Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck joins the show to unpack his company’s bold, $4-billion fixed-price plan to bring Martian samples home, why he believes commercial partnerships can unlock new frontiers in planetary science, and his “soft spot” for interplanetary exploration. Then, Richard French — former JPL engineer and now VP of Business & Strategy at Rocket Lab — provides deeper insight into their proposed Mars Sample Return architecture, explaining how a single, vertically integrated team could cut costs and secure mission success. And yes, we get an update on the status of their Venus mission, too.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/can-rocketlab-save-msr

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck joins the show to unpack his company&rsquo;s bold, $4-billion fixed-price plan to bring Martian samples home, why he believes commercial partnerships can unlock new frontiers in planetary science, and his &ldquo;soft spot&rdquo; for interplanetary exploration. Then, Richard French &mdash; former JPL engineer and now VP of Business &amp; Strategy at Rocket Lab &mdash; provides deeper insight into their proposed Mars Sample Return architecture, explaining how a single, vertically integrated team could cut costs and secure mission success. And yes, we get an update on the status of their Venus mission, too.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/can-rocketlab-save-msr">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/can-rocketlab-save-msr</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.

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck outlines a $4B fixed-price plan for Mars Sample Return — and reveals new Venus mission details — before VP Richard French explains how a single, integrated team cuts costs and ensures success.

Space Policy Edition: Mars Sample Return, but at what (fixed) price?

NASA’s science programs are facing the largest proposed budget cut in more than 40 years. This staggering 47%reduction could cancel missions, waste billions in U.S. taxpayer investments, and unravel decades of discovery. In this episode of Planetary Radio, host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Casey Dreier, The Planetary Society’s Chief of Space Policy, and Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations. Together, they break down what the “passback” stage of the federal budget process means for NASA, which missions and programs are in jeopardy, and how you can help push back. Later in the show, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for a reflective What’s Up as we explore the science that could be lost and why it still deserves to be saved.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-passback-budget-breakdown

NASA&rsquo;s science programs are facing the largest proposed budget cut in more than 40 years. This staggering 47%reduction could cancel missions, waste billions in U.S. taxpayer investments, and unravel decades of discovery. In this episode of Planetary Radio, host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Casey Dreier, The Planetary Society&rsquo;s Chief of Space Policy, and Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations. Together, they break down what the &ldquo;passback&rdquo; stage of the federal budget process means for NASA, which missions and programs are in jeopardy, and how you can help push back. Later in the show, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for a reflective What&rsquo;s Up as we explore the science that could be lost and why it still deserves to be saved.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-passback-budget-breakdown">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-passback-budget-breakdown</a>

NASA's science programs face a proposed 47%budget cut. We break down what's at risk and how you can take action to help protect space exploration.

Passback budget breakdown: A 47% cut to NASA science

For decades, scientists hypothesized that Mars’ reddish color came from hematite, an iron oxide thought to have formed through dry oxidation after Mars lost its water. But new research suggests the story is more complex—and more watery—than we once imagined.

In this episode, planetary scientist Adomas (Adam) Valantinas from Brown University joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed to discuss his team’s discovery that Mars’ iconic red dust is likely dominated not by hematite but by a hydrated mineral called ferrihydrite. This subtle but significant shift in understanding could reshape what we know about Mars’ climate history and its potential for past habitability. 

Then, Sarah and Bruce Betts, Planetary Society chief scientist, revisit one of the most famous Martian discoveries: Opportunity’s hematite-rich “blueberries,” which also told a compelling story about water on the Red Planet.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-why-is-mars-red

For decades, scientists hypothesized that Mars&rsquo; reddish color came from hematite, an iron oxide thought to have formed through dry oxidation after Mars lost its water. But new research suggests the story is more complex&mdash;and more watery&mdash;than we once imagined.
In this episode, planetary scientist Adomas (Adam) Valantinas from Brown University joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed to discuss his team&rsquo;s discovery that Mars&rsquo; iconic red dust is likely dominated not by hematite but by a hydrated mineral called ferrihydrite. This subtle but significant shift in understanding could reshape what we know about Mars&rsquo; climate history and its potential for past habitability.&nbsp;
Then, Sarah and Bruce Betts, Planetary Society chief scientist, revisit one of the most famous Martian discoveries: Opportunity&rsquo;s hematite-rich &ldquo;blueberries,&rdquo; which also told a compelling story about water on the Red Planet.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-why-is-mars-red">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-why-is-mars-red</a>

Why is Mars red? A new study led by Brown University’s Adomas Valantinas points to ferrihydrite, not hematite, revealing a wetter past and new clues about the Red Planet’s potential to support life.

Why is Mars red? A new clue to the history of habitability in Martian dust

The space sector is data-rich but insight-poor. Jack Kuhr, head of research at Payload Space, joins the show to unpack how business, budgeting, and performance data—not spacecraft science—can shape investments, drive growth, and influence policy. Is there a data crisis in the space industry? What gets measured, what gets missed, and how does that shape the decisions we make about space? Kuhr shares his approach to surfacing the real story behind the numbers—and why clarity, context, and narratives matter.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/lies-and-space-data

The space sector is data-rich but insight-poor. Jack Kuhr, head of research at Payload Space, joins the show to unpack how business, budgeting, and performance data&mdash;not spacecraft science&mdash;can shape investments, drive growth, and influence policy. Is there a data crisis in the space industry? What gets measured, what gets missed, and how does that shape the decisions we make about space? Kuhr shares his approach to surfacing the real story behind the numbers&mdash;and why clarity, context, and narratives matter.
Discover more at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/lies-and-space-data">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/lies-and-space-data</a>

The space sector is data-rich but insight-poor. Jack Kuhr of Payload talks about how he turns raw numbers into real narratives.

Space Policy Edition: Mars Sample Return, but at what (fixed) price?

In 1 playlist(s)

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips