WeMartians Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jake Robins
The WeMartians Podcast delves into all aspects of the exploration of Mars, including robotic/human spacecraft and rocket engineering, planetary science, astronomy and other upcoming technology. Our episodes are research-supported and feature topical audio clips and special guests.
NASA's InSight mission landed in 2018 and completed its primary mission two years later. From there it pursued an extended mission, gathering as much scientific data as it could before ultimately ending late last year as dust on the solar panels starved it of energy. Dr. Bruce Banerdt, the Principal Investigator for the mission, joins Jake to talk about its legacy and successes, and where we go from here.
Follow Bruce* Bruce at JPL
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Off-Nominal Discord * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system finally got the job done, that trusty old steed. Do you like horses as much as I do? If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs may or may not be included).
After seven years of exploring the solar system, Jake is ready to move on to new projects. Hear his final thoughts on WeMartians.
Stay in Touch* Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has a storied history of exploration, but if you go back far enough the stories get pretty wild. Its early days feature a gutsy team of rocket engineers blowing up engines in the hills around Pasadena while moonlighting as communists and occultists. This "Suicide Squad" is featured in a new podcast series by MG Lord, and MG joins Jake to talk about it.
Follow MG Lord* Blood Sweat and Rockets * MG's Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system finally got the job done, that trusty old steed. Do you like horses as much as I do? If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs may or may not be included).
Last year saw a successful Artemis 1 flight, the launch of multiple lunar robotic missions, and the continued development of the CLPS program. What's ahead for 2023? Will it continue this string of exciting progress in lunar exploration? Friends of the show and space reporters Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck join Jake to talk it through.
Follow Brendan and Emilee* Emilee's Twitter (@ EMSpeck) * Fox Weather Earth and Space * WMFE's Are We There Yet?
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system finally got the job done, that trusty old steed. Do you like horses as much as I do? If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs may or may not be included).
The Artemis I Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific this week, a triumphant finale to a mission that faced so many challenges getting to launch. With Artemis I behind us, what's ahead for the Artemis program and the road to a lunar landing? Ars Technica journalist Eric Berger joins Jake to talk about the future of the program and the challenges it will face.
We Orion, SLS, Starship and Artemis* Here’s why NASA’s Artemis I mission is so rare, and so remarkable - Ars Technica * After the Artemis I mission’s brilliant success, why is an encore 2 years away? * The oracle who predicted SLS’s launch in 2023 has thoughts about Artemis III - Ars Technica * NASA official “very confident” Artemis spacesuits will be ready on time
Follow Eric* Eric's Twitter (@SciGuySpace) * Eric's Articles on Ars Technica * Liftoff by Eric Berger
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system finally got the job done, that trusty old steed. Do you like horses as much as I do? If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs may or may not be included).
Juno has been exploring the Jupiter system since 2016, and has taught us a lot about the clouds, the magnetosphere, and the origin of the largest planet in our solar system. Now in its extended mission, it's exploring the Jovian moons in a series of flybys, including a recent pass by Europa. The mission's PI Scott Bolton joins Jake to talk about this flyby, the science results we've gotten, and what's ahead for this intrepid explorer.
We talk Juno and Europa* First images of Europa * Closest images of Europa from Star tracker * JunoCam images
Follow Scott* Scott's Twitter (@ScottBoltonJuno)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system is shelved again until November, which means the horse is headed back to the barn, so to speak. But hey, maybe you like horses! If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs not included).
Voyagers 1 and 2 have been exploring our solar system for over 45 years now. Despite the age of their instruments and computers and power source, they continue to deliver scientific data and contribute to present day discovery. Dr. Linda Spilker, who worked on Voyager since its launch, joins Jake to talk about its value today and its legacy tomorrow.
We talk Voyager 1 and 2* Voyager 1 AACS Anomaly * Voyager 45th Anniversary
Follow Linda* Linda's Twitter (@LindaSpilker)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system is shelved again until November, which means the horse is headed back to the barn, so to speak. But hey, maybe you like horses! If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs not included).
The clouds of Venus have long been a dream of humans to explore, and at last a mission concept called Phantom could be here to do it! But the road ahead for this idea is neither straight nor easy. Paul Byrne joins Jake to talk about how it will help us understand the solar system, and why it might not even get the chance to compete for a spot.
We talk Phantom and New Frontiers 5* Twitter Thread about Phantom * New Frontiers 5 Community Announcement - Tell NASA what you think
Follow Paul* Paul's Twitter (@ThePlanetaryGuy)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Horsepower DesignNASA's Space Launch system is shelved again until November, which means the horse is headed back to the barn, so to speak. But hey, maybe you like horses! If so, try on the new t-shirt design at the WeMartians shop today! Sometimes, a horse works just fine (space programs not included).
NASA's SLS rocket has been in development for over a decade and at last was ready to take off from the Space Coast. But leaks and other technical problems thwarted it on its first attempts. Jake travelled to Florida to see it and reports on how it went, and how weaknesses in the program's architecture don't end at lift off.
We talk the Space Launch System* 1st Scrub - Space News * 2nd Scrub - Space News * Years after shuttle, NASA rediscovers the perils of liquid hydrogen - Ars Technica * We got a leaked look at NASA’s future Moon missions—and likely delays - Ars Technica
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
Used under fair use:
- Spectrum News 13 Clip
- ABC News Clips
- Artemis clip
- Obama's Speech
The Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program (CLPS) began in 2018 with the promise of bootstrapping a new, inexpensive lunar delivery economy; it was to be a pathway for lunar science to the Moon's surface. Since then, a handful of companies have been racing to get the first launches off, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Main Engine Cut Off's Anthony Colangelo joins Jake to talk about their progress, and what we should keep an eye on as the first launches approach.
We talk Commercial Lunar Payload Services* Masten files for Bankruptcy * Draper wins CLPS task order * VIPER Delayed by a year * MECO's coverage of CLPS
Follow Anthony and Main Engine Cut Off* MECO's Twitter (@wehavemeco) * Main Engine Cut Off
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Artemis 1 Launch EventsArtemis 1 is coming! If you're in the Cape Canaveral area around launch, we should meet up! Add your name to this mailing list for updates.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
Curiosity landed on Mars ten years ago and has been exploring Gale Crater ever since. After achieving its primary mission, it's embarked on a series of extended missions to continue to unravel mysteries in the rocks. Deputy Project Scientist for the mission Abigail Fraeman joins Jake to talk about her favourite moments and to discuss what comes next for the impressive rover.
We talk Curiosity and Mars* Curiosity Mission Updates
Follow Abby and Curiosity* Abby’s Twitter (@abbyfrae) * Curiosity Mission Updates * Where is Curiosity
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
Curiosity landed on Mars ten years ago and has been exploring Gale Crater ever since. After achieving its primary mission, it's embarked on a series of extended missions to continue to unravel mysteries in the rocks. Deputy Project Scientist for the mission Abigail Fraeman joins Jake to talk about her favourite moments and to discuss what comes next for the impressive rover.
We talk Curiosity and Mars* Curiosity Mission Updates
Follow Abby and Curiosity* Abby’s Twitter (@abbyfrae) * Curiosity Mission Updates * Where is Curiosity
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
BepiColombo, a joint mission between ESA and JAXA, is on a long meandering journey to Mercury. Last month, it made its 2nd of six flybys of the innermost planet, spiralling its trajectory down to a place where it can enter orbit. Lina Hadid, a space plasma physicist from the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasma in Paris, joins Jake to talk about the flyby campaigns, what science we can do on them, and how we're warming up for the big show.
We talk Mercury and BepiColombo* Science Opportunities of BepiColombo's Cruise Phase
Follow Lina* Lina's LPP Profile * Lina's Twitter * Lina's LinkedIn
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
For two decades, the modern Mars program has been sending spacecraft almost every launch window to Mars, and we have Scott Hubbard to thank for much of that. As the first director of the Mars Program, he instituted much of the paradigm we have today. But with Mars Sample Return on the horizon, Scott joins Jake to talk about how things are changing and what it means for the future.
We talk Mars Sample Return and the Mars Program* Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023-2032 * The MASWG Report * WeMartians Coverage of the MASWG Report
Follow Scott* Scott's Website * Exploring Mars | Scott's book
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
NASA is headed to the Moon in more ways than one. A coalition of human spaceflight, planetary science, and commercialization advocates stand to make an exciting decade of Lunar exploration. But such a collaboration does not come easy, and there's lot of work to get done before we execute it. Planetary Scientist Brett Denevi joins Jake to talk about the opportunities, the challenges, and the incredible science that awaits.
We talk NASA and the Moon* Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023-2032 * The Endurance Rover study * All the Mission Concept Studies from the Decadal
Follow Brett* Brett's Twitter * Brett's Profile at JHUAPL
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
Last month, the new Planetary Science Decadal Survey was released and recommended as its top flagship mission a Uranus Orbiter and Probe. It's been 36 years since we last visited the Ice Giant, and now the science community is ready to take a closer look. Dr. Amy Simon from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center joins Jake to talk about the mission, how it works, and why it's so important to understand the Ice Giants.
We talk Uranus, Orbiters and Probes* Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023-2032 * The full Uranus Orbiter and Probe Study * All the Mission Concept Studies from the Decadal
Follow Amy* Amy's Goddard Profile * Amy's Wikipedia Page
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and explore Jupiter up close!
Every ten years, the National Academies convenes an extraordinary survey of the planetary science community to produce a recommendation for NASA on what to prioritize in planetary exploration for the next decade. It's a remarkable endeavour to scientifically and democratically determine a consensus on questions, priorities and methods used to explore the planets. Casey Dreier, Chief Advocate of the Planetary Society, joins Jake in an epic two part podcast series to discuss everything the report contains and how it will affect planetary science to come.
We talk Findings and Recommendations of the Planetary Science Decadal Survey* The Decadal Survey Report * The Planetary Society Exploration Budget Dataset * Casey's Paper on Apollo Cost Breakdown * Part 1
Follow Casey and the Planetary Society* Casey's Twitter * The Planetary Society Twitter * The Planetary Society Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
Every ten years, the National Academies convenes an extraordinary survey of the planetary science community to produce a recommendation for NASA on what to prioritize in planetary exploration for the next decade. It's a remarkable endeavour to scientifically and democratically determine a consensus on questions, priorities and methods used to explore the planets. Casey Dreier, Chief Advocate of the Planetary Society, joins Jake in an epic two part podcast series to discuss everything the report contains and how it will affect planetary science to come.
We talk Findings and Recommendations of the Planetary Science Decadal Survey* The Decadal Survey Report * The Planetary Society Exploration Budget Dataset * Casey's Paper on Apollo Cost Breakdown * Part 2
Follow Casey and the Planetary Society* Casey's Twitter * The Planetary Society Twitter * The Planetary Society Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Probe Uranus DesignLean in to the jokes and stand behind the Decadal Survey's recommendation to probe Uranus by picking up the new design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug. Explore the mysteries of Uranus today.
New Horizons flew past Pluto in 2015 but work continues on discovering its secrets. One area of study is the activity of so called cryovolcanoes, icy mounds spewing liquidy water and reshaping Pluto's surface. Dr. Kelsi Singer, deputy project scientist for New Horizons, joins Jake to talk about her recent paper on the subject.
We talk Pluto, cryovolcanoes and subsurface oceans* Kelsi's Paper on Cryovolcanoes * New York Times coverage of the paper
Follow Kelsi and New Horizons* Kelsi's Twitter * New Horizons Site
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Great Red Spot Planetary Park DesignCelebrate Pioneer 10's 50th launch anniversary with the Great Red Spot Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and explore Jupiter up close!
Rocket Lab is about more than just rockets. With their Photon bus, they can provide an end to end platform service to enable low-cost planetary exploration to multiple destinations. With flights coming up to the Moon, Venus and Mars, they've become an important player in the planetary exploration space. CEO Peter Beck joins Jake to talk about their approach and why it's important.
We talk Rockets, Planets, and More* Rocket Lab to fly NASA mission CAPSTONE to the Moon * Rocket Lab to fly private mission to Venus * Rocket Lab to enable EscaPADE to Mars * Rocket Lab Solar Panels to power Psyche
Follow Peter* Peter's Twitter * Rocket Lab Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal YouTube * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Great Red Spot Planetary Park DesignCelebrate Pioneer 10's 50th launch anniversary with the Great Red Spot Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and explore Jupiter up close!
Since the last time the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference was held in person, the Venus community went from 0 to 3 missions on the books. Their energy at the conference was electric, and Jake catches up with people working on all three of the missions to find out how they're preparing for this sudden resurgence in study, and how VERITAS, EnVision, and DAVINCI will help us uncover the fascinating mysteries of the 2nd planet.
We talk Venus, VERITAS, EnVision and DAVINCI.* NASA selects VERITAS and DAVINCI * ESA selects EnVision
Follow Sue, Thomas and Margaret* Sue's Twitter * Thomas's Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Great Red Spot Planetary Park DesignCelebrate Pioneer 10's 50th launch anniversary with the Great Red Spot Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and explore Jupiter up close!
China has recently released a white paper outlining the next five years in spaceflight and it includes some interesting plans for the exploration of the planets. From lunar ambitions to Martian ones, Jupiter and beyond, China has big sights set. Andrew Jones returns to the show to talk about these plans and what China hopes to accomplish.
We talk Zhurong, Chang'e, and the Chinese National Space Administration* First sample attempt fails (August)
Follow Andrew* Andrew's Twitter * Andrew's Author page on SpaceNews * [Andrew's Author page on Planetary.org[(https://www.planetary.org/profiles/andrew-jones)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Great Red Spot Planetary Park DesignCelebrate Pioneer 10's 50th launch anniversary with the Great Red Spot Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and explore Jupiter up close!
The Perseverance rover has been exploring Mars for over a year now, and in that time it has collected six different rock cores. But these cores did not come easy, and Mars has thrown more than a couple curveballs at the rover operations team during this time. JPL's Avi Okon joins Jake to talk about these challenges, and how the sample caching system has performed throughout the first year.
We talk Perseverance, Drills, and Rock Samples* First sample attempt fails (August) * More on attempt 1 * Assessing sample attempt 7 (January) * Rotating the bit to eject broken sample * Ejecting last of the broken sample * Resolution of debris * More on how the coring bit holds a sample in * Diagram of Sampling and Caching Subsystem
Follow Avi and Perseverance* Perseverance's Website * Sample Caching System Site
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Dare Mighty Things DesignCelebrate Perseverance's landing anniversary with the Dare Mighty Things design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is about to embark on its 5th extended mission observing the atmosphere of Mars, at a time when the sun's activity reaches a peak. The new PI for the mission, Dr. Shannon Curry, joins Jake to talk about this new mission, why it's so exciting, and how the work MAVEN is doing contributes to the overall exploration of our solar system.
We talk MAVEN, Mars, and the Sun* MAVEN submits its EM5 review * Low-cost Science Mission Concepts for Mars Exploration
Follow Shannon* MAVEN's Twitter * MAVEN Playlist * Shannon's Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
In 2006, the IAU voted to define "Planet" in a way that had a profound impact on planetary science, most notably with regards to Pluto. But what is the story behind this decision, and why is it important to the field of exploration? Dr Phil Metzger joins Jake to talk about his new paper covering the very subject, and explains the context behind culture and science's different views on the subject.
We talk Pluto, Planets, and Taxonomy* Moons are planets: Scientific usefulness versus cultural teleology in the taxonomy of planetary science (Phil's Paper)
Follow Phil* Phil's Website * Phil's Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
NASA's flagship human spaceflight program Artemis got through a tough 2021 and has a challenging 2022 ahead of it. Space reporters Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck join Jake to talk about these challenges, and what we're excited to cover in the year to come.
We talk Artemis, SLS, Starship, and Astronauts* White House endorses Artemis * NASA awards SpaceX Human Landing System Contract * GAO denies Blue Origin Protest of HLS Award * Federal Court dismisses Blue Origin lawsuit for HLS Award * SpaceX lands SN10 only to have it exposed * SpaceX successfully lands SN15 * Green run aborts early * SLS Fully Stacked * Complex Launch Constraints for SLS * SLS Engine Controller Replacements * The Artemis Astronauts * The 2021 Astronaut Group * Canada to fly on Artemis 2
Follow Brendan* Mason Lab Website * Are We There Yet * Brendan's Twitter
Follow Emilee* Fox Weather Earth and Space * Emilee's Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Jake talks about the decision to start covering more than just Mars in 2022.
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
In this free episode of Red Planet Review, Jakes keeps you up to date on Perseverance's new sample, Curiosity's holiday break, and the regulatory process for SpaceX big new rocket.
Headlines* FAA delays Starship Environmental Review Completion * Perseverance Update * Blog on the Jezero Geology * 2021 in Samples - Perseverance * Robine with SuperCam rasters * New Perseverance Sample * Where is Perseverance? * Curiosity Update * Sols 3333-3343 * Sols 3344-3346 * Sol 3330 360 panorama * Where is Curiosity?
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Hi there, Martians!
The holidays are here and we're on our break until the new year, but I don't want you to be without content! Listen in to some info about two other shows you can check out: Off-Nominal and Red Planet Review.
Content* Off-Nominal * Red Planet Review
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Space is a dangerous and challenging environment for the human body, but we're not completely helpless against it. One way to adapt ourselves to space is to unlock the power of the human gene. Geneticist Dr Chris Mason joins Jake to talk about his book The Next 500 Years where he lays out the science behind gene therapy and how it can help us leave Earth to Mars and beyond.
We talk humans, genes and space* The Next 500 Years
Follow Chris* Mason Lab Website * Chris's Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Mars' river valleys are an iconic feature, formed billions of years ago in a different climate. Planetary Scientist Tim Goudge joins Jake to talk about how they were formed, and how one such formation method may have been more important than we once thought.
We talk Mars river valley network* Tim's Paper * Coverage of Tim's Paper
Follow Tim* UT Planetary Surface Processes Group * Tim's Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
Fifty years ago this month, the Mariner 9 mission became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet beyond Earth. It created the first global map of Mars and set the course for Martian exploration for the next five decades. Dr. William K Hartmann was a co-investigator on the mission and wrote the book The New Mars: Discoveries of Mariner 9, and he joins Jake to talk about the impact this mission has, even today.
We talk Mariner 9* NSSDC Profile for Mariner 9
Follow Bill* Bill's Profile at Planetary Science Institute * Bill's space-inspired paintings
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast * Marsti.me
Marsti.meLearn about time on Mars! See live mission clocks, learn about sols and Mars years and solar longitude, and discover your Martian birthday! Visit Marsti.me, a new site from Jake.
Tharsis Planetary ParkCelebrate Mariner 9's 50th anniversary with the Tharsis Planetary Park design at the WeMartians shop today! You can get it in a t-shirt or on a coffee mug.
The UAE started their space agency in 2014 and have accelerated at a remarkable pace since then, including putting their first orbiter around Mars this year. The work continues with new mission announcements, astronaut selections and more. Dubai-based space journalist Sarwat Nasir joins Jake to report on Expo 2021 and IAC 2021, two back to back space conferences happening in the UAE.
We talk UAE, Space and the World* The Hope Mission Data Portal * UAE and Israel Co-operate on Beresheet * Space is the UAE's most promising sector * UAE to launch asteroid mission
Follow Sarwat* Sarwat's Publications at the National News * Sarwat Nasir on Twitter (@SarwatNasir) * Sarwat's Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Wheels DownPick up your Perseverance Wheels Down design at the WeMartians shop today!
The Perseverance Rover has been operating for over 200 sols already. It's travelled far with the help of the Ingenuity helicopter and is already delivering great science, including acquiring its first rock sample. NASA JPL's Vivian Sun joins Jake to talk about the mission's successes and failures, and what we can expect from it next.
We talk Perseverance Rover* With First Martian Samples Packed, Perseverance initiates Remarkable Sample Return Campaign * Perseverance Team Blog
Follow Vivian* Vivian's Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Wheels DownPick up your Perseverance Wheels Down design at the WeMartians shop today!
Curiosity recently celebrated its 9th birthday on Mars and is exploring a new area of Gale Crater rich in sulphates. NASA JPL's Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity's project scientist, joins Jake to talk about this new area, the dramatic landscapes it holds, and what it can tell us about past life on Mars and the history of Mars' climate.
We talk Curiosity Rover and the Sulfate-bearing Unit* Curiosity enters a new area
Follow Ashwin* Ashwin's profile at JPL
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Immensely Complex and High RiskOur new design pokes fun at some of the criticism of SpaceX's Starship system. Wear it proudly!
Arcadia Planitia has attracted a lot of attention because of its potential as a human landing site on Mars. It's hidden water reserves, under the surface, are one of many reasons it may be ideal. Geologist Shannon Hibbard joins Jake to talk about the ice underground, and some of the interesting flows she's found.
We talk Ice, Glaciers and Arcadia Planitia* Shannon's Paper on Glaciation in Arcadia * CBC Coverage of Shannon's paper
Follow Shannon* Shannon's Website * Shannon on Twitter - @shann0nMars * Western University Space
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Immensely Complex and High RiskOur new design pokes fun at some of the criticism of SpaceX's Starship system. Wear it proudly!
Over two years ago, NASA's InSight lander touched down on Mars and began listening for mars quakes. Now, scientists have used these data to reveal the interior structure of Mars. ETH Zurich's Simon Stähler joins Jake to talk about these results, how they help us understand Mars, and what we can do with this knowledge as we explore the rest of the solar system.
We talk InSight and SEIS* Seismic detection of the martian core (Stähler et al) * Upper mantle structure of Mars from InSight seismic data (Khan et al) * Thickness and structure of the martian crust from InSight seismic data (Knapmeyer-Endrun et al) * Canadian Company makes Chainmail for Mars * Cerberus Fossae Marsquakes
Follow Simon and InSight* InSight - NASA * SEIS - CNES * Simon's Website * Simon on Twitter - @exoseismologist
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Tharsis Planetary ParkOur new design celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Mariner 9 mission, first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Get it on a shirt or a coffee mug today!
With the arrival of Perseverance at Jezero Crater, NASA now operates two space laser instruments - ChemCam and SuperCam. Together, they are exploring Mars' past by understanding the chemistry and mineralogy of the rocks. ChemCam's principal investigator Nina Lanza joins Jake to discuss the both instruments, what they're up to, and what we're learning from them.
We talk ChemCam and SuperCam* ChemCam Proposal Image * SuperCam RMI Close-up * Sounds from SuperCam
Follow Nina, ChemCam and SuperCam* ChemCam - NASA * SuperCam - NASA * Nina's Website * Nina on Twitter - @marsninja
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Tharsis Planetary ParkOur new design celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Mariner 9 mission, first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Get it on a shirt or a coffee mug today!
The Orion spacecraft isn't the only payload flying on the Artemis 1 launch. NASA's new SLS rocket is also taking 13 secondary payloads to deep space, from science missions to tech demonstrations. Paul Bookout from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center joins Jake to talk about these payloads and how they integrate with the main mission.
We talk Artemis 1 SLS secondary payloads* Secondary Payload List * Secondary Payload Fact Seet
Follow Paul and SLS* Launching Science and Tech on SLS * NASA Cubesat Launch Initiative
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Tharsis Planetary ParkOur new design celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Mariner 9 mission, first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Get it on a shirt or a coffee mug today!
Today's space suits get the job done, but come with drawbacks that slow astronauts down, cause fatigue and injury, and introduce risks to the mission. Engineer Ana Diaz Artiles joins Jake to talk about her NASA-funded SmartSuit concept, which could solve many of these problems for future astronauts.
We talk SmartSuit and space suits* SmartSuit Final Report - NIAC Phase 1
Follow Ana & The Bioastronautics Lab* Ana's profile at Texas A&M * Ana on Twitter (@adartiles) * The Bioastronautics and Human Performance Lab * BHP on Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Tharsis Planetary ParkOur new design celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Mariner 9 mission, first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Get it on a shirt or a coffee mug today!
The Chinese National Space Administration's Tianwen-1 mission made history this month when its Zhurong rover landed safely in Utopia Planitia, Mars. Space journalist Andrew Jones joins Jake to talk about the landing process, the surface operations, and what effect this mission's success will have on space domestically in China and abroad.
We talk Tianwen-1 and Zhurong Rover* Zhurong lands safely in Utopia Planitia * Zhurong rolls onto surface
Follow Andrew* Andrew's Profile at SpaceNews * Andrew's Profile at Space.com * Andrew on Twitter (@AJ_FI)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians 100 Sale Event!Celebrate our 100th episode! Almost everything is on sale in the WeMartians Shop. Use the code WM100 to get free shipping on all orders of 2+ items. Discounted pricing on Mission Patches, Stickers and Discontinued shirt designs! Event lasts until June 6th, 2021!
Join Patreon, get a free Sticker Pack!Join our Patreon at the $5 level or higher before June 6th and get a free Sticker Pack in the mail!
Tharsis Planetary ParkOur new design celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Mariner 9 mission, first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Get it on a shirt or a coffee mug today!
NASA has selected SpaceX's Starship to receive the sole award to take NASA astronauts to the surface of the Moon for the Artemis program. It's a non-traditional choice for NASA, and The Planetary Society's Chief Advocate Casey Dreier joins Jake to talk about what this means going forward for NASA and space exploration.
We talk SpaceX Starship and Artemis* Casey's Writeup on the Lander selection * Planetary Radio's Space Policy Edition on Starship
Follow Casey Dreier* Casey's Profile at the Planetary Society * Casey on Twitter (@CaseyDreier) * The Space Advocate Newsletter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Ingenuity First Flight Commemorative Mug now available!Celebrate the first flight of the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity with this commemorative coffee mug, now available in the WeMartians Shop.
Sticker Packs now available!Head over to the WeMartians shop and pick up our new Sticker Pack, featuring stickers of WeMartians, Off-Nominal, the JPL Parachute and Perseverance's wheel!
NASA made history this week as it flew Ingenuity, the Mars Helicopter, for the first time. The small technology demonstrator is the first powered aircraft to fly on another planet. JPL engineer Teddy Tzanetos joins Jake to talk about how it works, how it came together, and what he hopes its success does for space exploration.
We talk Ingenuity the Mars Helicopter* Ingenuity succeeds at first flight * Ingenuity succeeds at second flight * Ingenuity succeeds at third flight * Potential Science that could be done with a Mars Helicopter * Mars Helicopter Design Concepts
Follow Teddy Tzanetos* Teddy's profile at JPL
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Ingenuity First Flight Commemorative Mug now available!Celebrate the first flight of the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity with this commemorative coffee mug, now available in the WeMartians Shop.
Sticker Packs now available!Head over to the WeMartians shop and pick up our new Sticker Pack, featuring stickers of WeMartians, Off-Nominal, the JPL Parachute and Perseverance's wheel!
As NASA embarks on a journey to return samples from Mars, the Mars Program faces a challenge maintaining a diverse portfolio of spacecraft alongside the cost of its flagship missions. Planetary Scientist and MAVEN Principal Investigator Bruce Jakosky chaired the Mars Architecture Strategy Working Group and was tasked with helping NASA figure out how to solve it. He joins Jake to talk about how we can keep exploring the whole planet while focusing so many resources into samples.
We talk Mars Exploration Program at NASA* The MASWG Report * SpaceNews coverage of the MASWG report
Follow Bruce Jakosksy* Bruce's Profile at University of Colorado
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Ingenuity First Flight Commemorative Mug now available!Celebrate the first flight of the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity with this commemorative coffee mug, now available in the WeMartians Shop.
Sticker Packs now available!Head over to the WeMartians shop and pick up our new Sticker Pack, featuring stickers of WeMartians, Off-Nominal, the JPL Parachute and Perseverance's wheel!
This year, the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference goes virtual, and Jake reports "live" to catch up on mission updates and science themes. Scientists Sabrina Khan, Alyssa Pascuzzo, and Eva Scheller join Jake to report some interesting results from Mars.
We talk Mars Planetary Science* 2020 LPSC Cancellation * 2020 Virtual LPSC Podcast Poster Session Part 1 * 2020 Virtual LPSC Podcast Poster Session Part 2 * Sabrina's Abstract * Alyssa's Abstract * NYT coverage of Eva's Study * Eva's Paper
Follow Sabrina, Alyssa and Eva* Sabrina Twitter * Alyssa Twitter * Eva Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
Sticker Packs now available!Head over to the WeMartians shop and pick up our new Sticker Pack, featuring stickers of WeMartians, Off-Nominal, the JPL Parachute and Perseverance's wheel!
The next two years could see multiple new heavy lift rockets enter the space world, bringing with them the capability to send bigger and better payloads to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Main Engine Cut Off Podcast host Anthony Colangelo joins Jake to catch us up on the latest developments in SLS, New Glenn, Vulcan and Starship.
We talk Big Rockets* SLS Green Run Coverage * Vulcan Pathfinder Arrives at the Cape * New Glenn Delays, Launchpad Updates * Starship SN10 Flight
Follow Anthony and Main Engine Cut Off* Anthony Twitter * Main Engine Cut Off Twitter * Main Engine Cut Off Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
Sticker Packs now available!Head over to the WeMartians shop and pick up our new Sticker Pack, featuring stickers of WeMartians, Off-Nominal, the JPL Parachute and Perseverance's wheel!
NASA landed its 9th successful surface mission and 5th rover on Mars, Perseverance. To place is safely in the treacherous Jezero Crater, Perseverance used two new technologies: Range Trigger and Terrain Relative Navigation. Mars 2020 Guidance, Navigation and Controls Operations Lead Swati Mohan joins Jake to talk about these technologies and how they did their job so well.
We talk Perseverance Entry, Descent, and Landing* Incredible Perseverance EDL Footage
Follow Swati and Mars 2020* Swati Twitter * Mars 2020 Twitter * Mars 2020 Website * Swati's profile on the Mars 2020 Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
Dare Mighty Things Parachute DesignHead over to the WeMartians shop and pick up the Dare Mighty Things t-shirt design, fashioned after the Perseverance parachute.
We talk the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing* WeMartians Live Video Stream * JPL Raw Feed - Mission Control Audio Only * Jezero Crater Mineralogy Map * Landing Ellipses at Mars * EDL Footage - HD
Follow Tanya and our Guests* Tanya Twitter (@TanyaOfMars) * For All Mankind Book * Debarati Twitter (@SpaceWicca) * Mike Twitter (@MikeSeibert)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
The United Arab Emirates Space Agency became the first Arab nation to send an interplanetary probe to Mars this week. Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, UAE Space Agency Chair and Hope Science Lead Sarah Al Amiri joins Jake to talk about the spacecraft's arrival, what's next, and what it means for the UAE and the world.
We talk Mars Hope* Hope enters orbit around Mars * First image of Mars from Hope
Follow Sarah and the UAE Space Agency* Mars Hope Twitter * UAE Space Agency Twitter * Sarah Al Amiri Twitter * Mars Hope Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Perseverance Landing LivestreamJoin us for WeMartians Live on YouTube as NASA's Perseverance Rover lands on Mars! Co-host Tanya Harrison joins Jake with special guests Debarati Das, Dave Buecher and Mike Seibert. Learn more at www.wemartians.com/2020live
WeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
NASA's Lunar Gateway is an international partnership that plans to put a small station in orbit around the Moon in 2024. Canada, the first country to join the program, will contribute a next-generation robotic arm to facilitate the station's work - Canadarm3. Ken Podwalski, Gateway Program Manager at the Canadian Space Agency, joins Jake to talk about the arm, it's role at Gateway, and Canada's plans for the future in space.
We talk Canadarm3 and Gateway* Canada becomes first nation to sign on to Gateway * MDA awarded Candarm3 Contract * Canada to send astronauts to the Moon with NASA
Follow the Canadian Space Agency* Canada's Canadarm3 Website at CSA
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Much like Earth, Mars is a volcanic world and is home to the largest volcanos in the solar system. But it's activity has quieted since its early eras and volcanism on Mars today is quite different than what we have here on Earth. Planetary Vulcanologist Davitia James joins Jake to talk about the similarities and differences of these volcanos, and what else we need to learn about them.
We talk volcanos on Mars* Recent activity in Cerberus Fossae * The Eastern Caribbean
Follow Davitia* Davitia's Twitter Account (@VolcanoDavi) * Montserrat Volcano Observatory (Facebook) * Seismic Research Centre at UWI (Facebook)
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Five years ago, WeMartians debuted its first episode. We've learned a lot since then, both in how the space world works, and how podcasts work, too! Space reporters and friends of the show Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck join Jake to have a bit of a humorous look back at the first podcast and how far everything has come.
We talk Five Years of the WeMartians Podcast* The First WeMartians Podcast, January 20th, 2016
Follow Brendan and Emilee* Emilee Speck's Twitter (@EMSpeck) * ClickOrlando.com (Space) * Space Curious Podcast * Brendan Byrne's Twitter (@SpaceBrendan) * WMFE Orlando (Space) * Are We There Yet Podcast
Follow Jake & WeMartians* WeMartians.com) * Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast
Going Pro Phase TwoIt’s the end of the year, and traditionally around this time we ask for support from you, the listener, as we continue to produce space content on this podcast every month! WeMartians is entirely listener-funded, and as I noted about year ago this month, I’ve begun #GoingPro by making changes in my life in pursuit of creating space content full time. None of that is possible without you!
See some of the special limited time offers for new Patrons!
Support WeMartians on Patreon
NASA is getting serious about sending people back to the Moon. And when the Artemis program lands on the surface, there’s a whole world of science to uncover. Renee Weber from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center joins Jake to talk about her new report on what NASA should prioritize when it finally sends astronauts back.
We talk Artemis and Lunar Science * Moon Trek * Artemis Science Definition Team releases report * The Report
Follow Renee and Artemis * Renee’s Twitter (@moonshakes) * Profile on Renee at NASA
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 36 – December Hurricanes (feat. Eric Berger)
Going Pro Phase Two It’s the end of the year, and traditionally around this time we ask for support from you, the listener, as we continue to produce space content on this podcast every month! WeMartians is entirely listener-funded, and as I noted about year ago this month, I’ve begun #GoingPro by making changes in my life in pursuit of creating space content full time. None of that is possible without you!
See some of the special limited time offers for new Patrons!
Support WeMartians on Patreon
It’s the end of the year, and traditionally around this time we ask for support from you, the listener, as we continue to produce space content on this podcast every month! WeMartians is entirely listener-funded, and as I noted about year ago this month, I’ve begun #GoingPro by making changes in my life in pursuit of creating space content full time. None of that is possible without you!
And so as we kick off our December drive to gather support, it’s a great time to showcase one of the perks of being a Patron!
Red Planet Review is an exclusive extra podcast that is enjoyed weekly by our Patreon supporters of $3 or more. We cover all kinds of news from planetary science, rockets and spacecraft, space policy, all with a Moon and Mars focus. Enjoy this week’s episode for free, and consider signing up to support independent space media.
See some of the special limited time offers for new Patrons, too!
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Headlines for this week * Chang’e 5 successfully lands on Moon, retrieves samples * Chang’e 5 rendezvous and docking * China to proceed with Long March 9 * Orion PDU failure could add 12 month delay * SLS begins Green Run Wet Dress Rehearsal * Blue Origin fires BE-7 engine * New process for making hydrogen and oxygen from martian brine * InSight measures Martian Background Noise * Curiosity Sol 2958 * Curiosity Sol 2959 * Curiosity Sols 2960-2961 * Curiosity Traverse Map (revamped!)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 36 – December Hurricanes (feat. Eric Berger)
NASA is building a new outpost at the Moon called the Lunar Gateway. It’s a place for science but also a place to stage lunar activities like landings on the surface. Michael Staab from Northrop Grumman joins us to talk about the core module of Gateway, HALO, and what we can expect from it when it gets there.
We talk HALO and Lunar Gateway * NASA Awards Northrop Grumman contract for HALO * Recent plans for HALO
Follow Michael and HALO * NASA’s Lunar Gateway site * Michael’s Twitter (@AstroStaab) * Michael’s LinkedIn
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 36 – December Hurricanes (feat. Eric Berger)
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches
Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.
You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!
Get your Mission Patch now!
As more and more human spaceflight vehicles enter service, and more and more people have access to spaceflight, the need to design vehicles to accommodate different kinds of passengers becomes more and more important. Kavya Manyapu, a spacesuit engineer on Boeing’s Starliner program, joins Jake to talk about equitable design, and the challenges and payoffs of pursuing it.
We talk spacesuits and equitable design * Boeing Suit unveiling
Follow Kavya and Boeing’s Starliner * Kavya’s Wikipedia * Profile on Kavya in Rocket Women * Kavya’s appearance on Space4U Podcast * Boeing Starliner Site * Boeing Future U
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 35 – The Two Mile of the Space Industry featuring Caleb Henry
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches
Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.
You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!
Get your Mission Patch now!
In early 2019, NASA’s Curiosity Rover wrapped up a year-long chapter in its mission exploring Vera Rubin Ridge, an elevated rocky plateau with high iron content. Many months later, we’re starting to see the science results roll in. JPL’s Abigail Fraeman, the Deputy Project Scientist for the mission and campaign leader for the ridge chapter, joins Jake to talk about what we learned about the ridge, and how it surprised us.
We talk Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars * A view of Vera Rubin Ridge from Curiosity as it climbed up * Vera Rubin Ridge from orbit with CRISM data overlay * JGR Planets Special Issue on Vera Rubin Ridge
Follow Abby & the Curiosity Rover * Abby’s Twitter (@abbyfrae) * Curiosity Mission Updates * Where is Curiosity
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 34 – Repeatedly Googling Area 51 (feat. Emilee Speck, plus Anna and Henna from But It Is Rocket Science)
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches
Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.
You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!
Get your Mission Patch now!
The surface of Mars has been a subject of repeated exploration, from both in orbit and in situ. But this exploration is only skin-deep, and a growing community of scientists are calling on NASA to explore the Mars underground. Charity Phillips-Lander joins Jake to talk about this exciting world underground and how she thinks we might have a chance to learn about it with a mission concept called MACIE.
We talk Subterranean Exploration of Mars * Visions and Voyages – Planetary Decadal Survey, 2013-2023 * New Decadal Survey Page * The MACIE Concept Page + MACIE White Paper
Follow Charity Phillips-Lander * Charity’s Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 34 – Repeatedly Googling Area 51 (feat. Emilee Speck, plus Anna and Henna from But It Is Rocket Science)
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches
Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.
You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!
Get your Mission Patch now!
The annual Humans to Mars summit went virtual this year, and WeMartians stopped by to listen in on the discussions about getting humans to Mars. From life support to surface power, politics, and medicine, the summit covers a wide variety of topics. Guests Shawna Pandya, Robyn Gatens, Michelle Munk, Lee Mason, Marcia Smith and Chris Carberry join Jake to see where we’re at in this long-term plan.
Humans to Mars Summit * Explore Mars website * This year’s Humans to Mars Summit Agenda
Follow Explore Mars and our Guests * Explore Mars on Twitter * Shawna Pandya on Twitter * Shawna Pandya’s Website * Robyn Gatens names Acting Director of the ISS * Michelle Munk’s NASA Bio * Lee Mason’s NASA Bio * Space Policy Online * Marcia Smith’s Twitter * Chris Carberry’s Twitter * Chris Carberry on Off-Nominal
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode 33 – Regular-ass Fishing Boar (feat. Loren Grush)
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches
Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.
You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!
Get your Mission Patch now!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the first ever WeMartians live video webcast, Jake is joined by co-host Tanya Harrison and special guests Alexandra Pontefract, Nathan Williams, and Phillip Hargrove to experience the launch of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover.
Mars 2020 Perseverance * Video Version of this Webcast * NASA successfully launches Mars 2020
Follow our Guests * Tanya Harrison Twitter (@TanyaOfMars) * Alexandra Pontefract (@astrobio_alex) * Phillip Hargrove Twitter (@FlightMastrPhil) * Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 32 – Well Within the Kill Zone (feat. Richard Garriott)
Support WeMartians on Patreon
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s the Summer of Mars, and in between the larger space agencies of the United States and China vying to put the next rover on the surface, a small, upstart space agency in the United Arab Emirates is also looking to make their mark. Team members Mohsen Al Awadhi, Hessa Rashid Al Matroushi and Ayesha Al Sharafi from the UAE’s Mars Hope mission join Jake to talk about their successful launch and what they hope this mission will say to the people of the UAE and the world.
Mars Hope * Mars Hope launches Successfully
Follow Mars Hope * Mars Hope Twitter (@HopeMarsMission) * Ayesha Twitter (@ayesha_sharafi) * Hessa Twitter (@HR_Almatroushi) * Mohsen Twitter (@MohsenAlAwadhi)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 32 – Well Within the Kill Zone (feat. Richard Garriott)
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Announcing the first WeMartians Livestream Event for Perseverance
Be sure to join us on July 30th at 7:10AM EDT (T-40 minutes before launch). Co-host Tanya Harrison and I will be welcoming three amazing guests to talk about the NASA Perseverance launch, from science to engineering and more.
You can watch it on the Off-Nominal YouTube channel (subscribe to get the notification we’re live!).
We’ve Made Space Better Here at Off-Nominal, we’ve been following the demonstrations against racial inequality and police violence in the United States, Canada, and around the world with concern. These events have highlighted deep problems with how we treat each other in many domains, and space exploration is not exempt.
While we have been processing this in real-time, it has become obvious that we must do our part and use our platform to speak up against these inequalities and take action to stop them. We have engaged with our Discord community to come up with a plan. The first part of this plan is to raise money for two great organizations listed above.
Thanks to two anonymous listeners and our friend Tim Dodd the Everyday Astronaut, we’ve been able to match $11,000 of listener donations with twice that again. All in, we’ve raised nearly $35,000 for the Banneker Institute and Black Girls Code.
Read more about the results here.
Thank you for helping us work together to make space better.
The Summer of Mars is here! Three missions are launching to Mars in the next few weeks from three different space agencies. We’ve got the definitive preview of these missions, from UAE’s Mars Hope, to China’s Tianwen-1, and of course, NASA’s Perseverance Rover. Get caught up on all the facts before you watch the launch!
Mars Hope * Mars Hope Unveiled in 2015 * Hope Probe Introduction * TEDx Talk, Omran Sharaf, Project Manager for Mars Hope * TEDx Talk, Sarah Amiri, Project Scientist for Mars Hope * Lots of Technical Info for the Mission
Follow Mars Hope * Mars Hope Twitter (@HopeMarsMission)
Tianwen-1 * Yinguo-1, the ill-fated first Chinese Mars Mission * China announces Mars Mission in 2016 * Tianwen-1 Cameras * Andrew Jones on WeMartians * Tianwen-1 Payloads * Long March 5 Returns to Flight * Chinese Space and the Coronavirus * More on Coronavirus * Wan Weixing dies
Perseverance * 2003 Decadal Survey * 2013 Decadal Survey * Max-C Concept * NASA pulls out of joint Max-C/ExoMars * NASA announces Mars 2020 * Mars 2020’s Sample Caching System Video * NASA announces Jezero as landing site for Mars 2020 * MiMi Aung on the Mars Helicopter * Mars 2020 Cost Overruns * SHERLOC nearly cancelled * Launch slipped from July 17 to July 20 * Launch slipped from July 20 to July 22 * Launch slipped from July 22 to July 30 * Mars 2020 Press Kit * All of WeMartians Mars2020 Coverage over the years: + 10 – Science Meets Engineering on the 2020 Rover (feat. Sarah Milkovich) + 20 – Mars2020 Candidate Landing Sites + 48 – Zooming in on Mars (feat. Melissa Rice and Elsa Jensen) + 52 – Comin’ up Jezero (feat. Tim Goudge) + 77 – Persevering through ATLO (feat. Christina Hernandez) + 78 – The Quest for a Piece of Mars (feat. Chris Herd) + 79 – Preparing for a Martian Launch (feat. Tory Bruno)
Follow Perseverance * NASA Perseverance Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Make Space Better + Origins: Jim Bridenstine + Most Recent Episode: 31 – OG LIGO
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Help Make Space Better Here at Off-Nominal, we’ve been following the demonstrations against racial inequality and police violence in the United States, Canada, and around the world with concern. These events have highlighted deep problems with how we treat each other in many domains, and space exploration is not exempt.
While we have been processing this in real-time, it has become obvious that we must do our part and use our platform to speak up against these inequalities and take action to stop them. We have been engaging with our Discord community this past week to come up with a plan.
Many of these initiatives were developed not just by Jake and Anthony, but in partnership with the Patrons and listeners of our three podcasts. We’re proud that this is a community-led effort. We’re also really proud that some of our listeners and colleagues have joined in to make this an even stronger initiative.
Together, we’re putting on a fundraiser to support Black organizations whose missions we believe in.
All of the sponsors, including Jake and Anthony, will be matching contributions the community makes to both of these organizations through July 10. Jake and Anthony will match up to the total of this month’s revenue from Patreon (WeMartians, MECO), and other sponsors may have different max amounts.
Thank you for helping us work together to make space better.
NASA’s Mars2020 Rover is set to launch this summer on an Atlas V rocket from the United Launch Alliance. But it is no trivial payload, and a lot of work goes into preparing a rocket for this kind of journey. ULA’s CEO Tory Bruno joins Jake to talk about those preparations as they get close to this historic mission.
We talk Atlas V and Perseverance * Atlas V assembly begins * The Mars2020 Website * NASA Perseverance Rover Twitter
Follow Tory * Tory on Twitter (@ToryBruno) * ULA’s Website * ULA Twitter (@ULALaunch)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 30 – There’s Always Money in the VAB
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches
Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post.
You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too!
Get your Mission Patch now!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA’s Mars2020 Rover is set to launch this summer to kick off an intense series of missions set to bring back a sample from Mars. But retrieving these samples is no small task. The University of Alberta’s Chris Herd, member of the Project Science Group for the mission, joins Jake to discuss Mars samples and all the challenges that go into getting them home.
We talk Sample Science for Mars2020 Perseverance * Chris named to Project Science Group * The Mars2020 Website * NASA Perseverance Rover Twitter * Mars helicopter named Ingenuity
Follow Chris * Chris on Twitter (@SpaceRockDoc)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 30 – There’s Always Money in the VAB
Support WeMartians on Patreon
Now Available – Dragon Worm T-Shirt
Celebrate NASA’s upcoming SpaceX DM-2 flight, which will launch astronauts to the International Space Station from US soil for the first time since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.
Our new design features the iconic NASA Logotype, the “Worm”, which will make a triumphant return on the Falcon 9 rocket for the launch. Pick one up today in the WeMartians Shop.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The ATLO phase of a planetary mission (Assembly, Test and Launch Operations) is the most intense of any part of its development. Amid a global pandemic, Perseverance’s time at it is even more remarkable. NASA JPL’s Christina Hernandez, a systems engineer on the rover team, joins us to talk about what it’s like getting a flagship mission out the door and to the launch pad.
We talk ATLO for Mars2020 Perseverance * The Mars2020 Website * NASA Perseverance Rover Twitter
Follow Christina * Christina on Twitter (@estrellasycafe) * Astronucelart Instagram Account
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 29 – Don’t Go Full Goldin
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!
Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
Support WeMartians on Patreon
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
For a long time, planetary science missions have been the exclusive domain of space agencies like NASA. But in the 21st century, things are changing, and commercial actors are increasingly involving themselves not just as suppliers to governments, but as mission leaders themselves. Elizabeth Frank from First Mode joins Jake to talk about a new paradigm for planetary science.
