Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

This week on Planetary Radio, we explore the decades-long journey of Kosmos 482, a Soviet-era Venus probe that spent 53 years orbiting Earth before its dramatic return on May 10, 2025. Ben Fernando, a postdoctoral researcher in seismology and planetary science at Johns Hopkins University, joins us to explain the history of Kosmos 482 and how seismology and acoustic sensors are helping scientists detect and locate objects impacting Earth. Then Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, joins us for What's Up, where we look back at the largest human-made objects ever to crash back to Earth. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-kosmos-482See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TOI-270 d is revealing secrets about the most common type of planet in our galaxy, sub-Neptunes. Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by planetary geochemist Chris Glein from the Southwest Research Insitute to discuss his team’s new analysis of its atmosphere, using data from JWST and insights from Earth analogs. Then, The Planetary Society’s Director of Government Relations, Jack Kiraly, breaks down the historic budget cuts proposed for NASA in the U.S. President’s “skinny” budget request, including a 47% reduction to its science program funding. We close out with Bruce Betts and What’s Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-toi-270-dSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one person knows how to build a spaceship. Dr. Janet Vertesi has seen this firsthand. She’s spent years embedded in NASA science teams, not as a participant, but as an observer. She’s a sociologist who studies the team dynamics of NASA missions. She is alarmed at the prospect of indiscriminate firings at the agency, and at the potential loss of institutional knowledge that won’t easily be rebuilt. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-janet-vertesi-on-threats-to-nasas-group-brainSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does someone go from stargazing in a rural Australian backyard to inspiring millions around the world about space science? This week, Sarah Al-Ahmed sits down with Kobi Brown, better known as AstroKobi, to explore how his passion for the Cosmos and a knack for short-form storytelling launched his science communication career. They discuss the evolution of space outreach in the digital age, the power of social media to ignite curiosity, and how a new generation of space communicators is reshaping the way we connect with the Universe. You'll also hear the latest space policy update from Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at The Planetary Society, including developments affecting NASA’s science programs and the confirmation process for a new NASA administrator. We close out the show with What’s Up with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, and a discussion of direct imaging of exoplanets. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-astrokobiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us aboard the historic RMS Queen Mary for a celebration of The Planetary Society’s 45th anniversary. In this special episode of Planetary Radio, we bring you highlights from our Cosmic Shores Gala, where members, scientists, space advocates, and special guests came together to honor the past and look boldly to the future. You’ll hear from CEO Bill Nye, Board President Bethany Ehlmann, Executive Director Jennifer Vaughn, founding Executive Director Lou Friedman, and Congresswoman Judy Chu, with actor and Planetary Society board member Robert Picardo as our master of ceremonies. And of course, we close with Chief Scientist Bruce Betts in this week’s What’s Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-cosmic-shores-galaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA’s science programs are facing the largest proposed budget cut in more than 40 years. This staggering 47%reduction could cancel missions, waste billions in U.S. taxpayer investments, and unravel decades of discovery. In this episode of Planetary Radio, host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Casey Dreier, The Planetary Society’s Chief of Space Policy, and Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations. Together, they break down what the “passback” stage of the federal budget process means for NASA, which missions and programs are in jeopardy, and how you can help push back. Later in the show, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for a reflective What’s Up as we explore the science that could be lost and why it still deserves to be saved. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-passback-budget-breakdownSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, scientists hypothesized that Mars’ reddish color came from hematite, an iron oxide thought to have formed through dry oxidation after Mars lost its water. But new research suggests the story is more complex—and more watery—than we once imagined. In this episode, planetary scientist Adomas (Adam) Valantinas from Brown University joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed to discuss his team’s discovery that Mars’ iconic red dust is likely dominated not by hematite but by a hydrated mineral called ferrihydrite. This subtle but significant shift in understanding could reshape what we know about Mars’ climate history and its potential for past habitability.  Then, Sarah and Bruce Betts, Planetary Society chief scientist, revisit one of the most famous Martian discoveries: Opportunity’s hematite-rich “blueberries,” which also told a compelling story about water on the Red Planet. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-why-is-mars-redSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The space sector is data-rich but insight-poor. Jack Kuhr, head of research at Payload Space, joins the show to unpack how business, budgeting, and performance data—not spacecraft science—can shape investments, drive growth, and influence policy. Is there a data crisis in the space industry? What gets measured, what gets missed, and how does that shape the decisions we make about space? Kuhr shares his approach to surfacing the real story behind the numbers—and why clarity, context, and narratives matter. