Sally Ride Science Joins Planetary Radio

Beginning this week, The Planetary Society's Planetary Radio will team with Sally Ride Science to feature a special segment on the first radio program of each month. This coincides with the fourth anniversary of Planetary Radio, a widely distributed weekly radio show devoted to space exploration.

Bruce Betts, the Society's Director of Projects, said, "The new Sally Ride Science segments will add an exciting new element to Planetary Radio, joining our outreach to space enthusiasts worldwide to her company's focus on immersing young people in scientific adventures at an early age."

Initial Sally Ride Science segments will cover a wide range of topics, including terraforming Mars, the developing of robotic muscles, and building the Giant Magellan Telescope. This week will kick off with the ARES mission, the Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey of Mars. Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, will narrate many of the segments herself.

"Science is cool, engaging, and lively, and the public is excited by science when it is presented that way," said Ride. "Planetary Radio is the perfect medium for conveying that message with our Sally Ride Science segments."

Planetary Radio is the only half-hour public radio program in the United States devoted solely to space exploration and serves up an entertaining mix of interesting guests, lighthearted trivia and space news updates. The show currently airs on XM Satellite Radio (Saturdays, channel 133, 7:00 PM PST) as well as more than 85 independent radio stations across the US and overseas. Planetary Radio is also carried on National Public Radio's Public Radio Satellite System, and is available via the web or podcast and from iTunes.

Each week, Planetary Radio offers an in-depth conversation between host Mat Kaplan and a scientist, engineer, project manager, astronaut or author on the quest for knowledge about our universe. In addition to special guest interviews, every episode includes such regular segments as "What's Up?" a weekly humorous chat with Bruce Betts about current night sky information and planetary mission news; and "Random Space Facts," informative, timely tidbits about anything space-related. Planetary Radio also hosts a weekly space trivia contest for listener participation and has a regular questions and answers segment.

Generous donations from individuals, and support from the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, helped launch and have propelled forward the largely self-funded radio show during its first four years. With an ever increasing listenership and popularity, the Society is now seeking additional underwriting support to continue expanding Planetary Radio's reach.

Visit The Planetary Society website for a complete listing of all stations that carry Planetary Radio - and the timeslots when it airs - and to tune into past programs, all of which are archived on the Planetary Society's website.