Listen Up! Planetary Radio Hits XM Satellite Radio Airwaves

Planetary Radio will increase its reach by more than 3 million when XM Satellite Radio adds the program to its line-up on Saturday, March 26, 2005. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chairman of the Planetary Society Board of Directors and Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, will kick off the show’s XM debut with a lively interview about the future of space exploration, the new NASA Administrator nominee, and other topics at 10 PM ET, 7 PM PT.

How appropriate that satellite technology will allow us a much greater reach with our space exploration show,” said Planetary Society Director of Projects Bruce Betts. “We hope the show will excite many more people about space.”

The only half-hour public radio program in the United States devoted solely to space exploration, Planetary Radio’s weekly program serves up a rich mix of guests – such as Buzz Aldrin, Ray Bradbury, Mars expert Steve Squyres, and Bill Nye the Science Guy – and lighthearted trivia. In addition to airing on XM, Planetary Radio is carried by National Public Radio’s Public Radio Satellite System and an ever growing group of independent radio stations, and can be heard on the Society’s site at http://planetary.org/radio, where a worldwide audience enjoys the show.

Hosted by longtime public radio host Mat Kaplan, each episode of Planetary Radio offers an in-depth conversation with a scientist, engineer, project manager, astronaut or author on the quest for knowledge about our universe. Other regular segments include “What's Up!” - a humorous chat with planetary scientist Bruce Betts about current night sky information and planetary missions; “Random Space Facts”; and a weekly space trivia contest. “Questions and Answers” with Emily Lakdawalla offers listeners the chance to get their questions about space answered on the air.

Special shows have offered in-depth coverage of the Cassini mission to Saturn and SpaceShipOne’s winning the X Prize.

Visit The Planetary Society website at http://planetary.org/radio for a complete listing of all stations that carry Planetary Radio – and the timeslots when it airs. You can also hear past programs, all of which are archived on the Planetary Society’s website.