The James Webb Space Telescope will begin its mission of discovery as soon as Dec. 24. René Doyon, Heidi Hammel and Mike McElwain join us for a conversation about what it may reveal from our solar system to the edge of the universe. Doyon is principal investigator for the telescope’s NIRISS imaging spectrograph, Hammel is vice president for science at the Association of University for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and McElwain of the Goddard Space Flight Center is the JWST Observatory project scientist. What do chief scientist Bruce Betts and a horse have in common? Find out in the What’s Up space trivia contest. There’s always more to explore athttps://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2021-jwst-pre-launch-rene-doyon-heidi-hammel-mike-mcelwain

The James Webb Space Telescope will begin its mission of discovery as soon as Dec. 24. Ren&eacute; Doyon, Heidi Hammel and Mike McElwain join us for a conversation about what it may reveal from our solar system to the edge of the universe. Doyon is principal investigator for the telescope&rsquo;s NIRISS imaging spectrograph, Hammel is vice president for science at the Association of University for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and McElwain of the Goddard Space Flight Center is the JWST Observatory project scientist. What do chief scientist Bruce Betts and a horse have in common? Find out in the What&rsquo;s Up space trivia contest. There&rsquo;s always more to explore at<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2021-jim-green-mary-voytek-astrobiology-scale"> </a><a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2021-jwst-pre-launch-rene-doyon-heidi-hammel-mike-mcelwain">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2021-jwst-pre-launch-rene-doyon-heidi-hammel-mike-mcelwain</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.

Three astronomers share what they hope the James Webb Space Telescope will reveal about our universe after its launch this month.

JWST is ready for launch and amazing science

TOI-270 d is revealing secrets about the most common type of planet in our galaxy, sub-Neptunes. Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by planetary geochemist Chris Glein from the Southwest Research Insitute to discuss his team’s new analysis of its atmosphere, using data from JWST and insights from Earth analogs. Then, The Planetary Society’s Director of Government Relations, Jack Kiraly, breaks down the historic budget cuts proposed for NASA in the U.S. President’s “skinny” budget request, including a 47% reduction to its science program funding. We close out with Bruce Betts and What’s Up.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-toi-270-d

TOI-270 d is revealing secrets about the most common type of planet in our galaxy, sub-Neptunes. Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by planetary geochemist Chris Glein from the Southwest Research Insitute to discuss his team&rsquo;s new analysis of its atmosphere, using data from JWST and insights from Earth analogs. Then, The Planetary Society&rsquo;s Director of Government Relations, Jack Kiraly, breaks down the historic budget cuts proposed for NASA in the U.S. President&rsquo;s &ldquo;skinny&rdquo; budget request, including a 47% reduction to its science program funding. We close out with Bruce Betts and What&rsquo;s Up.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-toi-270-d">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-toi-270-d</a>

Explore the atmosphere of TOI-270 d with planetary geochemist Chris Glein as he unravels the secrets of this distant sub-Neptune using JWST data and geochemical modeling.

 TOI-270 d: Unveiling the secrets of a sub-Neptune

No one person knows how to build a spaceship. Dr. Janet Vertesi has seen this firsthand. She’s spent years embedded in NASA science teams, not as a participant, but as an observer. She’s a sociologist who studies the team dynamics of NASA missions. She is alarmed at the prospect of indiscriminate firings at the agency, and at the potential loss of institutional knowledge that won’t easily be rebuilt.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-janet-vertesi-on-threats-to-nasas-group-brain

No one person knows how to build a spaceship. Dr. Janet Vertesi has seen this firsthand. She&rsquo;s spent years embedded in NASA science teams, not as a participant, but as an observer. She&rsquo;s a sociologist who studies the team dynamics of NASA missions. She is alarmed at the prospect of indiscriminate firings at the agency, and at the potential loss of institutional knowledge that won&rsquo;t easily be rebuilt.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-janet-vertesi-on-threats-to-nasas-group-brain">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/spe-janet-vertesi-on-threats-to-nasas-group-brain</a>

No one person knows how to build a spaceship. What happens to NASA’s collective knowledge when thousands of employees lose their jobs?

Space Policy Edition: How NASA remembers—and forgets

How does someone go from stargazing in a rural Australian backyard to inspiring millions around the world about space science? This week, Sarah Al-Ahmed sits down with Kobi Brown, better known as AstroKobi, to explore how his passion for the Cosmos and a knack for short-form storytelling launched his science communication career. They discuss the evolution of space outreach in the digital age, the power of social media to ignite curiosity, and how a new generation of space communicators is reshaping the way we connect with the Universe.

You'll also hear the latest space policy update from Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at The Planetary Society, including developments affecting NASA’s science programs and the confirmation process for a new NASA administrator. We close out the show with What’s Up with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, and a discussion of direct imaging of exoplanets.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-astrokobi

How does someone go from stargazing in a rural Australian backyard to inspiring millions around the world about space science? This week, Sarah Al-Ahmed sits down with Kobi Brown, better known as AstroKobi, to explore how his passion for the Cosmos and a knack for short-form storytelling launched his science communication career. They discuss the evolution of space outreach in the digital age, the power of social media to ignite curiosity, and how a new generation of space communicators is reshaping the way we connect with the Universe.
You'll also hear the latest space policy update from Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at The Planetary Society, including developments affecting NASA&rsquo;s science programs and the confirmation process for a new NASA administrator. We close out the show with What&rsquo;s Up with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, and a discussion of direct imaging of exoplanets.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-astrokobi">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-astrokobi</a>

AstroKobi joins Sarah Al-Ahmed to explore the rise of a new generation of space communicators. Plus, updates on NASA’s science budget and the confirmation process for the next NASA administrator.

JWST is ready for launch and amazing science

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