Red Planet Live

Ashton Zeth interviews Shelli Brunswick, a globally recognized leader in space innovation and former Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, shares her insights on leadership and the future of space exploration in the latest episode of Red Planet Live. Shelli also discusses her book, 'What's Space Got to do With it?: Ten Life Lessons for Personal Growth" and future space books under development. She offered invaluable career advice, inspiring listeners with her expertise and passion for advancing opportunities in the space industry.

https://shelli-brunswick.com/

What's Space Got to Do With It? - by Shelli Brunswick

Drilling Into the Future of Space Exploration with Kris Zacny (Honeybee Robotics)

In this episode, Kris Zacny from Honeybee Robotics takes us on a journey into the boldest frontiers of space exploration. We discuss the possibility for the largest hole ever drilled on the Moon with the Blue Ghost Mission 1, planned to happen in under 40 days, and the groundbreaking Prime-1 mission aiming to jackhammer lunar ice a meter below the South Pole's surface. Could Firefly and Intuitive Machines both be landing on the Moon at the same time?

We also explore JAXA’s Phobos mission, set for 2026, where a mere seconds-long operation on the Martian moon could result in the first-ever Mars sample return—an incredible twist in the race for interplanetary exploration.

Kris dives into the Sentinel Mission, focusing on Earth observation to track climate change, including ocean rise, snowpack, and ice thickness. We also hear about the power of AI in accelerating space discoveries and the competitive but highly effective internship programs shaping the future of space innovation.

Finally, Kris shares his dream of drilling 10-20 meters below Mars' surface, his thoughts on NASA’s Viper mission (he’s willing to eat his hat if it doesn’t go to the Moon). This episode is packed with visionary ideas, like the space shotgun, and includes the engineering of cutting-edge space missions.

Don’t miss it!

Honeybee Robotics

Interviews with Flashline Crew 16, featuring participants Tiffany Swarmer and Michael Andrews. Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island—the world’s largest uninhabited island, located 900 miles from the North Pole.

https://fmars.marssociety.org/

In the latest episode of Red Planet Live, host Ashton Zeth interviews Rod Pyle, managing editor of Ad Astra, for an engaging discussion about space exploration.

The conversation spans a variety of exciting topics, including the incoming NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the potential for an orbital commodity exchange, updates on Starship, and much more!

Rod Pyle is a prominent space author, journalist, and historian, known for his significant contributions to space studies and development

Ashton Zeth interviews Dr. Steven Benner about all things about extant life on Mars.

About Dr. Benner

Steven Benner, renowned American chemist, has taught at Harvard, ETH Zurich, and the University of Florida. Founder of TWIST, the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, EraGen Biosciences, and Firebird BioMolecular Sciences, Benner's work bridges academia and innovation in molecular science.

Ffame -- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution

Ashton interviews Sergii Iakymov, director of Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah. Sergii also talks about his recent mission at HERA -- NASA's human exploration research analog.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/hera/

https://mdrs.marssociety.org/

Ashton Zeth interviews Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica. Eric Berger, author of the highly acclaimed "Liftoff" and his new book "Reentry", has an insightful conversation about the space industry, SpaceX, and about the future of space travel.

Ashton Zeth interviews speakers from the 2024 Mars Society Convention at the University of Washington in Seattle. Includes interviews with: - Dr. Pete Worden of Breakthrough Initiative - Howard Hu, Orion Program Director at NASA - Anna Wadhwa on microgravity experiments - Bryan Versteeg, space concept artist - Edwin Kite on Martian atmosphere terraforming - Dr. David Caitling Filmed August 8-11 in Seattle Washington at 'The Hub' on the University of Washington's campus during the annual Mars Society Convention. #MarsSociety2024 #MarsExploration #SpaceInnovation

Ashton Zeth and Alan Boyle interview Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society, about the new Mars Exploration Act. The legislation proposal mandates NASA to put humans on Mars in under 10 years.

#MarsExplorationAct

#MarsSociety

ChatGPTAshton sits down with Kirsten Whittingham, President of Max Space, to discuss her remarkable career, the groundbreaking inflatable modules being developed at Max Space, and how she stays inspired in a dynamic industry. If you're passionate about learning from trailblazing women in space and want a deeper dive into the future of inflatable space habitats, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

https://getmaxspace.com

Joining this panel are Nicole Willett, Education Director of the Mars Society, and Jen Carver-Hunter from NASA’s Spaceward Bound Utah program. Together, we explore Nicole's Mars Engineering Design competition and Jen's K-12 STEM initiatives, both of which are dedicated to invigorating and inspiring the next generation of students!

https://www.marssociety.org/education/intl-mission-to-mars-design-course-competition/

https://www.marssociety.org/news/2023/02/28/teachers-as-learners-the-impact-of-spaceward-bound-utah/

Ashton Zeth, the newly appointed director of the Ambassador Program, interviews our Mars Society Ambassadors. This panel includes James Melton, Nasir Rizwan, Jonathan Nalder, and Emmanuel Kyei Twumasi.