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/lies-and-space-dataSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Sarah Al-Ahmed and Casey Dreier for a special live recording of Planetary Radio at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., immediately following The Planetary Society’s Day of Action. In this episode, we explore the complex geopolitical landscape NASA faces as it works toward returning humans to the Moon and exploring other worlds. With growing influence from commercial space companies, potential budget cuts, and changes in committee leadership, this pivotal moment in space exploration is shaping NASA’s future. We’re joined by Bill Nye (CEO, The Planetary Society), Nancy Chabot (Chief Scientist, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory), Rep. George Whitesides (Representative, CA-27), Rep. Judy Chu (Co-chair, Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, Representative, CA-28), and Antonio Peronace (Chief Executive, Space for Humanity). Together, we explore how evolving national priorities, key lawmakers, and the rapid growth of the commercial space sector could reshape U.S. space policy, potentially redefining the motivations that have driven space exploration since the Apollo era. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-live-from-dcSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Apollo program put humans on the Moon, but behind that historic achievement were engineers whose stories have gone largely untold. In this episode, “LA Made: The Other Moonshot” host Joanne Higgins joins Planetary Radio to share the powerful history of Charlie Cheatham, Nate LeVert, and Shelby Jacobs, three Black engineers in Los Angeles who helped make Apollo possible while navigating racism and exclusion. We discuss how their technical brilliance shaped the space program, why their stories were left out of the history books, and how telling them now can help create a more equitable space community for the future. Plus, Casey Dreier checks in from Washington, D.C., during The Planetary Society’s Day of Action, where advocates from across the U.S. gathered to support NASA science. And in What’s Up, Bruce Betts and Sarah explore the Apollo-era technologies still in use today. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-the-other-moonshotSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take you inside the Mars Innovation Workshop, hosted at the SETI Institute’s headquarters and produced by Explore Mars. Planetary Society Senior Communications Advisor Mat Kaplan shares highlights from the event, exploring how cross-disciplinary collaboration is shaping the future of Mars exploration and creating solutions for challenges here on Earth. Meanwhile, major changes are happening at NASA. In a move that has raised concerns in the space community, NASA leadership has dissolved key advisory offices, including the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy. Jack Kiraly, our director of government relations, explains what these cuts mean for the agency’s future and why space advocates should be paying attention. Then Bruce Betts shares his favorite Mars innovations and a new Random Space Fact, in this week’s What’s Up! Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-mars-innovation-workshopSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA's science missions have transformed our understanding of the Universe, from breathtaking images of deep space to robotic explorers on Mars. But now, a reported 50% cut to NASA's science budget threatens to shut down missions, halt discoveries, and devastate the future of space exploration. This week, Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly from The Planetary Society's space policy team break down the fight ahead, explain why these cuts would be catastrophic, and explain how you can take action before they become part of the official presidential budget request. Then, Science Editor Asa Stahl joins us to discuss the power of grassroots advocacy and Planetary Society members' impact in defending space science over the past 45 years. Plus, Bruce Betts returns for What's Up with a celebration of Lunar PlanetVac and a look ahead to this week's lunar eclipse. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-extinction-level-event-for-nasa-scienceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philosopher Rebecca Lowe joins us to explore how the ideas of classical liberalism can provide fresh insight into humanity’s activities in space. Our conversation explores the philosophical tensions between individual freedom and societal good, the instrumental and intrinsic value of space activities, and the uniquely accessible nature of space science and exploration. From a novel approach to lunar property rights and the opportunities to support human flourishing, Lowe offers a thought-provoking vision of how philosophical traditions can inform our cosmic ambitions. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/classical-liberalism-in-spaceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has returned pristine samples from asteroid Bennu to Earth, and the early results are remarkable. Sample analysts have confirmed the presence of abundant organic compounds, nitrogen-rich material, and evidence of past liquid water, all key ingredients that could help us understand the role asteroids played in delivering the building blocks of life to Earth. This week, we’re joined by Scott Sandford, co-investigator on OSIRIS-REx and a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center. He explores the first two sample analysis papers published by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team. Then, Bruce Betts joins us for What’s Up, where we look back at humanity’s history of sample return missions. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-OSIRIS-REx-sampleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty years ago, NASA’s Genesis spacecraft returned to Earth carrying precious samples of the solar wind, only to crash-land in the Utah desert. But that wasn’t the end of the mission. Amy Jurewicz, Assistant Research Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University and former project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Genesis team, takes us inside the mission’s highs and lows, from its Apollo-inspired origins to its contributions to cosmochemistry and space weather. We discuss what this mission taught us about future sample returns, spacecraft protection, and long-term human spaceflight beyond Earth’s magnetosphere. Then Bruce Betts, Planetary Society chief scientist, joins for What’s Up and a look back at the history of sample returns. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-genesisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From IV drips to rocket ships, Hayley Arceneaux has been on a journey. She joins Planetary Radio to discuss her memoir “Wild Ride” and her newly released kid's book “Astronaut Hayley's Brave Adventure,” which tell the story of how her experiences with childhood cancer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital set the stage for her journey to space aboard SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission. Then, Planetary Society Chief Scientist, Bruce Betts, talks about the g-forces experienced during astronaut training in What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-astronaut-hayleys-brave-adventureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.