WeMartians Podcast

55 minutes 6 seconds

135 - A Farewell to InSight (feat. Bruce Banerdt)

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.

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Bruce at JPL

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

9 February 2023, 3:16 pm

4 minutes 41 seconds

Goodbye, for now

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

30 January 2023, 2:28 pm

41 minutes 46 seconds

134 - Blood, Sweat, and Rockets (feat. MG Lord)

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.

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

29 January 2023, 7:44 pm

42 minutes 37 seconds

133 - The State of the Moon (feat. Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck)

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.

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

10 January 2023, 8:05 am

35 minutes 26 seconds

132 - Artemis Ahead (feat. Eric Berger)

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

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

13 December 2022, 8:05 am

43 minutes 30 seconds

131 - Juno at Europa (feat. Scott Bolton)

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

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Scott's Twitter (@ScottBoltonJuno)

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

3 November 2022, 1:45 pm

38 minutes 8 seconds

130 - Voyager at 45 (feat. Linda Spilker)

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

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Linda's Twitter (@LindaSpilker)

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

18 October 2022, 7:05 am

45 minutes 30 seconds

129 - Sailing the Clouds of Venus (feat. Paul Byrne)

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

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Paul's Twitter (@ThePlanetaryGuy)

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Horsepower Design

NASA'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).

4 October 2022, 7:05 am

32 minutes 11 seconds

128 - Time Travelling

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

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Probe Uranus Design

Lean 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:

19 September 2022, 7:05 am

46 minutes 50 seconds

127 - Checking in on CLPS (feat. Anthony Colangelo)

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

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Artemis 1 Launch Events

Artemis 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 Design

Lean 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.

9 August 2022, 7:05 am

42 minutes 27 seconds

126 - Ten Years of Being Curious (feat. Abigail Fraeman)

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

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Marsti.me

Learn 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 Design

Lean 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.

27 July 2022, 7:05 am