NASA's Charlie Bolden Visits Earth Missions at JPL

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 Administrator Charles Bolden. Mat Kaplan and Emily Lakdawalla provide special coverage.  Bill Nye says goodbye to Kepler’s exoplanet discoveries.  Bruce Betts reveals the first human-created object to be successfully recovered from space during What’s Up.

Related Links

• VIDEO: In the JPL High Bay With SMAP, ISS RapidScat, Charles Elachi and Charlie Bolden
• BLOG: SMAP Under Construction: Fieldtrip to JPL
• Kepler Mission Homepage

Trivia Contest

This week's prize is the NEW and stylish Planetary Radio T-shirt! 

This week's question:
In what galaxy did a supernova appear this year?

To submit your answer:
Complete the contest entry form at http:planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Monday, August 26th, at 2pm Pacific Time.  Be sure to include your name, mailing address and shirt size.

Last week's question:
What were the two most recent missions launched specifically to explore Venus, and what have been their fates?

Answer:
The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:
What was the first object successfully recovered from orbit?

Answer:
Discoverer 13's return capsule in August of 1960