In this episode, we dive into the world of analog space missions with our guest, Michaela Musilova, the former director of HI-SEAS. With a remarkable track record of organizing over 40 Moon and Mars analog missions, she shares her extensive experience and insights. Discover more about HI-SEAS and the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) as we explore their unique contributions to space research.

She also discusses her participation in the 2024 Analog Astronaut Conference held at Biosphere 2 in Arizona. Tune in as she recounts her two impactful missions at MDRS, and her journey from leading a satellite launch team to teaching astrobiology and founding a space technology company in Slovakia.

https://michaelamusilova.com

Ashton Zeth hosts a senior NASA panel with Nujoud Merancy & Dr. Lindsay Hays about Mars & Moon Exploration.

Featured Panelists:

• Nujoud Merancy, Deputy Associate Administrator, Strategy and Architecture Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center, will discuss technical aspects of exploration architectures, focusing on returning astronauts to the Moon, establishing a lunar presence, and landing humans on Mars.

• Dr. Lindsay Hays, Lead Scientist Mars Sample Return, Program Scientist in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, and Deputy Program Scientist for the Astrobiology Program, will discuss the Mars Sample Return Mission and research on exobiology and habitable worlds.

Ashton interviews James Burk, Executive Director of the Mars Society. They talk about the new mission at Flashline Mars Arctic Station, James' mission at MDRS in Utah, and many updates of the Mars Society.

On this month's episode, Ashton hosts a panel with Laura Forczyk & Ling Xin about reporting on space & current state of space exploration.

Ling Xin, originally from Beijing and now based in Ohio, is a science journalist known for her coverage of space, astronomy, and physics. With contributions to publications such as the South China Morning Post, Scientific American, Science, Physics World, Nature, and others, she brings complex scientific concepts to life for readers around the world.

Laura Forczyk, an experienced space analyst, is a familiar face on various national and global news outlets, including CNN, Bloomberg, New York Times, CNBC, The Guardian, BBC, and Politico. Alongside her media appearances, she brings a wealth of experience as a space scientist, author, coach, and small business owner.

Ashton interviews Dr. Jan Špaček, an astrobiologist and senior research scientist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution -- about many topics including Mars Sample Return, life on Mars, and life on Venus.

Listen in as we explore the thrilling world of Martian exploration and the ongoing quest to discover life beyond Earth. Jan explains that since the Viking missions of the 1970s, NASA hasn't focused on searching for life on Mars; however, his project, ALFA, aims to change that. This episode also discusses possible US competition on Mars, like China’s future mission to probe Mars' subsurface ice. We discuss the critical importance of Mars Sample Return missions before human exploration, the potential for life on Venus, and the intriguing economics of commercial spaceflight versus traditional NASA missions.

Tune in to explore the intersections of science, technology, and the big existential questions that drive us to reach for the stars.

AlfaMars

#MARS

#LifeonMars

Ashton Zeth interviews Leonard David, renowned space journalist. Topics range from Curiosity rover, Bill Nelson, potential for a space race, and life on Mars.

Ashton Zeth interviews former NASA astronaut Jose M. Hernandez alongside his son, Dr. Julio Hernandez, a researcher at Purdue University and former Mars analog astronaut.
Jose worked at NASA Johnson Space Center from 2001 to 2011, where he served as an astronaut, legislative analyst, branch chief, and materials research engineer. He was on the STS-128 shuttle mission, during which he oversaw the transfer of thousands of pounds of equipment between the shuttle and the International Space Station and helped with robotics operations.
More recently, Jose serves as President and CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, LLC, a California-based engineering consulting firm that focuses on aerospace engineering, non-destructive evaluation, failure analysis, and general engineering services.
Last year, Amazon released “A Million Miles Away”, a biopic film about Jose and his inspiring path as a migrant worker from Mexico to an American astronaut. Starring actor Michael Pena, the movie received high acclaim as a “great family movie with messages of determination and perseverance.”
Julio is a Characterization and Research Engineer at the Hypersonics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center within the Purdue Applied Research Institute. He obtained his Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in July 2023, focusing on self-sensing composite materials and additive manufacturing.

In addition, he previously served as a botanist for Crew 245 during his two-week tenure as a Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) analog astronaut in 2021. 

Ashton Zeth interviews astrobiologist Dr. Graham Lau, host of "Ask an Astrobiologist". Dr. Graham Lau also serves as a logistics coordinator for the ⁠University Rover Challenge (URC) ⁠held by the Mars Society and the Communications & Marketing Director for the Blue Marble Institute.

Dr. Graham Lau's links: 

⁠Ask An Astrobiologist⁠

⁠Cosmobiota⁠

⁠University Rover Challenge⁠

Blue Marble Institute