Since 2002, Planetary Radio has visited with a scientist, engineer, project manager, advocate, or writer who provides a unique perspective on the quest for knowledge about our Solar System and beyond. The full show archive is available for free.

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Experimental Cosmologist Brian Keating

A fascinating, wide-ranging conversation with Brian Keating, director of the Simons Observatory that will search for our cosmic origins from a mountaintop in Chile’s Atacama region.

Space Policy Edition: NASA's 2022 Budget Request Says "Yes"

The White House’s proposed 2022 NASA budget is almost entirely great news, as is the announcement that two complementary orbiters will explore Venus.

Mighty Jupiter Revealed

The Juno mission will continue its exploration of Jupiter till 2025, thanks to a four-year extension granted by NASA. Principal investigator Scott Bolton brings us up to date.

The New Great Space Observatories

Astrophysicist Grant Tremblay describes how four proposed space telescopes could reveal our solar system and the universe as never before.

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Project Manager MiMi Aung

The leader of the Mars Helicopter test mission celebrates her team’s success and explores the daunting challenges they overcame.

Defenders of Earth on Planetary Radio

Six planetary defense leaders report on progress toward protecting Earth from near-Earth objects.

Space Policy Edition: How Starship at the Moon Brings NASA Closer to Mars

NASA chose SpaceX’s Starship as the sole winner of its human lunar lander development contract in a move that may also take us closer to Mars.

Author Andy Weir and Project Hail Mary

The author of The Martian introduces us to his terrific new novel and shares his thoughts about the current state of space exploration.

A Conversation with Kyoto Prize Recipient James Gunn

Jim Gunn co-created and led the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that has revealed the universe as never before.

Is ‘Oumuamua a Piece of a Pluto-Like Planet? And Ingenuity’s First Flight on Mars

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter makes a successful first flight on the Red Planet, while two researchers offer new insights on the first interstellar object discovered in our solar system.

The High Frontier: A New Documentary About Gerard K. O’Neill

Gerard K. O’Neill envisioned vast, magnificent human settlements in space. His followers, including Jeff Bezos, are working to turn his vision into reality.

The First Space Shuttle Pilot: Bob Crippen on the 40th Anniversary of STS-1

Robert Crippen and John Young became the first humans to fly a space shuttle into orbit when Columbia launched on April 12, 1981.

Space Policy Edition: Biden Names His NASA Administrator

It looks like former senator Bill Nelson will be NASA’s next administrator. Casey Dreier and Mat Kaplan talk about his nomination and other developments in Washington D.C., including The Planetary Society’s very successful Day of Action.

NASA’s TESS Exoplanet Mission Finds Over 2,000 Possible New Worlds

Exoplanet hunter and artist Natalia Guerrero of MIT reveals the discovery of many more possible new worlds by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

The Perseverance Rover and a Great First Month on Mars

Perseverance rover deputy project scientists Katie Stack Morgan and Ken Williford share the latest developments from Mars’ newest robot resident.

Return From Ryugu: The Hayabusa2 Leader on His Mission’s Success

Hayabusa2 project manager Yuichi Tsuda shares the exciting success of Japan’s sample return mission ti asteroid Ryugu.

InSight’s Mole: A Martian Science Odyssey

NASA engineer and scientist Troy Hudson shares the sad but ultimately inspiring story of a two-year attempt to dig deep beneath the surface of Mars.

Space Policy Edition: SpaceX's Early, Desperate Days (with Eric Berger)

Elon Musk’s SpaceX nearly failed 15 years ago as it struggled to launch its first rocket. Eric Berger has written about this challenging early era and how it helped create today’s successful, innovative company.

Spinoffs: How NASA Technologies Benefit Life on Earth

We examine a few of the thousands of technologies and innovations developed by NASA that are making lives better around our planet.

Touchdown! The Sights and Sounds of Perseverance on Mars

Relive the most dramatic and awe-inspiring moments from NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars.

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