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?

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: Lies, Damned Lies, and Space Data

Join Sarah Al-Ahmed and Casey Dreier for a special live recording of Planetary Radio at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., immediately following The Planetary Society’s Day of Action. In this episode, we explore the complex geopolitical landscape NASA faces as it works toward returning humans to the Moon and exploring other worlds. With growing influence from commercial space companies, potential budget cuts, and changes in committee leadership, this pivotal moment in space exploration is shaping NASA’s future.

We’re joined by Bill Nye (CEO, The Planetary Society), Nancy Chabot (Chief Scientist, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory), Rep. George Whitesides (Representative, CA-27), Rep. Judy Chu (Co-chair, Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, Representative, CA-28), and Antonio Peronace (Chief Executive, Space for Humanity). Together, we explore how evolving national priorities, key lawmakers, and the rapid growth of the commercial space sector could reshape U.S. space policy, potentially redefining the motivations that have driven space exploration since the Apollo era.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-live-from-dc

Join Sarah Al-Ahmed and Casey Dreier for a special live recording of Planetary Radio at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., immediately following The Planetary Society&rsquo;s Day of Action. In this episode, we explore the complex geopolitical landscape NASA faces as it works toward returning humans to the Moon and exploring other worlds. With growing influence from commercial space companies, potential budget cuts, and changes in committee leadership, this pivotal moment in space exploration is shaping NASA&rsquo;s future.
We&rsquo;re joined by Bill Nye (CEO, The Planetary Society), Nancy Chabot (Chief Scientist, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory), Rep. George Whitesides (Representative, CA-27), Rep. Judy Chu (Co-chair, Congressional Planetary Science Caucus, Representative, CA-28), and Antonio Peronace (Chief Executive, Space for Humanity). Together, we explore how evolving national priorities, key lawmakers, and the rapid growth of the commercial space sector could reshape U.S. space policy, potentially redefining the motivations that have driven space exploration since the Apollo era.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-live-from-dc">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-live-from-dc</a>

Join Sarah Al-Ahmed and Casey Dreier for a special live recording of Planetary Radio at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., immediately following The Planetary Society’s Day of Action.

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

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

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