Ad Astra Builds “The Martian’s” Rocket Engine

Mat Kaplan visits the Ad Astra Rocket Company in Texas where they are perfecting the VASIMIR electric rocket engine. Emily Lakdawalla has created a comprehensive timeline tracing missions throughout the solar system. Bill Nye salutes Planetary Society colleagues who gathered to record a Planetary Radio Extra year in review conversation. The new year’s sky is chock full of planets according to Bruce Betts.

Related Links:

• Ad Astra Rocket Company Documentary: “Crossing the Space Frontier”
• Ad Astra Rocket Company Audio Tour
• Ad Astra Rocket Company Photo Album
• Planetary Radio Extra: Planetary Society Experts 2015 Review
• Planetary Exploration Timelines: A Look Ahead to 2016

This week's prizes are a lovely Planetary Radio t-shirt, a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account AND a set of Year In Space wall and desk calendars.

This week's question:

Hydrogen and helium are the most abundant elements in the Milky Way galaxy. What comes in a distant third by mass fraction?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, January 12th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What is the orbital period (length of a year) for Sedna, the far distant object in a highly-elliptical orbit?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What Apollo spacecraft was name Falcon? Give us the mission number and type of spacecraft.

Answer:

The Apollo 15 Lunar Module was named Falcon.