We talk Government, Industry, and Planetary Science * Elizabeth’s rejected LPSC abstract
Follow Elizabeth * Elizabeth on Twitter (@efrankplanetary) * Elizabeth’s Website * First Mode
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 27 – Space Policy Fugue State
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference is the premier gathering for planetary scientists worldwide. But, like many events, it was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve covered it every year, and despite viral concerns, this year is no different. We speak with six planetary scientists about the work they were going to present by creating a virtual, simulated audio poster session. Stop step in, grab a drink, and learn about some cool space science.
We Mars Planetary Science and LPSC * Corbin Kling (@planetarydrone) + Abstract on Noctis Labyrinthus * Justin Cowart (@jccwrt) + Abstract on THEMIS data * Paul Niles (@PBNiles) + Abstract on Jarosite formation * Shoshanna Cole + Abstract on MER Data Catalog + e-Poster Link + MER Data Survey * Szilard Gyalay (@szizygy) + Abstract on porosity at InSight’s landing site * Peter Fawdon (@DrPFawdon) + Abstract on Oxia Planum Crater Dating + Abstract on Oxia Planum Landing Site
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 28 – Don’t Sneeze in their Mouths
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference is the premier gathering for planetary scientists worldwide. But, like many events, it was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve covered it every year, and despite viral concerns, this year is no different. We speak with six planetary scientists about the work they were going to present by creating a virtual, simulated audio poster session. Stop step in, grab a drink, and learn about some cool space science.
We Mars Planetary Science and LPSC * Joe Levy (@colddirt) + Abstract on Glaciers and Boulders * Frances Butcher (@fegbutcher) + Abstract on Glaciers and the Gully + Previous WeMartians Appearance: Episode 23 * Stefano Nerozzi (@Micascisto) + Abstract on the North Polar Layer Deposit Basal Unit * Chimira Andres (@RocksNRockets) + Abstract on Ground Penetrating Radar in the Canadian Arctic * Catheryn Ryan (@geochemystery) + Abstract on UV-LIF Instrument + Previous WeMartians Appearance: Episode 39 + More on the BASALT program with Astronaut Stan Love * Andrew Annex (@AndrewAnnex) + Abstract on Arabia Terra
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 27 – Space Policy Fugue State
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The ExoMars mission will be Europe’s first Mars rover, and when it drives off the platform on Mars to begin operating, it will do so on chassis and wheels made in Canada. Natalie Panek from MDA joins Jake to talk about the Rosalind Franklin’s mobility system, and how the rover will move around on the Red Planet.
We talk Rover Mobility Systems * Wheel walking Tests * More Wheel Walking! * Video shows deployment sequence of wheels and rover (you can also hear the clinking sounds of the metal treads)
Follow Natalie * Natalie on Twitter (@nmpanek) * Natalie’s Personal Website * Natalie’s Wikipedia
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 27 – Space Policy Fugue State
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Planetary Protection is the framework by which we protect the worlds we explore from our own environment, and Earth from the worlds we explore. And while it’s purpose is important, its specifics can get out of sync as we learn more about science, technology, and when our priorities for exploration and development of space change. Dr. Wendy Calvin, a member of the Planetary Protection Independent Review Board, joins Jake to talk about her assessment of the current policies and the recommendations they made to NASA.
We talk Planetary Protection * The PPIRB Report
Follow Wendy * Wendycalvin.com
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 27 – Space Policy Fugue State
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In December we launched our #GoingPro campaign and you, the listeners, really stepped up! We hit our 200 patron milestone with hours to spare. And that means Jake’s on the hook for an Ask Me Anything podcast! So here it is.
Patrons from around the world submitted questions and we’ve asked Anthony Colangelo from Main Engine Cut Off and Off-Nominal to come by and read them. It is a fun filled episode with questions spanning space and non-space areas.
Thanks so much for your support in this endeavour. We hope you have fun listening.
Tidbits from the Show * Off-Nominal 4: Dragonfly vs CAESAR * Jake’s iPhone wallpaper * The Downlink App, for your Mac OS wallpaper
Follow Anthony & Main Engine Cut Off * Podcast & Blog (www.mainenginecutoff.com) * Anthony’s Patreon * Twitter (@WeHaveMECO)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 26 – Hungover on Re-entry
GoingPro – What’s Next?
There’s lots more to do! We’re going to keep working towards the next goal of 250 patrons. Once we reach it, I’ll make a bonus audio documentary about the Atlas Rocket, a storied launch vehicle that has sent a lot of really important payloads to Mars.
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Dust is ubiquitous on Mars, and the way it moves around can be quite unique. While the global dust storm might be Mars most recognizable dusty weather pattern, the Dust Tower can be equally interesting. Planetary scientist Nick Heavens joins Jake to talk about these massive structures lifting dust into the upper atmosphere and leaking water in to space.
We Mars missions, Artemis, and Commercial Crew * Nick’s Paper on Martian Dust Towers * Follow up by the ExoMars NOMAD Team
Follow Nick * Nick on Twitter (@WeatherOnMars)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 26 – Hungover on Re-entry
GoingPro Phase 1 – Complete!
On January 10th we concluded the first part of the #GoingPro fundraising campaign, and what a tremendous finish it was! With just hours to spare, we crossed the 200 patron milestone in an exciting finish. Missed the whole campaign? Catch up in our blog post explainer!
There’s lots more to do, but for now I want to say THANK YOU. Keep an eye the main feed for the upcoming Ask Me Anything style podcast. It’s coming up next!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! https://twitter.com/We_Martians/status/1215815771315552257?s=20
Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We’re in a new decade, and Mars is kicking it off strong with four missions to the Red Planet in July. As we do every year, we’re joined by Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck to preview the missions as well as everything else ahead of us in 2020.
We Mars missions, Artemis, and Commercial Crew * Mars 2020 Name the Rover Contest * ExoMars 2020 Parachute Progress * UAE’s Mars Hope nearly assembled * Long March 5 returns to flight * Starliner in good shape after shortened flight * NASA received $22.6B budget
Previous Conversations with Brendan and Emilee * Episode 18 – State of Mars 2017 * Episode 35 – State of Mars 2018 * Off-Nominal Episode 6 (feat. Brendan Byrne) * Episode 53 – State of Mars 2019
Follow Emilee and Brendan * Emilee on Twitter (@EMSpeck) * Emilee’s Space Coverage (ClickOrlando.com) * News 6 WKMG Facebook (Facebook.com) * Brendan on Twitter (@SpaceBrendan) * Are We There Yet Podcast on Twitter (@AWTYMars) * WMFE Space (wmfe.org)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Featuring a limited time special offer! Ends Jan 10th! * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Free shipping if you buy 2+ items until Jan 10th * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 25 – SpaceX Cinematic Universe
An Exciting Space Future WeMartians is celebrating its fourth anniversary, and I couldn’t be more happy with the way this project has turned out. What began as a hobby has transformed in to a thriving community of thousands interested in Mars exploration.
I’ve got what feels like hundreds of ideas to make this show better, but I’ve always struggled balancing this hobby with my day job and the rest of my life. There’s not much else I can do without somehow getting more time! And so I’ve made some decisions to do just that.
I’ve left my day job. WeMartians is officially on the path of #GoingPro.
Learn more about the decision, what it means for the show, and how you can help at our blog post explainer!
https://twitter.com/We_Martians/status/1212865759665246208?s=20
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!
How you can help You can help support me as I transition to a new career.
- We’ve got some new Patreon goals for the next four patron milestones – all bonus content for YOU, including video tours of the new studio to audio documentaries.
- UPDATE – Goal 1 has been reached! You can see the new studio tour here or below!
- A limited offer extended until January 10th for new Patrons at the $5 level or higher – get a handwritten postcard and a pack of stickers!
- A special sale in the WeMartians shop – free shipping on orders of two or more items!
- UPDATE – New Shirt Design Available! SpaceX Super Heavy THIRTYSEVEN
Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
New Shirt Design! THIRTYSEVEN We’ve got a new shirt design out to mark our #GoingPro campaign. The much anticipated successor to our bestseller TWENTYSEVEN, THIRTYSEVEN features the business end of a Starship Super Heavy rocket. Pick it up now with the Rosalind Franklin shirt to take advantage of our free shipping promo using code GOINGPRO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfWK32tXFd8
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Happy Holidays Martians!
We’re #GoingPro, and we thought it would be a good opportunity to showcase what you get for becoming a Patron by sharing an episode of Red Planet Review, our weekly news show normally reserved for our $3+ Patreon supporters.
To celebrate #GoingPro, we thought we’d end 2019 with a fresh new show that’s available to ALL listeners.
If you like what you hear today, consider joining the hundreds of other listeners over at Patreon. With a pledge of $3 or more, you can get a show like this every Friday, a great way to keep up on the news!
And remember, if you join at the $5 level or higher before January 3rd, you’ll get a limited time offer of a postcard from me and a set of podcast stickers!
Headlines this Week * NASA Budget for 2020 * 2020 Launch Window Updates + Mars2020 takes its first drive + Mars2020 drive video + ExoMars Parachute Extraction Tests successful + ExoMars Parachute Extraction Video * Insight Update + The mole is moving again! * Curiosity Update + Sols 2615-2617 + Sols 2618-2619 + Sols 2620-2630 (The Holiday Plan)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Featuring a limited time special offer! Click through or see below! * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Free shipping if you buy 2+ items until the end of the year! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 25 – SpaceX Cinematic Universe
Get your own Red Planet Review Shirt!
Support the show by wearing the RPR logo loud and proud! Get one today at the WeMartians Shop! And take advantage of our #GoingPro deal by pairing it with the new THIRTYSEVEN design!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In July, ESA plans to launch the 2nd ExoMars mission, a rover called the Rosalind Franklin that will search for signs of life on Mars. It’ll do so with the MOMA instrument. Recently, scientists from ESA and NASA embarked on an expedition to the Pilbara region in Australia to practice identifying biosignatures in rocks to prep them for their eventual interpretation of the data coming back. Teresa Fornaro, co-investigator on the MOMA instrument, joins Jake to talk about the instrument, the mission, and the expedition.
We talk MOMA, ExoMars, and Life on Mars * The ExoMars website * MOMA Wikipedia * Images of MOMA * Pilbara Expedition Press Release * Video of Expedition featuring Teresa
Follow Teresa Fornaro * Teresa’s Website * Teresa’s laboratory website
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Featuring a limited time special offer! Click through or see below! * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Free shipping if you buy 2+ items until the end of the year! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: 25 – SpaceX Cinematic Universe
An Exciting Space Future WeMartians is celebrating its fourth anniversary this month, and I couldn’t be more happy with the way this project has turned out. What began as a hobby has transformed in to a thriving community of thousands interested in Mars exploration.
I’ve got what feels like hundreds of ideas to make this show better, but I’ve always struggled balancing this hobby with my day job and the rest of my life. There’s not much else I can do without somehow getting more time! And so I’ve made some decisions to do just that.
I’ve left my day job. WeMartians is officially on the path of #GoingPro.
Learn more about the decision, what it means for the show, and how you can help at our blog post explainer!
https://twitter.com/We_Martians/status/1206647580370722816?s=20
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon!
How you can help You can help support me as I transition to a new career.
- We’ve got some new Patreon goals for the next four patron milestones – all bonus content for YOU, including video tours of the new studio to audio documentaries.
- UPDATE – Goal 1 has been reached! You can see the new studio tour here or below!
- A limited offer until January 3rd for new Patrons at the $5 level or higher – get a handwritten postcard and a pack of stickers!
- A special sale in the WeMartians shop – free shipping on orders of two or more items!
- UPDATE – New Shirt Design Available! SpaceX Super Heavy THIRTYSEVEN
Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
New Shirt Design! THIRTYSEVEN We’ve got a new shirt design out to mark our #GoingPro campaign. The much anticipated successor to our bestseller TWENTYSEVEN, THIRTYSEVEN features the business end of a Starship Super Heavy rocket. Pick it up now with the Rosalind Franklin shirt to take advantage of our free shipping promo using code GOINGPRO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfWK32tXFd8
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
For years, the NASA Curiosity Rover has been quietly sniffing the atmosphere in Gale Crater with its SAM instrument. Today, scientists are finally getting a handle on that vast dataset, and they’re turning up some crazy results, especially an unexplained oxygen spike! Dr. Melissa Trainer from NASA Goddard, lead author on a paper covering the results, joins Jake to talk about this peculiar behaviour.
We talk Oxygen, Curiosity, and Atmospheres * Melissa’s Paper on Atmospheric Composition (Open Access) * NASA press release on the paper
Follow Melissa Trainer * The Curiosity Rover Home Page * Melissa’s Wikipedia Entry * Melissa’s Profile on NASA Goddard’s site
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Featuring a limited time special offer! Click through or see below! * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Free shipping if you buy 2+ items until the end of the year! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: “Jim-Adjacent”
An Exciting Space Future WeMartians is celebrating its fourth anniversary this month, and I couldn’t be more happy with the way this project has turned out. What began as a hobby has transformed in to a thriving community of thousands interested in Mars exploration.
I’ve got what feels like hundreds of ideas to make this show better, but I’ve always struggled balancing this hobby with my day job and the rest of my life. There’s not much else I can do without somehow getting more time! And so I’ve made some decisions to do just that.
I’ve left my day job. WeMartians is officially on the path of #GoingPro.
Learn more about the decision, what it means for the show, and how you can help at our blog post explainer!
Show your support with a monthly pledge on Patreon! How you can help You can help support me as I transition to a new career.
- We’ve got some new Patreon goals for the next four patron milestones – all bonus content for YOU, including video tours of the new studio to audio documentaries.
- A limited offer until January 3rd for new Patrons at the $5 level or higher – get a handwritten postcard and a pack of stickers!
- A special sale in the WeMartians shop – free shipping on orders of two or more items!
Thanks to all the patrons who have come along so far, and to all the new ones ready to join the movement. Ad Ares!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Next year brings a quartet of missions heading from Earth to Mars, including one from the Chinese National Space Administration. Freelance journalist Andrew Jones, a specialist in Chinese space, joins Jake to talk about the mission, Huoxing-1, and what to expect leading up to China’s first Mars mission.
We talk China, Space, and Huoxing-1 * Huoxing-1 mission objectives and science payloads * YF-77 Test Firing * How not to land an orbital rocket booster (SpaceX) * China’s Mars Technology is Ready for 2020 Launch (IEEE Spectrum)
Follow Andrew Jones * Andrew Jones Twitter (@AJ_FI) * Andrew’s Space News Author Page * Andrew’s Space.com Author Page * Andrew’s Planetary Society Author Page * Andrew’s Sky and Telescope Author Page
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: “Jim-Adjacent”
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The 70th International Astronautical Congress descended on Washington, DC this week, with 6300 delegates from around the world coming together to talk about space technology, policy and more. Jake is on site to report on the happenings, and connected with a range of people on robotic missions and human architectures.
Guests include Walter Cugno from Thales Alenia Space, Khaled Ali Al Hashmi from the United Arab Emirates Space Agency, and Gary Napier from Lockheed Martin.
We talk ExoMars, Mars Hope, and Human Landing Systems * ExoMars Parachute Woes * Mars Hope nears completion * Blue Origin announces National Team
Follow our Guests * Thales Alenia Space Twitter * UAE Space Agency Twitter * Gary Napier Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: “What is the protocol for this?”
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
On September 28th, 2019, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk presented an update to the Starship architecture. To talk about what has changed and what hasn’t, Jake is joined by podcast partner Anthony Colangelo from Main Engine Cut Off in a two part conversation between the two shows.
You can listen to part 2 of the conversation on the MECO feed or by clicking here.
We talk SpaceX & Starship * Starship’s Website * SpaceNews coverage of Starship Update * Part 2: T-135 Jake Robins on Starship
Follow Anthony Colangelo * Main Engine Cut Off Podcast & Blog * Main Engine Cut Off Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: “What is the protocol for this?”
WeMartians Meetup in Washington DC! On October 20th, we’ll be meeting up with Anthony Colangelo from The Main Engine Cut Off Podcast as we head to Washington DC to cover IAC 2019.
