Each year, NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program (NIAC) funds visionary ideas that could shape the future of space exploration. In this first of two episodes from the 2025 NIAC Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed introduces some of the concepts presented at this year’s event.

You’ll hear from Martin Bermudez and Josh Simpson from Skyeports LLC. Bermudez is the company’s CEO and principal investigator for the LUNGS Project, and Simpson is a glass artist and co-investigator. Together, their team is exploring how to build glass-blown lunar habitats from melted Moon dust. You’ll also meet Christine Gregg, research engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center, who’s developing architected metamaterials to stabilize giant space structures. And finally, John Mather, Nobel laureate and senior astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, shares his team’s work on an inflatable starshade that could help us see Earth-like worlds around distant stars.

Then stick around for What’s Up with Dr. Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-niac-symposium-part-1

Each year, NASA&rsquo;s Innovative Advanced Concepts program (NIAC) funds visionary ideas that could shape the future of space exploration. In this first of two episodes from the 2025 NIAC Symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed introduces some of the concepts presented at this year&rsquo;s event.
You&rsquo;ll hear from Martin Bermudez and Josh Simpson from Skyeports LLC. Bermudez is the company&rsquo;s CEO and principal investigator for the LUNGS Project, and Simpson is a glass artist and co-investigator. Together, their team is exploring how to build glass-blown lunar habitats from melted Moon dust. You&rsquo;ll also meet Christine Gregg, research engineer at NASA&rsquo;s Ames Research Center, who&rsquo;s developing architected metamaterials to stabilize giant space structures. And finally, John Mather, Nobel laureate and senior astrophysicist at NASA&rsquo;s Goddard Space Flight Center, shares his team&rsquo;s work on an inflatable starshade that could help us see Earth-like worlds around distant stars.
Then stick around for What&rsquo;s Up with Dr. Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-niac-symposium-part-1">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-niac-symposium-part-1</a>

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Planetary Radio explores visionary ideas from NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium. In this first of two episodes, discover how researchers are turning science fiction into reality, from glass habitats on the Moon to starshades that could reveal new Earths.

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