and Mining Asteroids at Yuri’s Night

19 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Our special coverage from the Los Angeles Yuri’s Night party continues with Chris Lewicki of Planetary Resources along with Bob Pappalardo and Bobac...

Celebrating Yuri’s Night 2016 with Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti

12 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Yuri’s Night! We’re partying under Space Shuttle Endeavour in the first of two shows featuring interviews from the worldwide celebration of ...

Michel Mayor, Discoverer of the First Extrasolar World

05 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Michel Mayor and his team rocked the astronomy world with their 1995 announcement, but this modest man says it was a discovery whose time had come.Lea...

Ashwin Vasavada, Leader of Scientists Roving Mars

29 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The new Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist is not new to the mission. Ashwin Vasavada has worked on the Curiosity rover since 2004.Learn more a...

Planetary Radio Live: All These Worlds…

22 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Our live conversation about “Planet 9” and the amazing diversity of our solar system, featuring Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown of Caltech, Seni...

Neil Gehrels and WFIRST—A Space Telescope for the 2020s

15 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

NASA has given the go-ahead for creation of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope. It might help reveal the nature of dark energy and point the way...

HERA Heroine Julielynn Wong and Printing Medical Tools in Deep Space

08 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Julielynn Wong came directly from her 30-day long HERA IX deep space simulation to our microphone. We talk with her about the experience, and her prog...

Interstellar Dreams: Kim Stanley Robinson’s “Aurora”

01 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Famed science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson is back with Aurora, a cautionary tale about just how difficult interstellar travel may be.Learn mor...

Planetary Radio Extra: Our Space Policy Experts Analyze NASA's Proposed 2017 Budget

23 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Casey Dreier, the Planetary Society's Director of Space Policy, and Jason Callahan, the Society's Space Policy Advisor, talk with Mat Kaplan about the...

Exploring Saturn With Cassini

23 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Cassini Mission Project Scientist Linda Spilker returns with the latest discoveries at the beautiful ringed planet, its moons and its rings.Learn more...

Zero-G With OK Go!

16 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

OK Go has gone where no band has gone before to make a music video. Mat talks with Damian Kulash and Tim Nordwind about the hazards, thrill and promis...

Planet 9 From Outer Space!

09 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin fully expect a new and undemotable ninth planet will be found in the outer reaches of the solar system. The Caltech ...

Planetary Radio Extra: LightSail Update

09 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Planetary Society's Bruce Betts and Jason Davis join host Mat Kaplan for a status report on LightSail 2, the Society's next solar sail, now being ...

NASA’s New Planetary Defense Office

02 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Lindley Johnson has just been named NASA's first Planetary Defense Officer. He's joined on this week's PlanRad by astronomer Kelly Fast, the new manag...

Civilizations Among the Clustered Stars?

26 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

New research indicates that globular clusters—collections of up to a million stars—could provide stable environments for life, along with opportun...

Marc Rayman’s Dawn Mission Update

19 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Dawn Mission Chief Engineer Marc Rayman returns for another report on the ion-engine powered mission, now orbiting 240 miles above dwarf planet Ce...

Master of the Moon Rocks: NASA Astromaterials Curator Francis McCubbin

12 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Francis McCubbin is the new Astromaterials Curator at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the priceless collection includes the Apollo moonrocks. Join ...

Planetary Radio Extra: Planetary Society Experts 2015 Review

05 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Bruce Betts, Jason Davis, Casey Dreier and Emily Lakdawalla gather with Mat Kaplan for a fascinating and informative Planetary Radio Extra year-in-rev...

Planetary Radio Extra: Ad Astra Rocket Company Audio Tour

05 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Ad Astra's Mark Carter took Planetary Radio Host Mat Kaplan on a great tour of the company's facility in mid-November of 2015. Space and science geeks...

Ad Astra Builds “The Martian’s” Rocket Engine

05 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Mat Kaplan visits the Ad Astra Rocket Company in Texas where they are perfecting the VASIMIR electric rocket engine. Emily Lakdawalla has created a co...