You can join us as we visit the Udvar Hazy museum and see Space Shuttle Discovery, then come have beers with us at Dacha Beer Garden in the city. We’d love to meet you – this is going to be a big event and we can’t wait to talk with all our listeners.
Check out the details at our events page.
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
SpaceX has been requesting HiRISE images from an area called Arcadia Planitia as potential landing sites for their Starship vehicle. Dr Ali Bramson, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Lab and expert on the region, joins Jake to talk about what’s going on there and why SpaceX might be interested.
We talk SpaceX, Starship, and Arcadia Planitia * SpaceX requests landing site candidate images * Some textures of Arcadia Planitia * An example of “Brain Terrain” * Polygonal terrain in Canada * Planetary Society piece on Terraced Craters * The SpaceX Landing Site Candidate HIRISE requests * Interactive DTMs for Terraced Craters – explore them in your browser! * PAPER: Widespread excess ice in Arcadia Planitia, Mars * PAPER: Exposed subsurface ice sheets in the Martian mid-latitudes
Follow Ali Bramson * Ali Bramson’s Twitter (@alibramson) * Ali’s profile at LPL * Ali’s profile at Purdue (starting Fall 2020) * SWIM Project * SWIM Project Twitter (@RedPlanetSWIM) * Be a student at Purdue!
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: “What is the protocol for this?”
WeMartians Meetup in Washington DC! On October 20th, we’ll be meeting up with Anthony Colangelo from The Main Engine Cut Off Podcast as we head to Washington DC to cover IAC 2019.
You can join us as we visit the Udvar Hazy museum and see Space Shuttle Discovery, then come have beers with us at Dacha Beer Garden in the city. We’d love to meet you – this is going to be a big event and we can’t wait to talk with all our listeners.
Check out the details at our events page.
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We talk the 9th International Mars Conference * Tweet thread on Methane from Justin Cowart * Content from the MEPAG meeting * Content from 9th Mars Presentations
Follow Nina Lanza * Nina Lanza’s Twitter (@marsninja) * Nina back on Episode 11
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: The Dark Lord
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We talk Relativity Space 3D-printed rockets * Telesat signs with Relativity Space * Relativity signs contract to build launch pad * Relativity to build rocket factory at Stennis
Follow Jordan Noone and Relativity * Relativity Space Website * Work for Relativity! * Relativity Space Twitter * Jordan Noone Twitter * Relativity Space Instagram
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: Carpet-Bombing Venus
Upcoming Seattle Meetup! Join us in south Seattle on August 31st for another meetup at the charming Airways Brewing Taproom. They’ve got Blue Origin themed beers and a great atmosphere. Check out the details at our events page, and note this one is a little earlier ’cause the taproom closes at 7PM!
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We talk the MAVEN mission * MAVEN Reveals Speed of Solar Wind Stripping Martian Atmosphere * MAVEN atmospheric escape simulation video
Follow Gina DiBraccio and MAVEN * The MAVEN Mission Page * Dr Gina DiBraccio on Instagram
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Off-Nominal Podcast + Most Recent Episode: Carpet-Bombing Venus
The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s been 50 years since Apollo 11, and while there’s still a lot to celebrate about the whole Apollo era, it also begs the question, “why haven’t we gone back?” Michael Robinson, historian and host of the podcast Time to Eat the Dogs joins Jake to dig in to what motivates people to go to deep space and Mars in an attempt to understand how to make it happen again.
We Talk Motivations for People to Explore Mars and Deep Space * Planetary Radio Space Policy Edition feat. Roger Launius * Time to Eat the Dogs interview with Catherine Newell, author of Destined for the Stars * Michael’s essay on Motivations for Mars * “The Tweet” about Why Sending Humans to Mars
Follow Michael Robinson * Time to Eat the Dogs * Some select episodes to try: + Apollo in the Age of Aquarius + Should We Colonize Mars? + Living on the International Space Station + An American in Soviet Antarctica Part 1 & Part 2 + The Mars Curiosity Rover + The Falcon Heavy * Time To Eat the Dogs Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
The WeMartians 2018 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust stormthat ended the Opportunity mission.
Apollo 11 Celebration Discount Code! Use the code APOLLO11 to get 11% off any order with two or more items! It wouldn’t be a 50th anniversary celebration without some sweet merch, including the patch above! Pick them up in our shop today until July 23rd.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA is sending people back to the Moon, or so they say. A human deep space program is easier said than done. The Planetary Society’s Casey Dreier returns to the show to talk about politics, policy, and balancing skepticism with excitement.
We Talk NASA’s Moon Plan, Artemis * Mars Wars by Thor Hogan (free pdf) * What can we learn from a Failed Return to the Moon? * A Crash Program or a Modest Proposal? * NASA awards PPE Contract for Gateway * A Look at NASA’s Budgets
Follow Casey * Casey’s Twitter * Casey’s Profile on The Planetary Society * The Planetary Society’s Space Advocacy Page
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Seattle Meetup on June 29th!
The WeMartians 2018 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust stormthat ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Getting data back from our Mars spacecraft requires some pretty robust communications technology. But the infrastructure that rovers like Curiosity relay their images through is aging, and scientists are starting to worry about what would happen if they fail. NASA JPL’s Michael Staab joins Jake to talk about a new idea to reinforce that infrastructure and keep those data flowing back each and every sol.
We Talk Mars Communications * MAVEN lowers orbit to facilitate communications
Follow Michael * Michael’s Twitter (@AstroStaab) * NASA JPL
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
The WeMartians 2018 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust stormthat ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA’s BASALT program (Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains) has been working on understand how to do real science on an EVA since 2016. Jake is joined by NASA Astronaut, planetary scientist and program participant Stan Love to learn the challenges imposed by a Red Planet Spacewalk and what kinds of things the agency is trying to overcome them.
We Talk Mars, EVAs, and Science * Astrobiology Special Issue on BASALT + Intro by Stan Love + Paper overview by PI Darlene Lim * Off-Nominal Podcast Episode 17 (Jake’s Pick was BASALT)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
The WeMartians 2018 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust stormthat ended the Opportunity mission.
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Jake is on-site at the 50th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference to report on Mars science results and the shift to the Moon. Fifty years from Apollo’s first landing, lunar samples are still having an incredible impact on all planetary science, and as we look to the future, we have so much more to be excited about. Three special guests join Jake to talk about this exciting topic.
We Talk Mars and Apollo Lunar Science * InSight pauses Mole deployment * HP3 Heat Flow Probe results Abstract * DLR Blog on Heat Flow Probe with Team Updates * APSS (pressure sensor) results Abstract * Weird weather results from InSight (Ars Technica) * Mars Weather Report from InSight * Jack Schmitt’s keynote lecture (video) * 50 Years of Lunar Science Talk Track (video) * 50 Years of Planetary Science Talk Track (video)
Follow our Guests * Louise Prockter + The Lunar and Planetary Institute Twitter * Gordon Osinski Twitter * Gordon Osinski’s Website
Our Travel Grant Winner * Áine O’Brien wins the 2019 WeMartians Travel Grant * Áine’s Talk: Carbon in Martian Meteorites * Áine’s Poster: Diversity in Student Space Activities in the UK * Áine O’Brien Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Introducing the WeMartians 2018 Mission Patch
This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!
The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust stormthat ended the Opportunity mission.
Curiosity recently drove down from the Vera Rubin Ridge, its home for the last year and a half, into a new clay-rich area called Glen Torridon. Planetary Scientist Kristen Bennett joins Jake to talk about what this new area is like and what questions we hope to answer in the next chapter of this rover’s mission.
We Talk Curiosity and Glen Torridon * Curiosity says Farewell to Vera Rubin Ridge * 360 view of Vera Rubin Ridge as Curiosity Departs * Curiosity Computer troubles
Follow Kristen * Kristen’s Twitter (@planetkilobravo)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Rosalind Franklin ESA recently announced that the upcoming ExoMars 2020 rover will be named for the pioneering British DNA scientist, Rosalind Franklin. Just as Franklin sought to understand the smallest signs of life, so too will her titular rover as it explores Mars. We’re celebrating this announcement with a new t-shirt design, which you can get in our shop now!
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
WeMartians visits Arizona to attend the 2019 Women in Space Conference, an interdisciplinary event covering science, engineering, and policy with a reimagined, humanized perspective. Jake and guests discuss some of the science as well as the social challenges women and other marginalized groups face as they try to explore space.
We talk the Human side of Exploration * WISC 2019 Conference Schedule * Sex Differences in Body Composition, Physical Activity, and Total Energy Expenditure When in a Challenging and Novel Environment (Sarma, M. S.) * Space Ethics and Our Expanding Vision for Exploration: Core Conversations (Grier, J. A.) * All other WISC Abstracts * WISC Keynote Speaker Profiles
Follow Mallika, J.A., Tanya and Sara * Mallika Sarma on Twitter (@skyy_mal) * Mallika’s Research Site * J.A. Grier on Twitter (@grierja) * Tanya Harrison on Twitter (@tanyaofmars) * Tanya’s website * Sara Mazrouei on Twitter (@SciCommSara)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Rosalind Franklin ESA recently announced that the upcoming ExoMars 2020 rover will be named for the pioneering British DNA scientist, Rosalind Franklin. Just as Franklin sought to understand the smallest signs of life, so too will her titular rover as it explores Mars. We’re celebrating this announcement with a new t-shirt design, which you can get in our shop now!
The Rosalind Franklin design
WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The fourth season of WeMartians has begun, and we bring in our friends and regular guests Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck to talk about rockets, rovers, and Mars in pop culture.
We talk Mars in 2018 and in to the future * Sounds of Mars from NASA’s InSight
Previous Conversations with Brendan and Emilee * Episode 18 – State of Mars 2017 * Episode 35 – State of Mars 2018 * Off-Nominal Episode 6 (feat. Brendan Byrne)
Follow Emilee and Brendan * Emilee on Twitter (@EMSpeck) * Emilee’s Space Coverage (ClickOrlando.com) * News 6 WKMG Facebook (Facebook.com) * Brendan on Twitter (@SpaceBrendan) * Are We There Yet Podcast on Twitter (@AWTYMars) * WMFE Space (wmfe.org)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + The WeMartians Travel Grant * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Support the Travel Grant Here! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Come have a beer with me I will be at McFate Brewing Company (South location) in Scottsdale, Arizona at 6PM on Friday, Feb 8th. It’s an open invitation to any listeners in the area who want to hang out! More details here!
Happy New Year Martians!
It’s been 1 year since we launched the Red Planet Review weekly news roundup for our $3+ Patreon supporters. To celebrate, we thought we’d kick off 2019 with a fresh new show that’s available to ALL listeners.
If you like what you hear today, consider joining the hundreds of other listeners over at Patreon. With a pledge of $3 or more, you can get a show like this every Friday, a great way to keep up on the news! Plus, you’ll help support things like the WeMartians Travel Grant, for which applications are now open!
Headlines this Week * Valles Marineris – Not a Glaciated Place! * SpaceX’s Starhopper Test Article comes together * Mars Express celebrates 15 years at Mars * INSIGHT Update * SEIS levels itself * SEIS Tether slack released * MSL Update * Sols 2279-2280 * Sols 2281-2283 * Sols 2284-2285 * MER Update * MER-B December Update at Planetary.org
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + The WeMartians Travel Grant * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Check out the new PLANETARY design in support of the grant! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Get your own Red Planet Review Shirt!
Support the show by wearing the RPR logo loud and proud! Get one today at the WeMartians Shop!
In a quick holiday update, Jake shares an update on the podcast announcing the WeMartians Travel Grant, looking ahead to our next Patreon Goal and content for 2019, as well as two upcoming conferences and Podcast Meetups!
We talk 2019 Podcast News * Introducing the WeMartians Travel Grant * Our Next Patreon Goal * Meetup Schedule (stay tuned!)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Check out the new PLANETARY design in support of the grant! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Listener Survey 2018
New Shirt Design! In support of the WeMartians Travel Grant, you can pick up our new PLANETARY T-Shirt design. 100% of the proceeds of this shirt support an early career scientist travelling to LPSC to share their work about Mars. We also accept direct donations to the grant through the store link.
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA has selected the next landing site for its future Mars rover, Mars 2020. Jezero Crater is an incredible ancient river delta spilling in to the side of a crater. But what really makes it special, plus how and why did NASA pick it? Jake is joined by planetary scientist Tim Goudge, who led the advocacy of Jezero through the process, to explain its charm.
We talk NASA’s Mars 2020 rover and Jezero Crater * NASA Announces Jezero Crater as Landing Site Mars 2020 Rover
Previous Coverage of the Mars 2020 Rover * Episode 10 – Science meets Engineering on the 2020 Rover (feat. Sarah Milkovich) * Episode 20 – Mars 2020 Landing Site Candidates * Episode 48 – Zooming in on Mars (feat. Melissa Rice and Elsa Jensen)
Follow Tim Goudge * Tim’s Website * Tim’s Twitter (@timgoudge)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + The WeMartians Travel Grant * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Check out all the new merchandise out in time for the holidays! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * Listener Survey 2018
New Merchandise!
We’ve got a whole bunch of new merchandise in our shop! Check out the new designs, including Off-Nominal gear!
Our Sponsor WeMartians is sponsored by MOVA Globes. Visit the site and use the code WEMARTIANS for 10% off your order of one of these really great looking pieces shipping to the Americas. They rotate without cords or batteries! Patrons, check your Patreon account for a special Patron-only discount code. Thanks to MOVA Globes for helping us explore Mars together.
We wanted to feature a cool globe this episode. Given that Voyager 2 made the news this week when it entered the Interstellar Medium, we thought it appropriate to feature the Neptune design. Neptune has only ever been visited by Voyager 2! Check out that Small Dark Spot!
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
On November 26th, 2018, NASA successfully landed the InSight spacecraft on the surface of Mars. It was their 8th successful landing, went picture-perfect, and seemed to defy the common thought that Mars landings rarely work. Jake recounts the landing, provides historical context to the events, and asks the question of whether NASA’s entries, descents, and landings are as failure-prone as some make it out to be.
We Talk InSight and Entry, Descent, and Landing * Viking Press Kit * Mars Pathfinder Press Kit * Mars Polar Lander Press Kit * Mars Exploration Rovers Press Kit * Mars Phoenix Press Kit * Mars Science Laboratory Press Kit * InSight Press Kit * InSight L-1 Briefing * Paper on Drag-assisted entry at Mars * Summary of Mars EDLs
Previous Coverage of InSight * Episode 36: Systems Engineering InSight (feat. Farah Alibay) * Episode 41: Thirty Years to the Centre of Mars (feat. Bruce Banerdt, Philippe Lognonné, and Tim Linn) * Episode 50: The Journey to Mars is Hyperbolic (feat. Mark Wallace)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + The WeMartians Travel Grant * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Check out all the new merchandise out in time for the holidays! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
New Merchandise!
We’ve got a whole bunch of new merchandise in our shop! Check out the new designs, including Off-Nominal gear!
Our Sponsor WeMartians is sponsored by MOVA Globes. Visit the site and use the code WEMARTIANS for 10% off your order of one of these really great looking pieces shipping to the Americas. They rotate without cords or batteries! Patrons, check your Patreon account for a special Patron-only discount code. Thanks to MOVA Globes for helping us explore Mars together.
Check out this antique celestial globe! It’s a reprint of Globo Celeste, by Giovanni Cassini in 1792 (no, not that Giovanni Cassini).
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA’s InSight lander arrives on Mars on November 26th. It is an exciting event that ends the 7 month cruise phase since its launch on May 5th. But how did it get there? NASA JPL’s Mark Wallace, the Lead Trajectory Analyst for InSight’s, joins Jake and explains how to plan a journey across the solar system.
