Wemartians Podcast

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 Ca

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) Fa

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 Presenta

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 e

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

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.co

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) Webs

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

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 Nort

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

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 s

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