Claim OwnershipPlanetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
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Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.
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The internet is buzzing about Asteroid 2024 YR4, currently ranked as the highest-threat asteroid in our skies. But is it really cause for concern? Our Public Education Specialist, Kate Howells, breaks down the facts. Then, we shift from potential impacts to stunning space imagery as Finn Burridge from the Royal Observatory Greenwich shares how astrophotographers worldwide can participate in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. Finally, our space policy experts, Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly, discuss how the new Trump administration has impacted NASA in its first weeks. Stick around for What’s Up with Bruce Betts, as he explains how we assess asteroid threats using the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-2024-YR4-and-a-new-administrationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck joins the show to unpack his company’s bold, $4-billion fixed-price plan to bring Martian samples home, why he believes commercial partnerships can unlock new frontiers in planetary science, and his “soft spot” for interplanetary exploration. Then, Richard French — former JPL engineer and now VP of Business & Strategy at Rocket Lab — provides deeper insight into their proposed Mars Sample Return architecture, explaining how a single, vertically integrated team could cut costs and secure mission success. And yes, we get an update on the status of their Venus mission, too. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/can-rocketlab-save-msrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How did Pluto meet its largest moon, Charon? Many have speculated that Charon formed in an impact, but traditional models of planetary formation have struggled to explain many of the quirks of this system. This week, Adeene Denton, a research scientist at the University of Arizona, shares her team's new paper that suggests a "kiss-and-capture" may solve this mystery. Then Bruce Betts, The Planetary Society's chief scientist, discusses contact binaries in our Solar System and shares a new Random Space Fact in What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-pluto-kiss-and-captureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on Planetary Radio, we celebrate the enduring legacy of Ed Stone, the longtime project scientist for NASA’s Voyager mission and former director of JPL. Mat Kaplan, senior communications advisor at The Planetary Society, takes us to the unveiling of the Dr. Edward Stone Voyager Exploration Trail at JPL, where we hear from past and present JPL leaders, Voyager mission team members, and Ed Stone’s family. Plus, we kick off the episode with the much-anticipated launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket and wrap up with What’s Up, as Bruce Betts explores the rare planetary configuration that made Voyager’s Grand Tour possible. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-ed-stone-trailSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1This week, we discuss how to examine the science behind our favorite TV shows and movies with the co-hosts of the "Does It Fly?" podcast, Hakeem Oluseyi and Tamara Krinsky. Produced by Roddenberry Entertainment, "Does It Fly?" takes an expert approach to breaking down the science of popular media, from lightsabers to Dune's stillsuits. Hakeem brings his astrophysics expertise, while Tamara provides her media industry insights as they join Planetary Radio to explore where science and fiction intersect. Stick around for What's Up with Bruce Betts and this week's Random Space Fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-does-it-fly See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week we revisit one of the most remarkable exoplanet discoveries of 2024 with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST detected signs of methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of K2-18 b. Knicole Colón, the deputy project scientist for exoplanet science for JWST, explains how this discovery could reshape our search for life beyond Earth and teach us more about the enigmatic class of exoplanets known as sub-Neptunes. Stick around for What's Up with Bruce Betts, the chief scientist of The Planetary Society. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-jwst-new-lead-in-search-for-life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, we celebrate a remarkable milestone as Emily Calandrelli, also known as “the Space Gal,” becomes the 100th woman to venture into space. Emily shares her experiences on the Blue Origin voyage, what she took to space, and how motherhood influenced her reaction to seeing Earth from space. Then Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins for What's Up and a list of fun things to do in zero-g. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-100th-woman-in-space See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does change happen within NASA, and what prevents it? Marcia Smith, founder of Space Policy Online, joins the show to discuss the opportunities and pitfalls faced by incoming presidential administrations and how NASA has—and hasn’t—changed over the decades. Will Artemis be reimagined? Will public-private partnerships introduce more risk than reward? And is change even the right default attitude to take? Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/change-and-continuity-at-nasa-with-marcia-smith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Planetary Radio kicks off The Planetary Society's 45th anniversary year with CEO, Bill Nye. Bill reflects on the organization's first forty-five years and what humanity has learned about space in that time. Then, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins in for the first What's Up and Random Space Fact of 2025. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-45th-anniversary See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Planetary Society team reviews the best space moments of 2024, from the China National Space Administration's return of samples from the far side of the Moon to the triumphant launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission. Kate Howells (Public Education Specialist) shares the winners of The Planetary Society's Best of 2024 awards. Then, Mat Kaplan (Senior Communications Advisor), Ambre Trujillo (Digital Community Manager), and Asa Stahl (Science Editor) team up for a rundown of the year's highlights. We close out 2024 with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, as he shares his last random space fact of the year. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-looking-back See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lauren Mc Keown, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, discusses her experiences recreating Martian araneiform terrain, also called Mars spiders, in the lab. Latif Nasser, the co-host of Radiolab, also joins Planetary Radio to share how you can cast your vote to name a quasi-Moon of Earth. Then Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, looks at a different type of seasonal feature on Mars, recurring slope lineae, in What’s Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-mars-spidersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For over half a century, space advocates and presidents alike have tried to recreate the JFK moment of calling on the country to send a man to Moon — but is this a mistake? The classic book Spaceflight and the Myth of Presidential Leadership argued that it is, and by focusing on presidential power alone advocates set up these initiatives to fail. However, in the decades since its publication, presidential authority has dramatically expanded. In this episode, we examine this tension: Did the success of Apollo create a false expectation about the role of presidential leadership in spaceflight? How can a president most effectively set new long-term goals for NASA? Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/myth-of-presidential-leadership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We take you to Planetary Society headquarters, where Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and host of StarTalk, interviews Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye about the organization's 45-year history of empowering the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. Then, we share an update on the incoming Trump administration's proposed pick for the next NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman. Planetary Society Chief of Space Policy, Casey Dreier, and Director of Government Relations, Jack Kiraly, give us the details. We close out with Bruce Betts as he discusses the Van Allen belts and shares a new random space fact in What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-startalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarah Al-Ahmed, the host of Planetary Radio, marks her 100th episode with a look back at the defining moments of the past 100 weeks of space exploration. We'll revisit previous Planetary Radio interviews, including the launch of ESA's Juice mission to the icy moons of Jupiter with project scientist Olivier Witasse. Danny Glavin, the co-investigator for NASA's OSIRIS-REx, shares his thoughts after the triumphant return of samples from asteroid Bennu. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, principal investigator for NASA's Psyche mission, reflects on her team's mission to explore a metallic asteroid. Then, Bob Pappalardo, project scientist for Europa Clipper, discusses the mission's intense brush with Hurricane Milton before blasting off to unlock the secrets of a potentially habitable ocean world. We close out the show with Bruce Betts, the chief scientist of The Planetary Society, for What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-one-hundred-weeks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The United Arab Emirates Space Agency is working on its next ambitious spacecraft, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. It will visit seven asteroids, ultimately rendezvousing with Justitia, the reddest object in the main asteroid belt. We'll get an update on their team's progress from Mohsen Al Awadhi and Hoor Al Hazmi, the director and science team lead for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. Then, our chief scientist at The Planetary Society, Bruce Betts, joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed for What's Up and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-uae-asteroid-belt See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Presidential elections in the United States don’t just shape the country’s future — they set the course for space exploration. This week, Casey Dreier, the chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, analyzes what the incoming Trump administration could mean for NASA’s funding, human spaceflight, and its Science Mission Directorate. Meanwhile, budget cuts have triggered another round of layoffs at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jack Kiraly, Planetary Society director of government relations, explains why it happened, and what U.S. residents can do to help. Plus, Bruce Betts is back with What's Up and another fascinating Random Space Fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-election-nasaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Morgan Cable and Hiro Ono from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory join Planetary Radio to discuss the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) robot concept, a snake-like AI-enabled device designed to navigate the vents of Enceladus. This technology could tell us more about the habitability of Enceladus' subsurface ocean. But first, Kate Howells, The Planetary Society's public education specialist, shares how you can participate in The Planetary Society Best of 2024 Awards. Stay tuned for Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, for What's Up and a new Random Space Fact about Enceladus. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-eels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada’s first commercial launch site, represents a significant step forward for the Canadian space industry. This week, we learn what this spaceport can do for the country's exploratory aspirations and international cooperation with Steve Matier and Sasha Jacob, the CEO and Chairman of Maritime Launch Services. Then Bruce Betts joins me for What's Up and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-spaceport-nova-scotiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Norm Augustine, the distinguished aerospace industry veteran behind numerous influential studies, joins the show to discuss “NASA at a Crossroads,” the new report that raises alarm bells for NASA’s workforce, infrastructure, and technology capabilities. Augustine, who chaired an expert committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, came to the conclusion that NASA is on an unsustainable path, and has underinvested in its enabling workforce and physical infrastructure for decades. The solutions put forth by this report committee will require years of effort from NASA, Congress, and subsequent presidential administrations. Which path NASA decides to take, however, may not be known for years to come. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-nasa-at-a-crossroadsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, we investigate the mysteries of Pluto's iconic heart-shaped feature. We explore recent research on the origins of the Sputnik Planitia region and what it can tell us about whether or not the dwarf planet has a subsurface ocean. Our guest, Adeene Denton from the University of Arizona, discusses her team's work investigating oblique impact basins, or "splats," and their implications for planetary formation. Then Bruce Betts, chief scientist at The Planetary Society, joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed for a roundup of the most significant impacts in our Solar System in What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-pluto-splat See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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great conversation!
A great show if you're interested in space or science.
Fantastic show about everything space. Superbly presented by Mat Kaplan, highly informative and great guests who are at the cutting edge of their fields. Have been listening for 3 years and look forward to each new episode.
Great show, listen every week, love the detailed discussion with the Project Leads on space missions.
this was a frustrating episode to listen to. Of course space policy is not partisan, but one party had a role in cynically calling the recent election into question and one didn't. The storming of the capitol didn't happen in a vacuum and it's ignorant to speak about it as if it did.
great content and Matt is as fabulous as ever. Guest had a very tinny VOIP.
Congrats to Lightsail2 and Planetary Society!
Just started about a year ago to listen during my commute. Convenient way to get updated with space related news. Matt is doing great job at keeping it fun and diverse and the rest of the team is just awesome. Excellent job!
Every episode has something interesting to learn. I have been listening for.over 10 years. It is highly recommended.
nice show Matt as ever, but your first guest needed to use a higher quality microphone.
I swear to our Lord and Savior you dragged that light sail on us the past 3 years and i am out.
good lord enough about the light sail.. lol
Bill Nye is sure taking advantage of Friedman being gone. Nye doesn't have much for credibility. From what I've read he's a dressed up third grade science teacher, not a scientist at all. Has he written any papers? Done any field revolutionizing work? Nope. Ask deGrasse Tyson what he thinks of Bill Nye. lmao
Bill Nye is an actor not a scientist. a propagandist describes him better.
Great study.
This is a very informative podcast, thank you and keep up the good work!!