We Talk InSight’s Trajectory * Porkchop Plots * InSight Press Kit
Previous Coverage of InSight * Episode 36: Systems Engineering InSight (feat. Farah Alibay) * Episode 41: Thirty Years to the Centre of Mars (feat. Bruce Banerdt, Philippe Lognonné, and Tim Linn)
Follow Mark Wallace * Mark Wallace Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + The WeMartians Travel Grant * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Check out all the new merchandise out in time for the holidays! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast + Episode 14 with Gary Napier from Lockheed Martin
New Merchandise!
We’ve got a whole bunch of new merchandise in our shop! Check out the new designs, including Off-Nominal gear!
Our Sponsor WeMartians is sponsored by MOVA Globes. Visit the site and use the code WEMARTIANS for 10% off your order of one of these really great looking pieces shipping to the Americas. They rotate without cords or batteries! Patrons, check your Patreon account for a special Patron-only discount code. Thanks to MOVA Globes for helping us explore Mars together.
Check out their Moon globe! They did a great blog post featuring five of its prominent features, and also a sweet eclipse-primer last year that has the best GIF ever.
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA continues to advance it’s Moon-first strategy, and commercial companies are starting to hop on board. Along with international interest, it all forms the backbone of NASA’s Moon to Mars strategy. Space consultant and founder of Astralytical Laura Forczyk returns to the show to talk with Jake about what this all means for Mars.
We talk Moon and Mars * Blue Origin signs agreement with OHB and MT * dearMoon * Airbus/Blue Origin backed Moon Race * NASA’s Moon to Mars strategy
Previous Coverage of Mars Strategy * Episode 34 – Moon vs Mars (feat. Laura Forczyk) * Episode 46 – Keeping Mars Alive (feat. Rick Davis)
Follow Laura * Laura’s Twitter Account * Astralytical’s website
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + The WeMartians Travel Grant * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast + Episode 13 with Elizabeth Howell
Our Sponsor WeMartians is sponsored by MOVA Globes. Visit the site and use the code WEMARTIANS for 10% off your order of one of these really great looking pieces shipping to the Americas. They rotate without cords or batteries! Patrons, check your Patreon account for a special Patron-only discount code. Thanks to MOVA Globes for helping us explore Mars together.
Learn how MOVA worked with Cassini scientist Alexander Hayes to put together the incredible Titan globe!
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA’s upcoming flagship mission Mars2020 will send a state of the art rover to the surface of Mars. Along for the ride will be an impressive camera called Mastcam-Z which will unveil Mars in a way never seen before. Planetary scientist Melissa Rice from Western Washington University and instrument operations manager Elsa Jensen from Malin Space Science Systems join Jake to talk all about the new camera, how it’s put together and what questions it might help us answer.
We talk Mastcam-Z and NASA’s Mars2020 Rover * Planetary Society’s Mastcam-Z Outreach content * NASA’s page on Mastcam-Z * Malin Space Science Systems
Previous Coverage of Mars2020 * Episode 10 – Science Meets Engineering on the 2020 Rover (feat. Sarah Milkovich) * Episode 20 – Landing Site Candidate Overview
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast
Our Sponsor WeMartians is sponsored by MOVA Globes. Visit the site and use the code WEMARTIANS for 10% off your order of one of these really great looking pieces shipping to the Americas. They rotate without cords or batteries! Patrons, check your Patreon account for a special Patron-only discount code. Thanks to MOVA Globes for helping us explore Mars together.
Learn how MOVA worked with Marc Rayman from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to put together the Vesta globe using data from the Dawn Mission!
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The Opportunity Rover hasn’t been heard from since June 10th, and things are starting to look dire. NASA recently released a new plan to recover the intrepid Mars explorer but the plan hasn’t convinced everyone of its merit just yet. Engineer and former rover driver Mike Seibert returns to the show to talk about the plan, how it compares with Spirit’s recovery, and why some may not be as excited about it as others.
We talk NASA’s Opportunity Recovery Plan * NASA’s Press Release on the new Opportunity Rover Plan * Is NASA’s Opportunity Mars Rover Doomed? * Planetary Society’s August Deep Dive * Deep Space Network’s DSN Now
Previous Coverage of Opportunity * Episode 29: A Teenage Rover (feat. Mike Seibert) * Episode 44: Ashes to Ashes, Clay to Dust (feat. Mark Lemmon)
Follow Mike Seibert * Twitter (@mikeseibert)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast + New Episode feat Loren Grush!
Our Sponsor WeMartians is sponsored by MOVA Globes. Visit the site and use the code WEMARTIANS for 10% off your order of one of these really great looking pieces shipping to the Americas. They rotate without cords or batteries! Patrons, check your Patreon account for a special Patron-only discount code. Thanks to MOVA Globes for helping us explore Mars together.
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA may have pivoted to the Moon, but Mars remains a horizon goal. Keeping the different departments at the Agency focused and working together towards this goal is no small task. Jake is joined Rick Davis, Assistant Director for Science and Exploration, to talk about how NASA is working to send Humans to Mars.
We Talk Humans to Mars * NASA’s Mars Human Landing Sites Study
Previous Coverage of NASA & Humans to Mars * Episode 1: The Waxing Interest in Mars (January 2016) * Episode 24: Risks & Rewards (feat. Leonard David, May 2017) * Episode 34: Moon vs. Mars (feat. Laura Forczyk, December 2017) * Episode 42: A Culture of Safety (feat. Holly Griffith, May 2018)
Follow Rick Davis * Red Planet Rick Twitter
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + Back to School Sale details! * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Missions to Mars don’t happen by accident. A ton of planning goes in long before the spacecraft is even selected. Understanding the consensus wishes of the scientific community is critical to putting resources into the right missions, and one group that helps gather that consensus is the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group. Jake is joined by Jeff Johnson, planetary scientist from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab and the current MEPAGC hair to talk about how MEPAG works and everything that it does.
(note: in the interview, you may hear Jeff mistaken identify himself as the Goals Chair. He is in fact, the MEPAG Chair)
We Talk Mars Program Analysis and the Decadal Survey * The MEPAG Goals Document (2015) * The 2013 Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey
Previous Coverage of Mars Policy * Episode 27: The Policy of Mars (feat. Casey Dreier)
Follow Jeff and MEPAG * Jeff’s Profile at JHUAPL’s Website * MEPAG Website (JPL) + MEPAG Committee Members
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Get a Shirt! The storm may be huge and terrible, but it’s time is limited. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know it’ll be over…soon! Get the shirt on our shop! Or, support Opportunity as she hunkers down through the worst of it in her typical, extra-nominal way.
There’s a serious Global Dust Storm happening right now on Mars. Several regional storms have kicked up a tremendous amount of dust into the skies, blocking out the sun and jeopardizing the Opportunity rover’s safety. But despite the threat, this is a great chance to do some science on Mars weather. Jake is joined by Space Science Institute’s Mark Lemmon to discuss these storms formation and what we’re learning from them.
We Discuss Mars Dust Storms and the NASA rover Curiosity and Opportunity * Most recent JPL news release on the Global Dust Storm * Curiosity, starting at the Sun through the dust * A look out across Gale Crater through the Storm * The last photo taken by Opportunity on June 10th
Follow Mark * The Space Science Institute
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Get a Shirt! The storm may be huge and terrible, but it’s time is limited. If you’ve listened to the episode, you’ll know it’ll be over…soon! Get the shirt on our shop! Or, support Opportunity as she hunkers down through the worst of it in her typical, extra-nominal way.
We’ve got plenty of evidence of liquid on the surface of Mars today. Lakes and channels indicate a past life abundant with water. But despite the evidence, scientists have had trouble modelling an ancient Mars climate warm enough to support the theory. Was the past warm and wet like the geology shows, or was it cold and icy like the climate models suggest? Brown University’s Ashley Palumbo, a Martian climatologist, joins Jake to talk weather, rain and mathematical models of the Red Planet’s mysterious history.
We Discuss Mars Past Climate * Ashley’s LPSC Abstract
Follow Ashley Palumbo * Ashley’s Website * Brown University’s Planetary Science Website
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Get a Shirt! Evidence of Mars’ past is plainly visible thanks to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter creepin’ over every inch of its surface. Now you can be that creepy, too! Get the shirt on our shop!
Before sending people in to space, space agencies like NASA or commercial companies like Boeing & SpaceX must take stock of risks to crew and vehicle and do their best to mitigate them. But how does this process actually work? How do you quantify risks to people? And most importantly, how do you determine that the risk is acceptable before you fly? Jake is joined by Holly Griffith, an engineer on the Safety team for NASA’s Orion Spacecraft, to talk about risks and to have a candid conversation about what’s at stake when making these kinds of decisions.
We Discuss NASA’s Orion Spacecraft and the Culture of Safety * CAIB Report (NASA.gov)
Previous Coverage about Human Spaceflight Risk * Episode 24 – Risks and Rewards (feat. Leonard David)
Follow Holly Griffith * Twitter (@absolutspacegrl)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) * The Off-Nominal Podcast
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA’s InSight mission, a lander to study the interior of Mars, lifted off from California on May 5th, 2018. For the scientists working on this geophysics mission, it’s been a long time coming. Jake travels down to Vandenberg to “see” the launch, and gets behind the scenes to hear the true story of this mission, thirty years in the making. Jake is joined by InSight Principal Investigator Bruce Banerdt, SEIS instrument Principal Investigator Philippe Lognonné, and Lockheed Martin Deputy Project Manager for InSight, Tim Linn.
We Discuss NASA’s InSight Mission * The InSight website * The Verge Science Launch Video * 1991’s Mars Global Network Mission Paper (incl author Banerdt) * 1992’s Intermarsnet (incl authors Banerdt and Lognonné) * 1999’s Netlander (incl author Lognonné) * 2003 Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey * 2010 Mission Concept Study, Mars Geophysical Network * 2010 MGN Options Study (InSight was originally option “G”) * 2013 Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey * 2011 Discovery Finalists Announced (incl. GEMS, which became InSight) * 2011 JPL Changes name of GEMS to InSight * 2012 InSight selected as Discovery 12 * 2015 SEIS leak delays launch of InSight
Previous Coverage of InSight * Episode 2: Every Twenty Six Months (covers InSight’s delay from 2016) * Episode 36: Systems Engineering InSight (feat. Farah Alibay, Payload Systems Engineer)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Learn about the Orbiter Level ($1/month) + Learn about the Lander Level ($3/month) + Learn about the Rover Level ($5/month) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + New InSight design GOOD VIBES * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Mars One captured the world’s attention when it announced its intentions to colonize Mars by 2023. But since that milestone announcement back in 2012, the organization has faced funding difficulties, delays, and accusations of fraud and misdirection. Meanwhile, the Mars 100, the hundred candidates currently hoping for a seat on the first mission, are left waiting and wondering. Cambridge University PhD student and Mars 100 candidate Ryan MacDonald joins Jake to discuss his experience, the money situation, and Mars One’s future.
We Discuss Mars One * Original Mars One Press Release (March 2012) + All Mars One Press Releases * Ryan’s Application Video * The Mars One Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign * MIT Press Release for Feasibility Study * Elmo Keep’s Piece on Josh Richards * Elmo Keep’s Piece on Joseph Roche * Rae Paoletta’s Piece on Mars One * Mars One Revenue Projections Document
Follow Ryan * Twitter (@MartianColonist) * YouTube (MartianColonist)
Past coverage of Mars One * Episode 1: The Waxing Interest in Mars (January 2016)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Learn about the Orbiter Level ($1/month) + Learn about the Lander Level ($3/month) + Learn about the Rover Level ($5/month) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) + New InSight design GOOD VIBES * Twitter (@we_martians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Every year, upwards of 2,000 planetary scientists descend upon a suburb of Houston to discuss the latest findings, share the work, and learn something new at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC). A lot of Mars happens at these conferences, so WeMartians decided to attend it in person! Jake catches up with old friends, makes some new ones, and explores Mars like never before. This year, we explore the fascinating use of Earth Analogs to help us better understand the science happening on Mars.
We discuss #LPSC2018, Earth Analogs and their value at Mars * What a Sinuous Ridge looks like on Earth * What a Sinuous Ridge looks like on Mars * Ben Cardenas’ Abstract for his LPSC talk * Dante Lauretta’s Abstract – Pretending Earth was another world * Jordan Knuth’s abstract on Cold Springs in Utah * Paul Knightly’s abstract for his poster on Mars 160 experiments * Paul tours the Mars Society Habitat in Devon Island Canada (FMARS) VIDEO * Apollo 17 45th Anniversary Live Stream * NASA BASALT Video * Catheryn Ryan’s Poster Abstract on LIFS
Past coverage of LPSC * Episode 21: LPSC2017 (March 2017)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Learn about the Orbiter Level ($1/month) + Learn about the Lander Level ($3/month) + Learn about the Rover Level ($5/month) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Behind every successful space mission is a talented team of support staff back on Earth, guiding the astronauts along the way. When we go to Mars, it will be much the same. But how can we practice these valuable skills? Mars analogues are a great way, and recently, the Austrian Space Forum completed a three week simulation called AMADEE 18. Project Manager Sophie Gruber and Flight Director Reinhard Tlustos join Jake to talk about the mission to the Oman Desert, and what it takes to get the astronauts to succeed.
We Discuss Habitats, Science, and International Collaboration * The Austrian Space Forum + Twitter + Instagram * AMADEE 18 Website * AMADEE 18 Press Kit
Other Analogue Coverage * Episode 7 – Sitting in a Tin Can (feat. Casey Stedman), covering the NASA HERA Analog mission * Episode 12 – Mission to sMars (feat. HISEAS IV), covering the NASA HISEAS IV year-long mission in Hawai’i
New Products in the WeMartians Shop * Opportunity’s 5000 sols celebration design, EXTRA NOMINAL * The Falcon Heavy TWENTYSEVEN design, now in a pullover hoodie!
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) + Learn about the Orbiter Level ($1/month) + Learn about the Lander Level ($3/month) + Learn about the Rover Level ($5/month) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
After years of delays, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket has finally flown, sending a test payload of a Tesla Roadster with a mannequin called Starman to interplanetary space. With the launch, it becomes the most powerful rocket in the world. Jake, along with Anthony from the Main Engine Cut Off podcast, travelled to Florida to watch the launch from the Kennedy Space Center Press Site and returns to talk about the history, development and future of this fantastic launch vehicle.
We Discuss SpaceX, Falcon Heavy and BFR * SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy Rocket * James Corden talks SpaceX on the Late Late Show * Launch of STS-114, Return to Flight * Early SpaceX Press Release, announcing Falcon 9 Heavy (2005) * Space.com article (by past guest Leonard David) covering the SpaceX announcement * Official Falcon Heavy Press Conference (2011) * The Original Falcon Heavy Animation (2011) * Robert Zubrin adapts Mars Direct * Red Dragon Discovery-class Mission Proposal * The first announced delay * Delay Tracking Chart from Reddit * ViaSat trades in launch for Ariane * Musk talks at ISS R&D about development difficulties * Post-Launch Press Conference * Making Life Interplanetary * SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Video * Jake and Anthony reaction video of the launch
Other Coverage of Falcon Heavy * Episode 31: The Interplanetary Business Case (feat. Chantelle Dubois) * Off-Nominal Podcast 5: The Volume of Anti-Starmanism
Get the Falcon Heavy T-Shirt from our Shop * TWENTYSEVEN T-Shirt for Men and Women
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Additional clips from the Walt Disney Corporation, RCA Records, CBS & SpaceX used under Fair Use.
Clips from NASA used under public domain.
This year is a Mars launch window, and NASA is taking full advantage of it with their Discovery-class InSight mission. This little lander will launch in May and land on Mars in November. Farah Alibay is a Payload Systems Engineer on this mission, and she joins Jake to talk about InSight’s objectives, integrating the instruments with the spacecraft, and the MarCO technology demonstrator.
We Discuss NASA InSight and MarCO * NASA’s InSight Landing Page * InSight’s Wikipedia * InSight unfurls its solar panels ahead of launch
Past Coverage of InSight * Episode 2: Every Twenty Six Months (February 2016) * Episode 18: The State of Mars 2017 (January 2017) * Episode 35: The State of Mars 2018 (January 2018)
Follow Farah and JPL * NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Twitter and Instagram * Farah’s Instagram
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s a new year, and another trip around the sun exploring Mars. Emilee Speck & Brendan Byrne return to the show to continue a new tradition of covering the year that passed and the year that will be. From robotic exploration of Mars rovers and spacecraft to the endless saga of NASA’s human spaceflight program, we take a step back and examine everything going on.
Miss last year’s Sate of Mars 2017? Check it out here!
We discuss Mars, Robotic, Human and Otherwise * Methane Bursts on Mars (The Verge) * Opportunity survives 8th winter (Space.com) + Recommended Episode to learn more: Episode 29: A Teenage Rover (feat. Mike Seibert) * Curiosity’s Wheels Breaking Down (Space.com) * Curiosity celebrates 5 years, rock drill still out (Space.com) + Recommended Episode to learn more: Episode 28: Five Years of Being Curious (feat. Emily Lakdawalla) * InSight launching in 2018 (nasa.gov) * SLS Delayed (The Verge) * Mars is very expensive (Ars Technica) + Recommended Episode to learn more: Off the Cuff “Should SLS Be Cancelled?” (for $1+ Patrons) * Deep Space Gateway Plans Announced (Ars Technica) + Recommended Episode to learn more: Off the Cuff “NASA’s Roadmap to Mars” (for $1+ Patrons) * NASA Pivots to the Moon (Inverse.com) + Recommended Episode to learn more: Episode 34: From the Moon to Mars (feat. Laura Forczyk) * National Geographic’s MARS series renewed (Deadline.com)
Follow Emilee and Brendan * Emilee on Twitter (@EMSpeck) * Emilee’s Space Coverage (ClickOrlando.com) * News 6 WKMG Facebook (Facebook.com) * Brendan on Twitter (@SpaceBrendan) * Are We There Yet Podcast on Twitter (@AWTYMars) * WMFE Space (wmfe.org)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, and “On My Way” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello Martians!
Last month we announced some changes to our Patreon goals and rewards. One of the exciting new things we announced was the Red Planet Review, a short new weekly series that will cover the Mars headlines of the week. It’s a fun way for Jake to explore more topical things happening at Mars without filling up the intros of the main episodes with updates.
Going forward, RPR will be available exclusively to our Patrons who contribute $3 or more per month on Patreon. But for the first episode, we’d like to share it with everyone and give them the chance to see what being a Patron is like. So for this one time, you’ll hear it here in the main podcast feed.
So go ahead, check it out and let us know what you think! If you like it, consider joining the dozens of others who help keep this show going by contributing financially.
Headlines for January 5th 2018 * NASA to train astronauts in Mexican Desert (Riviera Maya News) * Methane on Mars continues to spur questions (Science Magazine) * ExoMars CaSSIS to get upgrade image compression software (@ExoMars_CaSSIS on Twitter) * Curiosity exits its holiday plan to continue exploring Vera Rubin Ridge (AGU Blog) * Opportunity waits for Orbital data at a fork in the road (NASA) * American Girl releases “Girl of the Year”, 11-year old Chilean Luciana Vega who wants to go to Mars (azcentral)
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) (Remember, $3+/month gets you weekly access to more Red Planet Review) * Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Hopefully everyone is having a great holiday break. I wanted to take the opportunity during this downtime to share some of the cool stuff we just launched!
This podcast is the audio version of the blog posts we put out early this week for the listeners who don’t follow along on the website or our social media. We think the message is too important to wait, and this way we don’t have to clutter up our first episode with 10 minutes of housekeeping!
- New Patreon Rewards and Goals
- Introducing the WeMartians Shop
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * Shop (shop.wemartians.com) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
Happy Holidays!
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The US Vice President Mike Pence announced that the United States would be returning to the Moon. But for NASA, this is a change from the “Journey to Mars”. So what does this mean for human spaceflight, especially for the goal of getting people on the Red Planet? Space Consultant Laura Forczyk, founder of Astralytical, joins Jake to discuss the moving goal posts of the space community and what it means for Mars. Hopefully, we’ll get to the bottom of this ever-present debate.
We discuss the Moon and Mars * NASA’s switch from Mars to Moon, after Vice President Mike Pence’s announcement at the first National Space Council meeting * The response from space companies, like SpaceX and Blue Origin * The role of international partners like ESA, CNSA, Roscosmos and more * What’s next for Mars and what to look for in the future
Follow Laura * Laura’s Twitter Account * Astralytical’s website
Follow Jake & WeMartians * Website (www.wemartians.com) * Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) * Twitter (@we_martians) * Facebook (@wemartians) * Instagram (@wemartians) * Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Mission designs for human trips to Mars are common, but Lockheed Martin’s “Mars Base Camp” is something fresh. That’s because it’s a collaborative, orbit-first, science-focused approach, so it means the plan is a realistic path forward from NASA’s Deep Space Gateway. Complete with a habitat, a laboratory, propulsion, power and two Orion capsules, it’s a complete beachhead for a human trip to the red planet. It’s even got a lander! Listen to engineers Danielle Richey & Steve Jolly join Jake to talk about the idea and how it might become real.
Links Key Twitter Follows * Danielle Richey (@dmrichey) * Rob Chambers (@marsbasecamper) * Tim Chichan (@timcichan) * Lockheed Martin (@lockheedmartin) * Mars Base Camp Hashtag (#marsbasecamp) * You can reach Steve via Email if you have questions
Official Lockheed Martin Content * The Mars Base Camp site * Some high-res B-roll video of the concept * Lockheed Martin’s Mars Base Camp Flickr * The IAC Update White Paper * Promo Video for Mars Base Camp * The IAC Presentation Video
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The plains of Meridiani Planum, where the Opportunity Rover is currently exploring, is home to many surface features, but none are as stunning and the wind-formed dunes and ripples. How do these features form, and what significance do they have on the overall climate and history of Mars? The SETI Institute’s Lori Fention, an aeolian geomorphologist, joins Jake to talk all about these sandy structures and share the beauty of their past and present.
Links * Lori’s Twitter Acount (@LoriKFenton) * Lori’s Blog @ Cosmic Diary * The SETI Institute (website) * SETI Institute Twitter (@SETIInstitute) * SETI Institute Facebook (@SETIInstitute) * Big Picture Science Podcast * Lori’s SETI Talk on Dunes
Below: Dunes, TARs then Ripples.
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
On Friday, September 29th in Adelaide, Australia, Elon Musk presented SpaceX’s new update to the Interplanetary Transport System. The update to last year’s presentation focused on how to make this concept more real and specifically how to fund it. To get some fresh perspective on the business case, the University of Manitoba’s Chantelle Dubois joins Jake to discuss rocket stockpiles, fleet consolidation, and how this plan plays out across government and commercial space.
Links * The IAC Talk by Elon Musk * Chantelle’s Twitter Account (@IamNotChantelle) * SEDS Canada * Canadian Space Society * Space Generation Advisory Council
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Without GPS, keeping track of our Martian explorers is no easy task. Data management for the thousands of photos, especially their locations, is in fact a full time job. Fred Calef, JPL’s “Keeper of the Maps” joins Jake to talk all about how we build a base map for Curiosity to help scientists get the right context for their geologic studies.
Links
- Fred’s Twitter Account (@cirquelar)
- JPL’s Mars Site
- The Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter dataset from USGS
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
For over 13 years, NASA’s Opportunity Rover has been exploring Meridiani Planum on Mars. The determined spacecraft has faced a lot of challenges through its mission, not least of which is continuing to operate in the harsh Martian environment. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mike Seibert joins Jake to talk about all the intricacies of operating a spacecraft another world away.
Links
- Mike’s Twitter Account (@mikeseibert)
- Opportunity’s 13th Birthday Video
- Planetary Society’s latest update on Opportunity
- Breakdown of Curiosity’s Sampling Subsystem, which Mike works on now
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s been five years since NASA’s Curiosity Rover touched down on the surface of Mars, and it’s been doing all kinds of science as it climbs the slopes of Mt. Sharp ever since. Taking a step back, what have we learned from this flagship mission so far? The Planetary Society’s Emily Lakdawalla joins Jake to discuss how Curiosity has pushed the limits of spacecraft engineering, operations, and science.
Links
- Emily’s Twitter Account (@elakdawalla)
- Emily’s Profile on the Planetary Society
- 7 Minutes of Terror Video
- JPL’s 5 year review of Curiosity
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Despite a growing influence of private organizations in the space industry, government still holds a lot of power in the direction of exploration. Space policy is a messy, complicated and mysterious affair. The Planetary Society’s Casey Dreier, Director of Space Policy, joins Jake to talk about the current affairs of Mars exploration, from the robotic side to the human side.
Links
- The Planetary Society
- Become a member
- Casey’s profile
- Casey Dreier’s Twitter Account (@CaseyDreier)
- “Mars In Retrograde” – White Paper on the state of Robotic Exploration of Mars
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
On July 4th, 1997, NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission touched down on Mars, ending a 15 years period where no spacecraft operated in the Red Planet. Twenty years later, the mission’s impact on our understand of Mars is still felt. Jake is joined by Matt Golombek (Project Scientist), Brian Muirhead (Flight Systems Manager & Deputy Project Manager), Donna Shirley (Mars Exploration Program Manager), and Tanya Harrison (Planetary Scientist) who recount the story and explain why the mission plays such an important role in the last two decades of Mars exploration.
Links
- The original Pathfinder Press Kit for Landing Day at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Launch Footage
- Paper by Matt Golombek on the Mission
- CNN Coverage of the Landing
- Part 1
- Part 2
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture”, “Electrodoodle”, “We Got Trouble”, “Aretes” and “Heartwarming” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Additional sound effects by Sentuniman licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Europe’s ExoMars program has already kicked off with the Trace Gas Orbiter, currently manoeuvring downward to its final science orbit. But ExoMars is not limited to a single mission. By 2020, ESA hopes to launch the first European rover to the Red Planet. Abbie Hutty, a Lead Spacecraft Structures Engineer, comes on to talk about what it takes to design, test and build a rover chassis, from wheels to mast, and what this rover means in the broader view of Mars exploration and international cooperation.
Links
- Abbie’s Twitter Account
- ESA’s ExoMars 2020 Mission Overview (check sidebar for more)
- Animation showing surface operations
- An older test showing the flexible metal wheels of ExoMars
- The opening of the Mars Yard at Stevenage, featuring Abbie herself
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
All the obstacles in spaceflight can theoretically be broken down in to subsets of risk. Whether personal risk, programmatic risk, financial risk or professional risk, these are the things holding back individuals and organizations from accomplishing goals. What does this mean for Mars and how can we overcome it? Jake sits down with award-winning journalist Leonard David to explore this topic and try to understand what steps must be taken next to continue towards the objective of putting people on the Red Planet.
Links
- Leonard’s panel on Risk at Humans to Mars 2017 (skip to 4:02:43)
- Bill Maher’s Earth Day Video Editorial (this is what is supposed to be playing in the gap in the above live stream, but couldn’t be re-posted due to copyright rules)
- Buzz Aldrin/Leonard David book Mission to Mars – My Vision for Space Exploration
- Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet (companion book to the National Geographic series MARS)
- Leonard David’s Website
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
On Earth, geologists are pretty familiar with the concept of an esker, a snake-like ridge formation left behind by a receding glacier. Across our planet they can be found in areas where glaciers once dominated the landscape. The same is true on Mars, but eskers also require a time when glaciers could melt. Frances Butcher, a PhD student from the Open University, talks with Jake about these special kinds of Martian eskers that indicate a warmer, wetter environment than we once thought.
Links
- Mars Timekeeping from the Planetary Society
- The Martian Calendar from the Planetary Society
- Frances’ abstract from the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
- HiRISE image of the esker system Frances is studying
- Analgyph version if you’ve got 3D glasses
Further Listening
- Don’t Panic Geocast has some great episodes on eskers if you want to delve in to more of the science behind them. Episode 51 goes over them in detail.
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In a mashup episode that combines the formats of The Orbital Mechanics, a great weekly spaceflight podcast, and WeMartians, Jake, Ben and David explore a variety of Mars topics. Delve in to history as we mark the 37th anniversary since Viking 2’s batteries gave out and learn about the spacecraft and its mission. Ben walks us through NASA’s new Road Map to Mars, a flight plan for SLS and Orion leading all the way to the 2030s. Then, we explore SpaceX’s Red Dragon mission and learn about the four candidate landing sites being considered when the Hawthorne-based company makes its first landing on the Red Planet in 2021.
You’ll also hear some of the great segments from The Orbital Mechanics, like #ThisWeekSF, upcoming spaceflight events, and space news. Note: If you are already a subscriber of The Orbital Mechanics, their episode 104 will be mostly the same content with some different introductions, ie. the same episode appears in both feeds.
Links The Orbital Mechanics (subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher)
- Website
- Patreon
ThisWeekSF (This Week in SpaceFlight History) – Viking 2
- Apollo Applications Program
- Voyager Mars (Photo 1 and Photo 2)
- Camera System (Weird Photo of imaging team)
- Astrobiology Instrument Schematic
- Jake’s KSP History Post on Viking 2 (from his past life)
Spaceflight News
- NASA’s Mars Road Map (SLS/Orion)
- Lunar Orbit Types
- Blue Origin Developping Moon Lander
Questions, Comments and Corrections
- Reddit – Insight into Falcon 9 Octoweb Construction
Red Dragon & its Landing Sites
- Space News Article
- Jake’s Landing Site Map
- Red X = Crashed/Failed Landing
- Green Circle = Successful Landing
- Yellow Question Mark = Candidate sites for Mars2020/ExoMars
- Space “X” – Red Dragon Landing Site Candidates
- Deuteronilus Mensae (Photo 1 & Photo 2)
- Phlegra Montes (Photo 1 & Photo 2)
- Utopia Planitia (Photo 1 & Photo 2)
- Arcadia Planitia (Photo 1 & Photo 2)
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Every year, upwards of 2,000 planetary scientists descend upon a suburb of Houston to discuss the latest findings, share the work, and learn something new. A lot of Mars happens at these conferences, so WeMartians decided to attend it in person! Jake catches up with old friends, makes some new ones, and explores Mars like never before.
Links
History
- The original Lunar Science Conference poster from 1970
Pre-Conference
- Microsymposium 58 Website
Oral Session Highlights
- What the heck is a yardang?
- Isaac Smith’s abstract using dessert to model Mars Polar Layer Deposits (yes, you read that right)
- Polar Layer Deposits
NASA Night
- Livestream of the event
- Smallsats for Planetary Science Press Release
- CAPS Meeting Agenda
Poster Sessions
- Justin Cowart’s Abstract
- Lauren Mc Keown’s Abstract
Human Exploration
- Lockheed Martin’s Mars Base Camp Concept
- Harrison “Jack” Schmitt’s Abstract
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Ahead of the science, the surface operations, the tricky landing, interplanetary cruise, & launch of a NASA flagship class rover like Mars2020, the difficult decision of where to send the mission must be made. For the successor of Curiosity, this process is nearing completion as the 3rd workshop has narrowed the remaining candidates to three. Jake takes a long look at the mission requirements, landing site criteria, and Mars mapping techniques before exploring Jezero Crater, North East Syrtis and Gusev Crater to see what secrets might lie beneath the regolith.
