Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Can We Touch the Stars? Lou Friedman at the 100-Year Starship Symposium

23 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Only days after Voyager 1 reached interstellar space, forward thinkers met in Houston, Texas to consider how humans can become a starfaring species. P...

MAVEN Mars Mission's Bruce Jakosky

16 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) orbiter leaves for the red planet in November of 2013. Bruce Jakosky of the University of C...

PLANETARY RADIO LIVE: LADEE Launches for Luna

09 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio returned to the Crawford Family Forum for live coverage of the LADEE launch on September 6th.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

Remembering Bruce Murray

02 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The passing of Planetary Society co-founder and former JPL Director Bruce Murray has been marked around the world. Planetary Radio takes its turn with...

Taikonauts on the Moon? A Conversation With Leonard David

26 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Leonard David has been writing about space exploration for more than five decades. Now he has turned his attention to China’s ambitious plans.Learn ...

NASA's Charlie Bolden Visits Earth Missions at JPL

19 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Two missions are coming together in a high bay clean room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. SMAP and ISS RapidScat went on display for a visit by NASA...

Bleeding Edge--NIAC Chooses 12 New Out There Projects

12 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

They might be happy if one in ten of the projects they fund makes it in the real world…because that project just might change the world. We talk wit...

The Ancient Snows of Mars

05 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

When she was learning to forecast the weather in Hawaii, Brown University grad student Kat Scanlon didn’t suspect it would help her uncover evidence...

Europa Report--New Science Fiction Film Embraces the Science

29 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re willing to accept the premise, the thrilling new independent feature film presents one of the most scientifically and technically accurate...

JPL and England Wave at Saturn

22 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds came out on the JPL mall on Friday, July 19th to salute the Cassini spacecraft as it captured a rare image of Earth from the outer solar syst...

Touring Mt. Wilson with George Ellery Hale's Descendants

15 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

On this special vacation edition of the show, we climb to the Mount Wilson Observatory to join a special tour for the descendants of the facility’s ...

Tim Spahr of the Minor Planet Center

08 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a place to go when you find a space rock headed our way, or headed any which way. Tim Spahr directs the Minor Planet Center, the global clea...

Water on the Moon!

01 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Amanda Hendrix looks for and studies water in our solar system, where it has been found in surprising locales. Earth's moon, for instance. She talks a...

A Cosmic Concert: Singer/Songwriter Peter Mayer on Planetary Radio Live

24 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at the intersection of science, nature, music and wonder for a very special Planetary Radio Live with the great Peter Mayer. Bill Nye is with ...

Landing On Mars With JPL's Matt Golombek

17 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at JPL for a conversation with Mars landing site selection leader Matt Golombek. Matt is also now Project Scientist for the Mars Exploration R...

Saving Science Education With Pamela Gay AND Creating the Blackest Black

10 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A Planetary Radio double header includes a visit with CosmoQuest’s Pamela Gay. She and colleagues are working to replace vital federal funds for sci...

Tasting the Air of Distant Worlds

03 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

There will soon be one thousand confirmed exoplanets, but how do we learn more about such distant worlds? We talk to the leader of a team that has rec...

Live at the Space Tech Expo with Bill Nye, Xcor and Zero-G

27 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

PlanRad Live takes to the road again, this time visiting the Space Tech Expo in Long Beach, California for a conversation with enthusiastic team membe...

Advocating for Planetary Science/Star Trek Meets Spacefarers

20 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The director and cast of Star Trek: Into Darkness meet up with real space travelers. Also: Planetary science funding from NASA is in trouble, so a del...

Sun Rings: Music of the Spheres From the Kronos Quartet

13 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The internationally renown string quartet talk about creating and performing Terry Riley's Sun Rings, that incorporates Don Gurnett's space sounds.Lea...

Saving Earth: Asteroid Emergency Tabletop Exercise at the 2013 PDC

06 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The last installment of our Planetary Defense Conference coverage makes a deep impact as hundreds of attendees participate in an asteroid mitigation e...

Kindred Spirits: Alison Gibbings and Carolyn Shoemaker at the Planetary Defense Conference

29 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Our special coverage of the PDC continues with two planetary scientists separated by almost 60 years in age, but with similar dedication and enthusias...

Live at the Planetary Defense Conference!

22 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan joined Bill Nye and four passionate planetary explorers on stage at the Planetary Defense Conference in Flagstaff, Ari...

Yuri's Night 2013 Under Space Shuttle Endeavour

15 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio Live was on stage at the World Space Party with guests George and Loretta Whitesides and Bobak "Mohawk Guy" Ferdowsi.Learn more about ...

Basics of Interplanetary Flight With Dave Doody

08 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

JPL’s Dave Doody doesn’t just fly around the solar system, he teaches others how it's done. We talk about what students learn in his non-technical...

Saturn Update from Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker

01 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We pay another visit to the queen of planets with Cassini Mission Project Scientist Linda Spilker. She always brings us fascinating news from Saturn, ...

More of Our ALMA Adventure in Chile's Atacama Desert

25 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Our special coverage of the ALMA Observatory inauguration continues, with the President of Chile, the incoming ALMA Director, and much more from the A...

ALMA Adventure

18 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The first of two shows about Mat Kaplan's journey to Chile's Atacama Desert for the inauguration of the Atacama Large Millimeter small millimter Array...

Drill Baby Drill! On Mars

11 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

With the first use of its drill and delivery of samples to its internal instruments, Curiosity is now a fully-functioning science station on Mars. JPL...

Alan Stern's Golden Spike Sets Sights on the Moon

04 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Stern is back to tell us about Golden Spike, his new company that plans to put human clients on the surface of the moon by the end of this decade...

One In A Million!

25 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

UC Berkeley SETI researcher Andrew Siemion and his colleagues have put an upper limit on the number of civilizations in our galaxy that are capable of...

Chris Lewicki of Planetary Resources: Mining Asteroids For Fun and Profit

18 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Chris Lewicki is the passionate President of Planetary Resources. He leads the company's mission to find, capture and deliver asteroids to its space-r...

2012 DA14--Coming Soon to a Planet Near You!

11 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The 45-meter Near Earth Asteroid flies by on February 15. NASA brought together asteroid experts to discuss it and others of its threatening kind.Lear...

An Imminent Asteroid Encounter

04 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Spain’s La Sagra Observatory discovered Asteroid 2012 DA14 just a year ago. Now it’s nearing Earth once again. Jaime Nomen of La Sagra is back to ...

Debra Fischer Hunts for a Second Earth at Alpha Centauri

28 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Yale Professor of Astronomy Debra Fischer is one of our planet’s most successful discoverers of exoplanets. She has set her sights on Alpha Centauri...

The Gigantic ALMA Radio Telescope in Chile

21 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

ALMA will make sharper images than the Hubble Space Telescope, yet it’s a radio telescope! ALMA scientists Alison Peck and Al Wooten tell us about t...

Visiting the AAS Meeting for a JWST Update and More

14 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The 221st meeting of the American Astronomical Society was a great place to learn about the James Webb Space Telescope from Jason Kalirai and Dean C. ...

Listening Once Again to Amateur Astronomy Pioneer John Dobson

07 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A reprise of our very popular conversation with the delightful 97-year old John Dobson, inventor of the Dobsonian telescope that brings the universe w...

Looking Back, Looking Forward: Beginning a New Year In Space

31 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 G...

PLANETARY RADIO LIVE: Special Curiosity Report Continues

24 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Our fascinating, live conversation with Curiosity Project Manager Richard Cook and Project Scientist John Grotzinger continues. Richard and John are j...

PLANETARY RADIO LIVE: Celebrating Rover Curiosity

17 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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.L...

First Earth-Sized Exoplanet is Next Door!

10 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 l...

All Together Now! The News From Curiosity

03 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist John Grotzinger's fascinating comments at the December 3 press conference, followed by analysis from Emily L...

Approaching Pluto, and Learning About Uwingu From Alan Stern

26 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern returns with a Pluto mission update. He also introduces us to Uwingu.Learn more about your ad choices. ...

Dawn Mission Update and At Home With Marc Rayman

19 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Celebrating Carl Sagan With Lou Friedman, Lynda Obst, Kip Thorne and More

12 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Curiosity Sniffs Martian Air/Shuttle Endeavour Opens to the World

05 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists have revealed the first data gathered by Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory Rover, about the Martian atmosphere, while Space Shuttle En...

A Vacuum Cleaner on Mars

29 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

Amazing Science at the 2012 DPS Meeting

22 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The 44th Annual Meeting of the AAS Division of Planetary Sciences hosted hundreds of researchers and revealed volumes of scientific results. Join us a...