2015: A Great Year for Space Exploration

29 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Our year-end review features the “best of 2015” lists from Jason Davis, Casey Dreier, Emily Lakdawalla and Bill Nye the Science Guy. What’s Up o...

Congressman John Culberson on a Good Day for Space

22 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The newly-approved federal budget includes great news for fans of space exploration and development. Texas Congressman John Culberson led the fight fo...

Planetary Radio Extra: Casey Dreier on the 2016 NASA Budget

22 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Mat Kaplan sits down with our Director of Advocacy, Casey Dreier, for a discussion of NASA's 2016 budget.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Field Test: Planetary Deep Drill

15 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Drilling through many meters of ice to Europa’s ocean or to the pristine sub-surface layers of Mars will be hard. The Planetary Deep Drill prototype...

A Journey to Space

08 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Journey to Space is both a new and spectacular IMAX movie and an exciting, hands-on exhibition at the California Science Center. We learn about both t...

A Tiny Explorer Called Twinkle

01 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A small but talented UK team is building Twinkle, a small spacecraft with a big mission—exploring the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars.Le...

Movers and Shakers at SpaceCom Expo

24 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We join 1,600 space entrepreneurs and visionaries in Houston, and talk with Boeing, XCOR, Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa and more.Learn mor...

Solar System Revelations, and the World’s Biggest Telescope Threatened?

17 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Lakdawalla returns from the annual Division for Planetary Sciences meeting with big news from around the solar system. Then we talk with science...

From Mars to the Stars With Lou Friedman

10 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The founding Executive Director of the Planetary Society has just written “Human Spaceflight: From Mars to the Stars,” an optimistic view of human...

A 35th Anniversary Party With Neil Tyson!

03 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It was a grand night at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. CEO Bill Nye led the Planetary Society’s 35th anniversary party with guests including Neil de...

A Conversation with Andy Weir of “The Martian”

27 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

“The Martian” has won universal acclaim from scientists, astronauts, NASA, science fiction fans, and people who thought they weren’t science fic...

Pluto Amazes!

20 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Hal Weaver is a very happy Project Scientist. His New Horizons spacecraft has shocked his fellow researchers with magnificent images and data. He shar...

Big Rockets and Little LightSails

13 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Digital editor Jason Davis is a lucky guy. He follows and reports on human spaceflight progress, as well as the progress of the LightSail solar sail, ...

Imaging Hot Young Jupiters

06 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Franck Marchis is on the team that has delivered an actual image of a young, hot world about 100 light years from Earth. We talk with him on the 20th ...

Humans Orbiting Mars!

29 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Scott Hubbard and John Logsdon led the Humans Orbiting Mars Workshop last spring. They return with Casey Dreier as the report on that workshop is rele...

Zibi Turtle and a Mission to the Ice Giants

22 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

They are the most neglected planets in our solar system, but that status may be changing. Planetary scientist Elizabeth “Zibi” Turtle celebrates N...

OSIRIS-REx Readies for Asteroid Bennu

15 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Dante Lauretta heads the most ambitious mission to an asteroid ever mounted. With one year left till launch, he returns to Planetary Radio with an upd...

Flying High on SOFIA

08 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio returns to SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, but this time we fly in the giant 747 turned telescope platfor...

Zooming In On Mars With Mastcam-Z

01 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio talks with Jim Bell and Justin Maki, leaders of the development team for the most advanced camera ever planned for the surface of Mars...

The Right Site: Choosing A Landing Spot on Mars

25 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The 2020 Mars Rover may be years away, but determining where it will land is already a hot topic among scientists and engineers. Many of the former ga...

Planetary Radio Extra: Checking in on NASA's Budget with the Planetary Society's Director of Advocacy Casey Dreier

18 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Mat Kaplan sits down with our Director of Advocacy, Casey Dreier, for a deep dive into current space policy.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

Living Under the Sea With NASA Aquanaut David Coan

18 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Mat Kaplan talked with engineer and NEEMO Expedition 20 team member David Coan while he was hard at work with astronauts and other engineers living in...

A New Era For SETI Research: More on the Breakthrough Initiatives

11 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We follow last week’s conversation with Ann Druyan about the $100 million funding of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by visiting with t...