Last week we learned that Russia might be planning nuclear weapons to take out satellites in space. What is the current and future possibility of weapons in space and what are the treaties designed to prevent them?
Our Hosts
Fraser Cain
Universe Today
Dr. Pamela Gay
CosmoQuest
Production by
- Richard Drumm, Audio Engineer
- Ally Pelphrey, Video Engineer
17 Seasons
700+ Episodes
2018 Winner Parsec Award
Ep. 708: What Goes Into Sample Return Missions from Asteroids and Comets?
Last week we talked about sample return missions from the Moon and Mars, but scientists have retrieved samples from other objects in the Solar System, including comets and asteroids. What does it take to return a piece of rock from space, and what have we learned so far?
Ep. 707: What Goes Into Sample Return Missions for the Moon and Mars?
We’ve sent robots to other worlds, but the amount of science we can deploy to another planet can’t compare with the vast science labs we have on Earth. That’s why more and more missions are for a sample return, bringing pieces of alien worlds back to Earth, were we study them with proper equipment.
Ep. 706: China’s Space Program
We’re so familiar with NASA’s exploration efforts in space, but you might be surprised to learn that China launches almost as many rockets as the US. They’ve got their own space exploration program that could soon bring humans to the surface of the Moon. Let’s give a brief overview of China’s space exploration plans.
Recent Episodes
Ep. 630: Things We Can Look Forward To
https://youtu.be/zYPJFJndDUM In a rare moment of weakness, Pamela has decided she's open to the possibility that a future exists. That missions, telescopes and spacecraft are going to be built and they're going to do some science. Today we'll talk about what we're...
Ep. 629: The Cost of Delays
https://youtu.be/3gZtbMugXR8 With all the success of James Webb so far, it's looking like science's huge gamble is going to pay off, but there were years of delays and budget overruns. What impacts did these delays have on science, careers, and the future of space...
Ep. 628: The Sun Revisited
https://youtu.be/IiPvLdPadXg Once again, it's time to take a look at the Sun. You know, ongoing thermonuclear explosion of fusing hydrogen that's right over there. Fortunately, there's a fleet of spacecraft and ground observatories ready to give our best ever view of...
Ep. 627: Mercury Revisited
https://youtu.be/VVjsEPOO1mY It's been about a thousand years since we last looked at Mercury, so we figured it's time for an update. What new things have we learned about Mercury, or even new questions? Fortunately, there's a mission on the way to help get us some...
Ep. 626: Terrestrial Planets — Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
https://youtu.be/ZZdbQXOwT40 We continue our refreshed tour of the Solar System, checking in on the inner terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. What have we learned about their formation, evolution and what they might tell us about other planets in the...
Ep. 625: End of the Year Review
https://youtu.be/rHfXnJj4LIU We've reached the end of 2021, and this is the last episode of the year. Let's look back at the big space events of the last year and talk about what we're looking forward to in 2022. Download MP3 | Show Notes | Transcript Show Notes...
Ep. 624: Small Rocky Bodies (Including Phobos and Deimos)
https://youtu.be/GRGnvSi7noE We've talked about the icy objects of the Solar System, today let's talk about space rocks. There's a surprising variety of rocky material in the Solar System, and each object has a story to tell about the history and formation of the...
Ep. 623: NEOS: Concern or Nah?
https://youtu.be/AWvd_LN1VL8 Are asteroids dangerous? Just ask the dinosaurs, and they'll tell you a sad story of fiery death. It turns out we're in a shooting gallery of space rock and metal, and somewhere out there there's one with our name on it. Should we be...
Ep. 622: Rocky Moons and Giant Asteroids
https://youtu.be/H8JiaXcGvVI A rock is a rock is a rock, right? Across the Solar System there are giant rocky asteroids and even rockier moons. What's the difference between these two families of objects, and where did they come from? Show Notes | Transcript Show...
Ep. 621: Gas Giants
https://youtu.be/YvV9X_weY1w For the longest time, the only gas giant planets we knew about were Jupiter and Saturn. But now in the age of extrasolar planets, astronomers have discovered thousands of gas giants across almost as many star systems. What new discoveries...
Ep. 620: Why Getting to the Outer Worlds is So Difficult
https://youtu.be/9OVAbDgTgSM Good news! Over the next few years, we're going to see a flotilla of new missions headed to Jupiter and Saturn. Why aren't we seeing more missions to the outer planets, like Uranus and Neptune? It turns out, those places are far away....
Ep. 619: Icy Moons and Dwarf Planets
https://youtu.be/3hJVYAH5wsQ The outer Solar System is far enough from the Sun that water doesn't get blasted away into deep space. In this icy realm, there are many worlds with vast quantities of water ice. Today let's look at the icy outer moons and dwarf planets....
Ep. 618: Ice Giants
https://youtu.be/1L2FdcC_vsA We're learning more and more about the outer planets of the Solar System. Uranus and Neptune are ice giants, filled with water and other volatiles that we'd consider ice if it was here on Earth. What's inside these worlds, and what could...
Ep. 617: Hangout-a-thon Episode 2 – Crowdfunding Science
https://youtu.be/La5ZNRro6zM Funding for basic science has always been tricky business, coming mainly from universities, government, companies, or wealthy individuals, but who knows how many fascinating discoveries were never made because of a lack of funding? We now...
Ep. 616: Hangout-a-thon Episode 1 – The Great Observatories
https://youtu.be/ZGJesDhTVpw You're familiar with the Hubble Space Telescope, of course, but it's just one of NASA's Great Observatories. After Hubble came three more incredible observatories, each greater than the last. Together, they would fill in almost the entire...
Ep. 615: Planet 9
https://youtu.be/r4wvIIWLfcI After Pluto lost its planethood, we were down to 8 planets. But there's growing evidence of another world (or worlds) out beyond the orbit of Pluto. Is Planet 9 out there and how will we find it? Could there even be a Planet 10? Show Notes...
Ep. 614: Centaurs, Comets and Asteroids
https://youtu.be/Rik2atXaE6E There are asteroids and there are comets. But there's an entirely separate class of objects called centaurs. But instead of half-human, half-horse, imagine an object that's half comet, half asteroid but 100% interesting. Show Notes |...
Ep. 613: Pluto’s Demotion: 15 Years Later
https://youtu.be/qreJoGzZx-4 It's been 15 years since Pluto was kicked out of the planet club. It also happens to be the topic of our very first episode of Astronomy Cast more than 600 episodes ago. Are there any updates? Does Pluto have a chance of regaining...
Ep. 612: Update: SETI, METI (and WETI)
https://youtu.be/hMULAbRA8YQ Last week we talked about the various ways that astronomers could detect the presence of intelligent civilizations by observing technosignatures. This week we'll give you an update on the state of searching for extraterrestrials. This...
Ep. 611: What is Required to Confirm Alien Life: Intelligence Edition
https://youtu.be/64_YM6PgnA0 Last week we talked about what it's going to take to confirm basic biological life across the Solar System and the Milky Way. This week, we'll discuss what it's going to take to detect intelligent life out there in space. Show Notes |...