Amateur Astronomers Work to Save Earth!

15 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Planetary Society's Bruce Betts provides an overview of the Shoemaker NEO grant program, and we meet two dedicated grant recipients.Learn more abo...

Exploring the XDF, The Deepest Image of Our Universe, With Garth Illingworth

08 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

UC Santa Cruz astronomer and XDF Principal Investigator Garth Illingworth takes us on a tour of this magnificent new image.Learn more about your ad ch...

Curiosity Finds a Martian Stream Bed and Endeavour Flies Home

01 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Lakdawalla reports on Curiosity's discovery of an ancient stream bed, and Endeavour flies over the California plant where it was built.Learn mor...

Live at PATS With OSIRIS REx!

24 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

We're live at the Pacific Astronomy and Telescope Show, with JPL astrodynamicist Steve Chesley and Planetary Society Director of Projects Bruce Betts....

Celebrating 35 Years of the Voyager Mission

17 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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, Emil...

A Conversation With Telescope Inventor John Dobson

10 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

When John Dobson invented the Dobsonian telescope he changed the face of amateur astronomy. The 96-year old pioneer talks with Mat Kaplan. Emily Lakda...

Author David Brin Considers and Writes "Existence"

03 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning science fiction author, physicist and futurist David Brin returns to talk about his monumental new novel, Existence. Emily Lakdawalla pr...

Remembering Neil Armstrong/ChemCam is Zapping Martian Rocks!

27 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Lakdawalla and Bill Nye the Science Guy join Mat Kaplan for a special remembrance of Neil Armstrong. Then we visit with the principal investigat...

More From Planetfest With Andrew Chaikin and Scott Hubbard

20 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Our Planetary Radio Live celebration of Mars rover Curiosity at Planetfest continues with more from space historian Andrew Chaikin, former NASA Mars c...

Planetary Radio Live at Planetfest 2012!

13 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

PlanRad Live welcomes space historian and writer Andrew Chaikin, former NASA Mars Czar Scott Hubbard, and Bill Nye the Science Guy to a live conversat...

Astronaut Tom Jones at SETIcon

06 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Skywalker, scientist and author Tom Jones joins us in a fireside chat about Near Earth Objects and much more. Emily Lakdawalla tours the Applied Physi...

More Planetary Radio Live at the Aquarium of the Pacific: Oceans Everywhere

30 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ny...

Planetary Radio Live at the Aquarium of the Pacific

23 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

What better place to talk about Earth's oceans and the seas of other worlds?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystud...

Fire and Ice With Volcanologist Rosaly Lopes

16 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

JPL volcanologist Rosaly Lopes has discovered more volcanos than anyone else, including 71 on Jupiter’s moon Io. She is fascinated by these fiery (a...

Mae Jemison of the 100 Year Starship Initiative

09 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Retired astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison leads the 100 Year Starship Initiative. You’ll hear Mat’s conversation with her about this ambitious project in ...

Lockheed Martin CTO Ray Johnson

02 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Chief Technology Officer for the world's largest aerospace company wants more young people to consider careers as engineers.Learn more about your ...

More From the Air and Space Museum

25 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Our special live show at the National Air and Space Museum continues with curator David DeVorkin, Space Policy Institute founder John Logsdon, Bill Ny...

Live at the National Air and Space Museum

18 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for the first half of a conversation with David DeVorkin, John Logsdon and Bill Nye.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

Remembering Ray

11 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker With a Saturn Mission Update

04 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Planetary Radio's most frequent guest returns with the latest news from the great ringed world, its moons, and its rings.Learn more about your ad choi...

Author Kim Stanley Robinson Takes Us to 2312

28 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Stanley Robinson shares his vision of a brave new solar system 300 years in the future with his new novel, 2312.Learn more about your ad choices. ...

VIP Tour of a Huge Solar Sail BONUS: Falcon 9 and Dragon Head for the ISS!

21 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Visiting the Spacecraft Technology Expo

14 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Spaceplanes, spacesuits and rockets, oh my! Mat Kaplan talks to exhibitors and others at the first ever Spacecraft Technology Expo in Los Angeles.Lear...

Planetary Astronomer Franck Marchis

07 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Based now at the SETI Institute’s Carl Sagan Center, Franck Marchis recently visited the Planetary Society for a conversation with host Mat Kaplan. ...

