Mission: Interplanetary

There may be no question more profound than, “Are we alone in the universe?” Certainly, recent years have seen a lot of energy around looking for signs of primitive life on other worlds—Mars, Europa, Enceladus, even Venus. But microbes, even Martian ones, seem like poor company. What of the search for intelligent life? Are we done with that? Was that just an 80s thing, like shoulder pads? Cady and Andrew talk with legendary pioneer in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Jill Tarter, about the present and future of SETI. Before that, there's talk of the new Decadal Survey, but not a word about Uranus. Also, hope, coffee, and teenagers at the edge of the universe. Lastly, a heart-y new Sounds of Space from the great folks at SYSTEM Sounds.  Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Visit our website at missioninterplanetary.com and drop us a line! Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As sites for research and potential gateways to the solar system, space stations play a critical role in building positive space futures. But so far, all of these—like Skylab, Mir, the International Space Station (ISS)—were owned and operated by governments. That is changing. In 2021, Blue Origin announced plans to build a private space station: Orbital Reef. What will people do there? How will it be different than previous space stations? Cady and Andrew talk with Blue Origin's Erika Wagner and Open Lunar's Jessy Kate Schingler about the future of commercial space platforms. Also, wealthy interns, Cady plays a trick, space underwear, and a new Sounds of Space.  Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Visit our website at missioninterplanetary.com and drop us a line! Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Erika Wagner: @ad_astra2 Jessy Kate Schingler: @jessykate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act changed the lives of millions of people, helping to make public spaces accessible to those with disabilities. But thirty years after this law, space exploration is still a disabling endeavor that excludes too many people. How can we change this? How can we make space inclusive of everyone? In this episode, part 2 of a series, Cady and Andrew talk with Sina Bahram of Prime Access Consulting about his experience aboard AstroAccess's zero-gravity flight. Sina shares his insights into how to design more inclusive space missions. Also, Axiom's new mission, holographic doctors (in space!), golden record confusion, black hole foreshadowing, and a new Sounds of Space.  Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Visit our website at missioninterplanetary.com and drop us a line! Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Sina Bahram: @SinaBahram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early years of human space exploration, only those with the narrowly-defined and exclusionary “Right Stuff” could be astronauts. Though we've come a long way in expanding our ideas of who can go to space, we're still leaving out so many people because of disabling design decisions. In this episode, Cady and Andrew talk with Ann Kapusta of AstroAccess about how we can make space more accessible for disabled people. Spoiler: the technological barriers are far less challenging than the social and cultural ones. Also, Yuri's Night, a lot about kicking—Jennifer Lawrence kicking Cady, Cady kicking balls, and Cady and Andrew just kicking it together—and a new Sounds of Space. This week's Sounds of Space comes to us from the folks at ALMA Observatory in Chile.  Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Visit our website at missioninterplanetary.com and drop us a line! Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Ann Kapusta: @AnnOnAMission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mars and Venus are our two nearest planetary neighbors, named after the god of war and the goddess of love, respectively. We have rovers on Mars and new missions planned for Venus. But where should we focus most of our attention? In this episode, we're out to settle this question once and for all. It's a Planetary Smackdown. Professional Martian Tanya Harrison of Planet Labs is in the ring for Mars, and Joe O'Roarke, planetary scientist and 2nd rock from the sun advocate, is championing Venus. Two enter. Only one will leave. Place your bets! Also, Cady returns to the ISS and Andrew tries out a new segment: Sounds of Ovaltine. This week's Sounds of Space was created by Domenico Vicinaza of GÉANT. Check out the description here.  Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Tanya Harrison: @TanyaOfMars Joe O'Roarke: @geoJGO Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Mission: Interplanetary, we talk about space exploration as one of humanity's greatest collective challenges. Another of those challenges is fighting climate change. How do these two overlap? Cady and Andrew talk with Dava Newman, Director of MIT's Media Lab, whose non-profit Earth DNA uses satellite data to make the reality of our climate emergency legible to people on Earth. It's a kind of dashboard for our planet! Also, Andrew solves a Rubik's cube in record time, staying caffeinated, and a new Sounds of Space. This week's Sounds of Space is from the great folks at SYSTEM Sounds.   Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Dava Newman: @DavaExplorer Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The next 10 or 20 years may see the first humans on Mars. Sure, Matt Damon suffered catastrophic potato crop failure in The Martian, but what dangers will that first real crew on the Red Planet actually face? And how do we keep them safe? NASA Chief Scientist and Manger for Science & Technology Utilization Julie Robinson talks with Cady and Andrew about the five hazards of human space travel, and what we're doing to guard against them. Also, death by crawler, acronyms, Andrew's game show story, and a new Sounds of Space.  This week's Sounds of Space was created by Mark Ballora.  Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've probably heard about space mining from science fiction. But in the absence of “spice” (Dune shout-out!), what will we actually mine in space? And where? And how? Cady and Andrew talk with space engineer Chris Lewicki about the future of off-Earth mining. Also, the problem with vinyl, novel uses of space flooring, and Sounds of Space.  This week's Sounds of Space comes from the great folks at SYSTEM Sounds.   Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Chris Lewicki: @interplanetary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Space begins some sixty-two miles above the surface of the Earth, but for most people it feels far more distant. Cady and Andrew talk with Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian, about bringing space closer to people. Also, space debris in the news, the problem with rotating space stations, and a new Sounds of Space. This week's Sounds of Space from the great folks at System Sounds. Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Ellen Stofan: @EllenStofan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than half a million bits of deadly space junk are racing around our planet. What do we do about that? Cady and Andrew talk to NASA astronaut Mark Brown about the problem of orbital debris. Also, the passing of legendary astronaut Michael Collins, daffodils, the sci-fi of Toby Weston, and a new Sounds of Space. Check out this week's Sounds of Space here. Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens if you murder someone in space? Cady and Andrew talk to space lawyer Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty about the laws that govern us when we leave Earth. Also, Ingenuity flies on Mars, Star Cops, Battlestar Galactica, and a new Sounds of Space. This week's Sounds of Space comes from the great folks at System Sounds. Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty: @Timiebi89 Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing lasts forever, including the universe. So how will it all end? Cady and Andrew talk with theoretical astrophysicist Katie Mack about the ultimate destruction of the cosmos. Also, comfort food on the ISS, crocheting, and a new Sounds of Space.  This week's Sounds of Space link. Data processed by Alexander G. Kosovichev. Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Natalie Trevino: @AstroKatie Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last Age of Exploration was a disaster. How can we craft better models for a new Space Age? Cady and Andrew talk with space theoretician Natalie Trevino about decolonizing space exploration. Also, new obsessions, Yuri's Night, and new Sounds of Space. Find the full recording of this week's Sounds of Space here. Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Natalie Trevino: @nat_geo_theory Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are we so fixated on Mars? Cady and Andrew talk with author and journalist David Baron about the surprising history behind our fascination with the Red Planet. Also, a new (and very musical) Sounds of Space. This week's Sounds of Space link. NASA/CXC/SAO/K. Arcand, M. Russo & A. Santaguida. Hosts Cady Coleman & Andrew Maynard Twitter Interplanetary Initiative: @II_ASU Cady Coleman: @Astro_Cady Andrew Maynard: @2020science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we ask: Should the first human mission to Mars have an all-women crew? Cady and Andrew talk with science fiction writer Mary Robinette Kowal and professional Martian Tanya Harrison about who should go to Mars.  Landing on the Moon was “one small step for man.” Should we think differently about the first humans to step foot on Mars? Also, a new Sounds of Space. Hosts Cady Coleman  Andrew Maynard Follow  Twitter: @II_ASU @Astro_Cady @2020science @tanyaofmars @MaryRobinette Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our first episode, we ask: What can a distant asteroid teach us about the history of our solar system? Cady and Andrew talk with Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the leader of NASA's mission to the asteroid 16 Psyche. Planets get all the good press; asteroids often seem anonymous. But 16 Psyche is a unique metal world that may hold secrets to the history of our own planet. Also, Sounds of Space. More on NASA's Psyche mission: https://psyche.asu.edu Hosts Cady Coleman Andrew Maynard Follow Twitter: @II_ASU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices