Are We There Yet?

Your weekly podcast journey into the latest news, missions, and stories shaping space exploration.

A NASA nominee’s second shot and mimicking space environments here on Earth

Jared Isaacman has once again been nominated to be NASA's administrator. Plus, analog missions, or environments that mimic places like the moon and mars, are helping prepare humans for future missions in space.

11-12
28:44

Launching a new mission to Mars

Blue Origin will launch its massive rocket, New Glenn, from Florida for the second time. The mission will also take two twin spacecraft to orbit Mars and study the planet’s magnetosphere.

11-05
28:19

The spooks of science fiction and science fact

A critics favorite science fiction and horror films plus a look at the factual haunts of the cosmos.

10-28
28:22

Federal funding and the future of space science missions

The future of the Juno mission is uncertain after the probe's extension ended on Sept. 30, right before the government shutdown. Plus, the OSIRIS-APEX mission continues on after almost being cancelled. The mission will study the asteroid Apophis as it flies close to Earth in 2029.

10-21
28:41

Keeping space clean and developing a green thumb off planet

With over a 100 million pieces of space junk around our planet, scientists researchers, and the public are concerned over how we treat our world and the repercussions of leaving trash in space. Plus, we can learn a lot from plants on how space impacts biological life, like people.

10-14
28:44

The government shutdown hits NASA, and scientists find potential signs of life on Mars.

With the government shutdown, the majority of NASA and its projects have been put on pause. Plus, scientists are studying a sample that could be a sign of life on Mars and looking at how space weather could impact people.

10-07
28:28

Bottle Rockets and Space Agriculture

Emily Calandrelli, also known online as The Space Gal, is encouraging kids to make their own rockets for the second annual Baking Soda Rocket Day. Plus, scientists are looking at how to grow plants off our planet.

09-30
28:22

An exoplanet milestone and talking about space junk

NASA has found over 6,000 exoplanets, or planets that orbit other stars. Plus, we take a look at space junk, or human made objects that are left in orbit around our planet.

09-23
28:22

New cosmic observations and a look at space fandom

The James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Telescope are exploring our universe, finding spiral galaxies, comets and where stars are born. Plus, a look at SpaceX’s fandom and how space enthusiasts feel about Elon Musk.

09-16
28:29

Space Commands’ move and Artemis’ AI doctors

The U.S. Space Command is moving to Huntsville, Alabama. The unit is tasked overseeing the nation's military operations in outer space. Plus, NASA is partnering with Google to create an AI medical assistant that can help the on-board medical officer diagnose any medical issues mid-flight.

09-09
28:27

Starship’s success and Neptune’s peculiar tagalong

SpaceX's Starship successfully launched, and safety landed in the Indian Ocean. Plus, scientists have found an interesting object near Neptune.

09-02
28:45

Finding signs of life on rocky planets and distant ocean worlds

Scientists are on the hunt for signs of life on Mars and the icy moons of Saturn and Venus.

08-26
28:22

NASA policy, commercial space and nuclear power on the moon

Under the Trump administration the space agency has been undergoing policy changes as it prepares for future missions and goals, like putting a nuclear power plant on the moon. The new budget proposed may be problematic. Plus, a new executive order lifts some launch and flight regulations for commercial space companies.

08-19
28:22

An astronaut answers questions from kids. Plus, a tasty space read

Veteran NASA Astronaut Winston Scott fields questions from curious kids. Plus, a look at how food plays a crucial role in space in the book Space Bites.

08-12
28:22

Bridging the gap between Earth and the moon

From making artificial moon dirt to painting with real moon dust, there are several ways that scientists and space explorers bring the moon to Earth. Plus, Firefly Aerospace is preparing to send several payloads to the moon.

08-05
28:00

Exploring Earth's deep oceans and the state of commercial space

Co-hosts, Regina Barber and Emily Kwong, explore Earth's oceans in a special series running this summer from NPR’s science podcast, Short Wave: Sea Camp. Plus, a look at the commercial space company sector.

07-29
28:00

Searching for life in the clouds of Venus and creating space for birds

A new proposal suggests sending a spacecraft to Venus to search for gases that are often linked to biological cycles here on Earth. Plus, a look at veteran Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar's book Space for Birds: Patterns and Parallels of Beauty and Flight.

07-22
28:00

A new NASA leader and searching for life on distant ocean worlds

The Trump Administration named Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, to be the interim NASA administrator. Plus, could life exist in an icy ocean on a distant moon within our solar system.

07-16
28:00

Space reading recommendations and moving AI off the planet

Catching up on your summer reading list? How about adding one more -- a science fiction thriller series set in space? Plus, a new company is taking their design process off Earth and designing sneakers in space using AI designers and 3D printing.

07-08
28:00

A Chilean observatory comes online. Two rovers explore the watery past of Mars

A new observatory in Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, is searching the skies for things like asteroids, dark matter and dark energy. What new things might it uncover about the cosmos? Plus, the rovers on Mars are exploring two craters that have evidence of past water. Could they also be home to ancient life? lead scientists closer to finding out if Mars had water flowing on its surface.

07-01
28:00

Keyur Adhyapak

I didn't know they sent that song at the end to Opportunity. It was a nice touch.

02-19 Reply

Michelle Terrazas Salazar

This is one of my favorite podcasts on astronomy, thank you very much for the hard work. I always look forward for the next episode!! ☺☺

07-29 Reply

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