Planetary Radio
Planetary Radio is the weekly adventure on the final frontier produced by the Planetary Society and it's CEO, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Listen to host Mat Kaplan's conversations with the scientists, engineers, dreamers and leaders at the forefront of space exploration. You'll also hear our regular segments with Bill, "Planetary Evangelist" Emily Lakdawalla, and Director of Science and Technology Bruce Betts. Enter the weekly space trivia contest for your chance to win out-of-this-world prizes!
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 51 minutes
- Episodes
- 589
- Years Active
- 2014 - 2023
Space Policy Edition: The Soviet Moonshot (with Asif Siddiqi)
The U.S. won the space race in July of 1969 with the success of Apollo 11. But was the Soviet Union even racing? How close were they to beating the United States to the Moon? Soviet space historian D…
02:03:54 |
Fri 07 Jun 2019
Starchaser: Extraordinary Astronomer Jay Pasachoff
Jay Pasachoff visits Planetary Society headquarters for a conversation about the latest edition of his and Alex Filippenko’s monumental textbook The Cosmos. But that’s just the start of a discussion…
01:01:22 |
Wed 05 Jun 2019
Sharing a Passion for Mars at the Humans to Mars Summit
This year’s Humans to Mars Summit in Washington DC once again ended with a panel of Martian all-stars talking about their hopes for a future that includes the Red Planet. Planetary Radio host Mat Kap…
00:55:14 |
Wed 29 May 2019
Talking with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
The former Oklahoma congressman and Navy aviator stepped into the leadership role barely a year ago. Now he wants to see humans back on the Moon by 2024 as a vital stepping stone to Mars. Join us for…
00:45:09 |
Wed 22 May 2019
BONUS: Introducing Science Rules! with Bill Nye
Host Mat Kaplan has a special announcement to share about Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye. The Science Guy is on a mission to change the world— one phone call at a time. On his new podcast, Science R…
00:04:05 |
Fri 17 May 2019
A Last Visit With LightSail 2 at the Cubesat Developers Workshop
Mat Kaplan visits Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a last, clean room visit with LightSail 2, the Planetary Society’s solar sailing cubesat. While there, Mat also talked to attendees at the Cubesat Deve…
00:45:06 |
Wed 15 May 2019
Planetary Radio Live Defends Planet Earth!
Leaders of the global effort to avoid a catastrophic Near Earth Object impact gathered at the 2019 Planetary Defense Conference. On the evening of May 1st, The Planetary Society partnered in an excit…
00:53:30 |
Wed 08 May 2019
Space Policy Edition: Lessons From the Moonshot That Never Was-With Mark Albrecht)
Thirty years ago, Dr. Mark Albrecht led the National Space Council when President George H.W. Bush announced the Space Exploration Initiative, an ambitious effort to send humans to the Moon and then …
01:29:21 |
Fri 03 May 2019
The Skies of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes
There appear to be more mini-Neptunes (also known as Super Earths) across our galaxy than any other type of planet. Hannah Wakeford wants to learn if some of them support life, and she’s doing this …
00:55:30 |
Wed 01 May 2019
Lucy in the Sky With Asteroids
A rare alignment of planets and other objects will enable the solar-powered Lucy spacecraft to examine seven asteroids, six of which are among the thousands of Trojan asteroids that orbit ahead of an…
00:47:23 |
Wed 24 Apr 2019
The Triumph of a Failed Moon Landing
The Beresheet lunar lander failed in the last few kilometers of its descent to the Moon. Two days later we learned that its team would try again. Deputy Mission Director Yoav Landsman is back with an…
00:38:00 |
Wed 17 Apr 2019
Celebrating Yuri’s Night with Legendary Astronaut Story Musgrave
The Los Angeles celebration of Yuri’s Night came six days early this year. It attracted hundreds of space party animals, along with celebrities like Bill Nye and Story Musgrave. Host Mat Kaplan talke…
00:44:07 |
Wed 10 Apr 2019
Space Policy Edition: T-minus Five Years and Counting
Can NASA return astronauts to the Moon by 2024? Vice President Mike Pence shocked the space community by announcing this ambitious new goal just weeks after the Trump Administration proposed a half-b…
01:01:18 |
Fri 05 Apr 2019
Ice Worlds, Landing on the Moon and Blasting an Asteroid
When will we return to Uranus and Neptune? Planetary scientist Amy Simon explains why a mission to the so-called ice giants is a high priority as she tells us about these mysterious, blue worlds. Pla…
00:41:45 |
Wed 03 Apr 2019
Dunes, Walnut Shells, Alien Impostors and Other Worlds: A Visit with Sarah Hörst
A very special, extended conversation with Johns Hopkins University planetary scientist Sarah Hörst is capped by a tour of her fascinating lab. That’s where Sarah and her team simulate decidedly un-E…
01:33:39 |
Wed 27 Mar 2019
Bill Nye and Planetary Radio Live at Extreme STEAM
Planetary Radio Live goes on stage at the first ever Fairplex Extreme STEAM Festival in Pomona, California. Host Mat Kaplan and Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye are joined by four young space scientist…
01:10:23 |
Wed 20 Mar 2019
Boosters, Breakthroughs and Budgets: Canada and the US Look Toward Space
The last few days have seen developments that will shape the space exploration plans of Canada and the USA. The Planetary Society’s Kate Howells is a member of Canada’s Space Advisory Board. She revi…
00:35:14 |
Wed 13 Mar 2019
China on the Final Frontier
With missions like Chang’e 4 on the far side of the Moon, China has firmly established itself as a leader in space exploration. Space journalist Andrew Jones helps us explore the nation’s ambitious n…
00:51:33 |
Wed 06 Mar 2019
Space Policy Edition: When a (Space) Cowboy Came to Washington
Historian John Logsdon discusses his new book, Ronald Reagan and the Space Frontier. It explores the legacy of the 40th president’s major space policy decisions. We look at four major topics: early e…
01:29:57 |
Fri 01 Mar 2019
An Israeli Lander Launches Toward the Moon
Non-profit SpaceIL’s Beresheet is on its way to the Moon. Only China, the Soviet Union and the United States have safely landed there before. Host Mat Kaplan talks with SpaceIL Senior Systems Engine…
00:48:03 |
Wed 27 Feb 2019
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