Links
The Mars2020 Mission
- Landing Site Workshop Page
- Science Objectives
- Landing Site Criteria (Bottom of page)
Mapping Mars
- Mars Quadrangles
- Airy Crater
- Image with Mariner 9, Viking 1, and Mars Global Surveyor images
- Airy-0
The Landing Sites
- Google Mars KMZ file to explore the landing ellipses on Google Earth
Jezero Crater
- Jezero HIRISE image
- SETI Talk with Tim Goudge (53:37), who led the Jezero team’s presentation
North East Syrtis
- NE Syrtis HIRISE Image
Gusev Crater/Columbia Hills
- Columbia Hills HIRISE Image
- Spirit’s Traverse
- Why Return to the Columbia Hills? by Alex Longo
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
A surface mission to Mars will involve a lengthy stay in a harsh environment. Many have argued that this could be a psychologically draining experience as astronauts are forced into confined spaces with no light, perhaps underground away from harsh radiation. But architects Kelsey Lents and Jeffrey Montes don’t believe that’s necessary. They and their teams helped design the Mars Ice House, a 3D-printed ice dome that caught the eye of NASA and became a feasibility study to build a surface habitat.
LINKS (Mars Ice House)
- Mars Ice House – The initial concept and first place winner of NASA’s Centennial Challenge
- Video on Mars Ice House
- Mars Ice House – NASA Awards Announcement (1st place winner)
LINKS (Mars Ice Home)
- Clouds AO Project Page
- NASA Article on Feasibility Study
LINKS (Clouds AO)
- Clouds AO Website
- Clouds AO Twitter
- Clouds AO Instagram
LINKS (SEArch+)
- SEArch+ Website
- SEArch+ Twitter
- SEArch+ Instagram
- SEArch+ Facebook
WeMartians music is “RetroFuture” and “Electrodoodle” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The year 2016 was a big one for Mars, and 2017 might be even bigger yet. We’re joined by two space reporters from Orlando to talk about the highlights of last year in Mars exploration, and look ahead to 2017, which promises to take us closer to the Red Planet. Brendan Byrne is a reporter from WMFE Orlando and the host of “Are We There Yet?”, a podcast about space exploration. Emilee Speck is a reporter from WKMG with a passion for planetary missions.
LINKS
- Brendan’s Twitter Account
- Emilee’s Twitter Account
- “Are We There Yet?” (website / Twitter)
- ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Overview
- ESA Approves ExoMars 2020 Funding
- Curiosity discovers Manganese
- Curiosity discovers Boron
- NASA’s 1 Year Mission
- Bigelow seeking further use of their module
- Orion Update for January 2017
- SLS Moves to Maiden Launch
- NASA’s VAB has new work platforms installed
- Commercial Crew capsule development schedule slips
- Falcon Heavy Landing Pads moving towards development
- National Geographic “Mars” Renewed for 2nd season
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA currently operates two rovers on the surface of Mars, but in the next five years that population could more than double as JPL prepares its third rover, and space agencies in Europe and China look to create their own footholds. That’s why creating a pipeline of talent that can plan, target, drive and otherwise operate these rovers is so important. Enter CanMars – an anlogue mission run by the Canadian Space Agency using real rovers here on Earth. I caught up with Eric Pilles, the planning lead for CanMars 2016, to find out how he and his team of scientists from universities across Canada are learning the ins and outs of rover ops, and how the science drives their goals.
Links
- Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (University of Western Ontario)
- CPSX Twitter
- CPSX Facebook
- Canadian Space Agency’s CanMars Site
- Specs for the Mars Exploration Science Rover (MESR)
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Living and working in a remote place requires more than just food, water, shelter and air. If we’re serious about maintaining the health of our future Martian astronauts, we’ll need to pay close attention to the mental health, and we’ll need to figure out a way to make food sustainable. The idea of farming on Mars isn’t new, but the ideas of Morgan Irons, founder and Chief Science Officer of Deep Space Ecology, certainly push them forward. Her “three-zone model” promises to create a closed ecological system that won’t collapse under pressure. Morgan joins us to tell us all about her startup and the way she sees future habitats working.
Links
- Deep Space Ecology website (Twitter/Instagram)
- Morgan’s Twitter
- Morgan’s GoFundMe
- The Mars Epoch X3 Design Fly-through
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Some call water the “oil of the solar system” because of its importance in our eventual exploration of other planets. Finding new sources and learning about how to access it plays a key role in our future. Using the SHARAD instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Cassie Stuurman and a team at University of Texas at Austin discovered a massive deposit of ice in the northern plains of Utopia Planitia. Cassie joins us to tell the tale of its discovery, characterization and importance.
Links
- Cassie’s paper: “SHARAD detection and characterization of subsurface water ice deposits in Utopia Planitia, Mars”
- Cassie’s blog
- Cassie’s Twitter Account
- The SHARAD Instrument (courtesy of the Italian Space Agency)
- A SHARAD Radargram
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter’s primary mission is to hunt down sources of trace gasses in the orbiter and characterize them. Chief among these chemicals is Methane, and when it is isolated on the surface, we’re going to want to know what that place looks like. Enter the Colour and Stereo Surface Imagine System, a state of the art instrument that can take stereo images of the surface, allowing us to see Mars in 3D. Nicolas Thomas, Principal Investigator of the instrument, joins us to tell us all about this fascinating device, including its operations, how it targets science and why finding methane is so important.
Links
- The CaSSIS website (University of Bern)
- YouTube – How the Instrument was built
- ESA – CaSSIS Overview
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Elon Musk has now bore his heart (of gold) to the world. His plans for making humans multiplanetary have been shared with us, including his incredible 42-engine reusable booster, his 100-person interplanetary spaceship, and his vision for colonizing Mars. Together they form the SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System, and they are nothing if not bold. I’m joined by Anthony Colangelo from the Main Engine Cut Off Podcast to talk more about this vision, including some of the realities of making it possible, the challenges they’ll face, and how to bring partners like NASA on board for the ride.
Links
- Main Engine Cut Off Website
- Main Engine Cut Off Twitter
- YouTube – Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species
- YouTube – SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System
- Article – Mashable – “Don’t dismiss Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars”
- Article – Space.com – “Feasible or Fantasy? SpaceX’s Mars Plan Draws Expert Reactions”
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Understanding human social behaviour under conditions of remote isolation, close quarters, and constrained resources will one day be critical to successfully executing a crewed mission to Mars. Analogues and simulations provide a useful tool to learn these tactics. HI-SEAS IV (Hawaii Space Exploration Analogue and Simulation) is one such experiment, and six crewmembers recently exited after an entire year in a dome on the slopes of a Hawaiian volcano. We spoke with all six members of the crew and learned a lot of valuable lessons, not least of which is the power of the human spirit and ability to make anything possible.
This special episode features interviews with all six members of the HI-SEAS IV crew, who recently completed a 1 year simulated Mars mission on the slopes of Mauna Loa. Crew members include Sheyna Gifford, Carmel Johnston, Cyprien Verseux, Christiane Heinicke, Andrzej Stewart and Tristan Bassingthwaighte.
Links
- Periscope of Dome Egress
- BBC News – Paris Attacks
- HI-SEAS website
Crew Twitter Accounts
- Sheyna Gifford
- Tristan Bassingthwaighte
- Christiane Heinicke
- Carmel Johnston
- Andrzej Stewart
- Cyprien Verseux
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Additional sound effects by Sentuniman, caquet, jandrasounds, breyenkatz, lolamadeus, klankbeeld, and bewagne, all licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The Mars Curiosity Rover has an impressive suite of instruments, but none incite as much excitement as ChemCam, a laser/camera combo that vaporizes rocks and analyzes their components. ChemCam is firing more than it ever has before, and Nina Lanza, a staff scientist on its team, is helping make some pretty remarkable discoveries with it. On this episode, Nina tells us about a high concentration of manganese recently uncovered that tells us a lot about Mars’ past, and suggests that it might have been complete with a lot more oxygen than we initially thought.
Links
- Press Release for Nina Lanza’s paper
- Nina’s Twitter Account
- ChemCam’s website
- Video showing ChemCam in action
- Curiosity’s website
- Los Alamos National Lab
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA’s next flagship Mars mission will put the generation of their rovers on the surface of Mars. With the working title of Mars2020, the rover will improve upon the Curiosity design that so far has been wildly successful. But putting together a rover, even one with a borrowed design, is not easy. Sarah Milkovich, a Science Systems Engineer with JPL, tells us about the challenges of bridging the gap between science and engineering on a $2 billion rover.
Links
- Mars 2020’s website
- Sarah’s Twitter
- JPL Facebook Live event featuring Mars2020
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Electric vehicles aren’t just taking over our roads – they’re taking over our orbits, too! Solar electric propulsion is a cutting edge technology that allows spacecraft to change velocity up to an order of magnitude more efficiently than traditional chemical rockets. Joe Cassady from Aerojet Rocketdyne and Explore Mars talks with us about how this propulsion works, it’s power requirements, the development status, and how we’ll use it to eventually send cargo to Mars in support of human exploration.
Links
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Explore Mars
- NASA Press Release on SEP Development Contract
- Joe debates Robert Zubrin “When should we go to Mars?” at H2M 2016
- Joe’s Twitter Account
- Further info from NASAspaceflight.com on SEP
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Increasingly, Mars is appearing to us as a living, breathing world with dynamic features. One such feature that has captivated planetary scientists around the world is the occurrence of Martian Gullies, channels carved into the surface as if by water, in a world where flowing water is not exactly common. We talk with Tanya Harrison, a planetary scientist and geologist from the University of Western Ontario. She tells us all about gullies on Mars, how they might be formed, and what scientists are doing about it to learn more in the search for life on Mars.
Links
- Tanya’s Twitter Account
- Tanya’s Website
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
NASA and other space organizations have used mission analogues to simulate various aspects of space travel since the dawn of the space age. As humanity steps closer to deep space and eventually Mars, new analogues are being developed to represent the new challenges we’ll face. HERA (Human Exploration Research Analogue) is one such mission, and crew member Casey Stedman gives us an inside look at the exciting challenges he faced while stuck inside a habitat for 30 days.
Audio Links from the show
- Charlie Bolden’s Recruitment Video
- Human Spaceflight Analogues with Joe Neigut and Ronita Cromwell
Other links and further info
- Casey Stedman’s Twitter Account
- Casey Stedman’s Instagram
- Casey Stedman’s blog
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Mars reached opposition (when it, Earth and the Sun form a straight line) on May 22nd. It’s closest approach (today, May 30th) is another important astronomical event. All of these work on a 26-month cycle. Astronomers around the world have their eyes trained on the blood-coloured planet, tracking its retrograde motion, supreme brightness, and near-approach with great interest. We went on site with Kyle Dally of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to learn about what these events mean, why they are important, and how someone like you or me can get involved with amateur astronomy without spending thousands of dollars on equipment and training.
Links
- The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
- Membership benefits (for all clubs across Canada)
- RASC Vancouver Meetup Group
- American Astronomical Society
- What telescope should I get? (r/Telescopes impartial beginner’s guide)
- Astronomy Smartphone App Guide
- Naked Eye Astronomy Guide
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Habitation in space will become a very important topic as we venture out into deep space and eventually to Mars. Turning space from a place to travel through to a place to live will be a prime objective of technology development in the near term. In this episode we’ll explore the history of habitation, from the earliest Skylab and Salyut stations to the modular Mir and ISS designs. Then we’ll talk about Bigelow Aerospace, its NASA roots, and the commercial impact on the industry as it sets its sights on Mars.
Audio Links from the show:
- Disney’s Mars and Beyond
- Gemini 7/6 Remembered Panel
- NASA Documentary on Skylab
- News broadcast on launch of Mir
- Excerpt from STS-79 Post Flight Briefing
- Excerpt from STS-89 Post Flight Briefing
- Interview with David Wolf
- CSA – Water Recycling on the ISS
- Moonandback Media – People of NewSpace – Robert Bigelow Part 1
- Moonandback Media – People of NewSpace – Robert Bigelow Keynote Speech
- ULA/Bigelow Press Conference
- CRS-8 Hosted Webcast
- CRS-8 Capture Highlights
NASA Audio provided under Public Domain. All others used under Fair Use.
Other Links for further info
- Bigelow Aerospace Website
- Steve Pestana – Spacecraft Habitable Volumes, Mission Duration
- Air&Space Article that inspired Robert Bigelow
- TransHab Inflation Test Timelapse
- TransHab Concept Video
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the fourth episode of the WeMartians podcast, we explore the growing problem in Planetary Science – there’s too much data! With the dawn of the digital age, the volume of data coming back to Earth from planetary missions is increasing exponentially.
We’ll talk with Michael Aye, project scientist for Planet Four. Planet Four is a Citizen Science project which lets everyday people participate in planetary science by classifying features on the surface. It helps scientists like Michael get through the massive amounts of imagery from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and lets people like you do science on Mars!
Audio Links from the show:
- Chris Lintott on the Galaxy Zoo
Other Links
- Planet Four
- Planet Four: Terrains
- Zooniverse
- Michael Aye’s Twitter Account
- The team’s poster from Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2016
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the third episode of the WeMartians Podcast, we learn a little bit about the 1877 perihelic opposition of Mars, during which many famous astronomers, Giovanni Schiaparelli included, made crucial discoveries about the Red Planet.
Then, we’ll explore how this affects us today and for the launch of ExoMars. To help explain the massive process that goes in to building and launching a spacecraft, we’re joined by Assembly Integration and Test Engineer Michael Coarezza of Thales Alenia. He shares some stories about meeting deadlines, working with the historical Proton rocket, and the importance that international collaboration plays in space exploration today.
Audio Links from the show:
- ExoMars LiveStream Archive
- ExoMars Launch Footage
- Michael Coarezza’s Twitter Account (@MichaelCoarezza)
Other Links
Learn more about historical observations of Mars from the book The Planet Mars: A History of Observation and Discovery, available for free online here.
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the second episode of the WeMartians Podcast, we explore the topic of Launch Windows, answering questions like “why do they happen?”, “when do they happen?”, and “are any windows more important than others?” From there, we’ll talk about Mars’ windows specifically.
Then follow along as we explore the two mission profiles in the upcoming launch windows in March – the delayed InSight mission from NASA and the European Space Agency’s ExoMars 2016 mission, including the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Schiaparelli Entry and Landing Demonstrator.
Audio links from the show
- Bruce Banerdt – Von Karman Lecture Series on InSight
- Scott Hubbard, joint press conference with Planetary Society and Mars Society (courtest of the New Atlantis)
- Walter Cugno and Alvaro Giménez on ExoMars
- Giancinto Gianfiglio on ExoMars
- Thomas Walloschek on ExoMars
- Loïc Trompet on NOMAD
- Antonio Gracia Berná on CaSSIS
Other links
- ESA’s ExoMars 2016 Mission Page
- A Sensitive Search for Methane on Mars
NASA audio used under public domain. All others used under fair use policy.
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In this first episode of the WeMartians podcast, we explore the fundamental question facing all space exploration but especially those seeking to travel to Mars – why go? Why spend the money and take the risk on this important endeavour? We’ll hear from industry experts and visionaries as well as my own opinions.
Then we explore a 2015 Year in Review, covering topics from NASA’s Evolvable Mars Campaign (using the Orion capsule, Space Launch System rocket, and more) as well as efforts from the private industry including Elon Musk and SpaceX. We’ll talk about pop culture influences like Mars One and The Martian and ultimately show that 2015 was an amazing year for Mars – we want to go, and we’re making real progress to get there!
Audio Links from the show:
- Buzz Aldrin with Euronews
- Dr. Robert Zubrin at NASA Ames
- Barack Obama at Kennedy Space Centre
- Elon Musk with CNN
- Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1)
- Elmo on Orion
- NASA Telecon following Orion Key Decision Point C
- SLS Solid Rocket Booster Qualification Test
- NASA Marshall’s SLS Booster Information
- RS-25 Development Test #7
- Space Launch System (SLS) post Critical Design Review
- NASA Astronaut Recruitment Video with Charlie Bolden
- Orbcomm-2 Launch and Landing Webcase (courtesy SpaceX)
- Bas Landorp on DailyMail
- The cast of The Martian interview ISS crewmembers Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren
- The cast of The Martian test a prototype Mars rover
- Matt Damon on the importance of The Martian
- Jessica Chastain and Tracy Caldwell Dyson on The Martian
NASA audio used under public domain. All others used under fair use policy.
WeMartians Cover Art Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
WeMartians Theme Song is “RetroFuture” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/