WeMartians Podcast

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 Twitter 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/