Cutting-edge Approaches to Protecting Interplanetary Astronauts

30 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 de...

The Pioneer Anomaly... Solved!

23 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

After decades of mystery and investigation, after the recovery of gigabyte after gigabyte of data stored in obsolete computer formats, the whatdunit s...

Taking Back the Night -- International Dark Skies Week

16 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Searching for Pandora With Debra Fischer

09 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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 technol...

SETI Scientist Jill Tarter Continues the Search

02 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Director of the Center for SETI Research is thrilled to have the Allen Telescope Array back in the hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence. She als...

Big News All Around the Solar System From Emily Lakdawalla

26 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The 2012 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference attracted many of the world's finest planetary scientists. This year it also attracted Emily Lakdawall...

"Drifting on Alien Winds" With Author and Artist Michael Carroll

19 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

"Drifting on Alien Winds" With Author and Artist Michael CarrollLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/liste...

Discovery of a New and Neighborly Asteroid

12 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

With Planetary Society help, La Sagra Observatory discovered big near-Earth object 2012 DA14. Guest: Jaime Nomen.Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Can Laser Bees Save Earth? Exploring Asteroid Deflection With Alison Gibbings

05 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Can Laser Bees Save Earth? Exploring Asteroid Deflection With Alison GibbingsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystu...

Alan Stern: Organics on Pluto and Fairy Castles on the Moon

27 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Stern: Organics on Pluto and Fairy Castles on the MoonLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener f...

Alan Stern Puts His Stamp On Pluto

20 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Stern Puts His Stamp On PlutoLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Se...

Rocketplanes, Space Yachts and New Space Geeks at SpaceUp!

13 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Rocketplanes, Space Yachts and New Space Geeks at SpaceUp!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener fo...

James Webb Space Telescope Status Report from Deputy Program Director Eric Smith

06 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

James Webb Space Telescope Status Report from Deputy Program Director Eric SmithLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omny...

Planck Project Scientist Jan Tauber on a Mission Milestone

30 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Planck Project Scientist Jan Tauber on a Mission MilestoneLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The SpaceUp Unconference and A Free Online Astronomy Class

23 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The SpaceUp Unconference and A Free Online Astronomy ClassLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener fo...

How "Outside In" Will Rock Your Solar System

16 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

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. Hea...

Is Anybody Home? Assessing A Planet's Habitability

09 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Is Anybody Home? Assessing A Planet's HabitabilityLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Planetary Radio LIVE Continues! With John Callas of the Mars Exploration Rovers and Joy Crisp of the Mars Science Laboratory

02 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Here's the second half of our December show recorded in front of a live audience: Mars rover updates, two more spacey songs from KJ Williams, and the ...

Planetary Radio LIVE! With John Callas of the Mars Exploration Rovers and Joy Crisp of the Mars Science Laboratory

26 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We once again go before a live audience for an all Mars rover show. We've also got singer KJ Williams, Bill Nye the Planetary Guy, and Emily Lakdawall...

Astronaut Rex Walheim: NASA Is Looking for a Few Good Spacemen and Women

19 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Astronaut Rex Walheim: NASA Is Looking for a Few Good Spacemen and WomenLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.c...

Emily Lakdawalla's Special Report on the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting

12 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Lakdawalla's Special Report on the American Geophysical Union Fall MeetingLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omny...

Author Dava Sobel's New Book About Copernicus: A More Perfect Heaven

05 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Author Dava Sobel's New Book About Copernicus: A More Perfect HeavenLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/l...

New Mexico Space Adventure: Back to the First International Planetary Caves Workshop

28 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

New Mexico Space Adventure: Back to the First International Planetary Caves WorkshopLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee ...

New Mexico Cave Adventure With Penny Boston and the First International Planetary Caves Workshop

21 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

New Mexico Cave Adventure With Penny Boston and the First International Planetary Caves WorkshopLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

Touring the National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak

14 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Touring the National Solar Observatory at Sacramento PeakLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for...

New Mexico Journey: Dale Frail of the Very Large Array Radio Telescope

07 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

New Mexico Journey: Dale Frail of the Very Large Array Radio TelescopeLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com...

One Planet, Two Stars, With Laurance Doyle

01 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Multidisciplinary scientist Laurance Doyle led the team that has announced discovery of the first extrasolar planet circling two stars. He also talks ...