The WeMartians Podcast delves into all aspects of the exploration of Mars, including robotic/human spacecraft and rocket engineering, planetary science, astronomy and other upcoming technology. Our episodes are research-supported and feature topical audio clips and special guests.
94 - Guiding Perseverance to the Ground (feat. Swati Mohan)
NASA landed its 9th successful surface mission and 5th rover on Mars, Perseverance. To place is safely in the treacherous Jezero Crater, Perseverance used two new technologies: Range Trigger and Terrain Relative Navigation. Mars 2020 Guidance, Navigation and Controls Operations Lead Swati Mohan joins Jake to talk about these technologies and how they did their job so well.We talk Perseverance Entry, Descent, and LandingIncredible Perseverance EDL FootageFollow Swati and Mars 2020Swati TwitterMars 2020 TwitterMars 2020 WebsiteSwati's profile on the Mars 2020 WebsiteFollow Jake & WeMartiansWeMartians.comPatreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support)WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup)Twitter (@we_martians)Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)Off-Nominal PodcastWeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.Dare Mighty Things Parachute DesignHead over to the WeMartians shop and pick up the Dare Mighty Things t-shirt design, fashioned after the Perseverance parachute.
93 - WeMartians Live - Mars 2020 Perseverance Lands on Mars
We talk the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover LandingWeMartians Live Video StreamJPL Raw Feed - Mission Control Audio OnlyJezero Crater Mineralogy MapLanding Ellipses at MarsEDL Footage - HDFollow Tanya and our GuestsTanya Twitter (@TanyaOfMars)For All Mankind BookDebarati Twitter (@SpaceWicca)Mike Twitter (@MikeSeibert)Follow Jake & WeMartiansWeMartians.comPatreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support)WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup)Twitter (@we_martians)Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)Off-Nominal PodcastWeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
92 - Hope Arrives at Mars (feat. Sarah Al Amiri)
The United Arab Emirates Space Agency became the first Arab nation to send an interplanetary probe to Mars this week. Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, UAE Space Agency Chair and Hope Science Lead Sarah Al Amiri joins Jake to talk about the spacecraft's arrival, what's next, and what it means for the UAE and the world.We talk Mars HopeHope enters orbit around MarsFirst image of Mars from HopeFollow Sarah and the UAE Space AgencyMars Hope TwitterUAE Space Agency TwitterSarah Al Amiri TwitterMars Hope WebsiteFollow Jake & WeMartiansWeMartians.comPatreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support)WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup)Twitter (@we_martians)Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)Off-Nominal PodcastPerseverance Landing LivestreamJoin us for WeMartians Live on YouTube as NASA's Perseverance Rover lands on Mars! Co-host Tanya Harrison joins Jake with special guests Debarati Das, Dave Buecher and Mike Seibert. Learn more at www.wemartians.com/2020liveWeMartians Season 5 Mission Patches Now AvailableCelebrate the arrival of Hope, Tianwen-1 and Perseverance with our Season 5 Mission Patch, featuring art by Beth Kerner. Available on the WeMartians Shop.
91 - Canadarm3 (feat. Ken Podwalski)
NASA's Lunar Gateway is an international partnership that plans to put a small station in orbit around the Moon in 2024. Canada, the first country to join the program, will contribute a next-generation robotic arm to facilitate the station's work - Canadarm3. Ken Podwalski, Gateway Program Manager at the Canadian Space Agency, joins Jake to talk about the arm, it's role at Gateway, and Canada's plans for the future in space.We talk Canadarm3 and GatewayCanada becomes first nation to sign on to GatewayMDA awarded Candarm3 ContractCanada to send astronauts to the Moon with NASAFollow the Canadian Space AgencyCanada's Canadarm3 Website at CSAFollow Jake & WeMartiansWeMartians.comPatreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support)WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup)Twitter (@we_martians)Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)Off-Nominal Podcast
90 – Volcanos on Mars (feat. Davitia James)
Much like Earth, Mars is a volcanic world and is home to the largest volcanos in the solar system. But it's activity has quieted since its early eras and volcanism on Mars today is quite different than what we have here on Earth. Planetary Vulcanologist Davitia James joins Jake to talk about the similarities and differences of these volcanos, and what else we need to learn about them.We talk volcanos on MarsRecent activity in Cerberus FossaeThe Eastern CaribbeanFollow DavitiaDavitia's Twitter Account (@VolcanoDavi)Montserrat Volcano Observatory (Facebook)Seismic Research Centre at UWI (Facebook)Follow Jake & WeMartiansWeMartians.comPatreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support)WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup)Twitter (@we_martians)Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)Off-Nominal Podcast
89 – Five Years of WeMartians (feat. Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck)
Five years ago, WeMartians debuted its first episode. We've learned a lot since then, both in how the space world works, and how podcasts work, too! Space reporters and friends of the show Brendan Byrne and Emilee Speck join Jake to have a bit of a humorous look back at the first podcast and how far everything has come.We talk Five Years of the WeMartians PodcastThe First WeMartians Podcast, January 20th, 2016Follow Brendan and EmileeEmilee Speck's Twitter (@EMSpeck)ClickOrlando.com (Space)Space Curious PodcastBrendan Byrne's Twitter (@SpaceBrendan)WMFE Orlando (Space)Are We There Yet PodcastFollow Jake & WeMartiansWeMartians.com)Patreon (https://www.wemartians.com/support)WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup)Twitter (@we_martians)Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)Off-Nominal PodcastGoing Pro Phase TwoIt’s the end of the year, and traditionally around this time we ask for support from you, the listener, as we continue to produce space content on this podcast every month! WeMartians is entirely listener-funded, and as I noted about year ago this month, I’ve begun #GoingPro by making changes in my life in pursuit of creating space content full time. None of that is possible without you!See some of the special limited time offers for new Patrons!Support WeMartians on Patreon
88 – Lunar Science’s Next Giant Leap (feat. Renee Weber)
NASA is getting serious about sending people back to the Moon. And when the Artemis program lands on the surface, there’s a whole world of science to uncover. Renee Weber from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center joins Jake to talk about her new report on what NASA should prioritize when it finally sends astronauts back. We talk Artemis and Lunar Science Moon Trek Artemis Science Definition Team releases report The Report Follow Renee and Artemis Renee’s Twitter (@moonshakes) Profile on Renee at NASA Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 36 – December Hurricanes (feat. Eric Berger) Going Pro Phase Two It’s the end of the year, and traditionally around this time we ask for support from you, the listener, as we continue to produce space content on this podcast every month! WeMartians is entirely listener-funded, and as I noted about year ago this month, I’ve begun #GoingPro by making changes in my life in pursuit of creating space content full time. None of that is possible without you! See some of the special limited time offers for new Patrons! Support WeMartians on Patreon
GoingPro Updates & Red Planet Review – Dec 5th, 2020
It’s the end of the year, and traditionally around this time we ask for support from you, the listener, as we continue to produce space content on this podcast every month! WeMartians is entirely listener-funded, and as I noted about year ago this month, I’ve begun #GoingPro by making changes in my life in pursuit of creating space content full time. None of that is possible without you! And so as we kick off our December drive to gather support, it’s a great time to showcase one of the perks of being a Patron! Red Planet Review is an exclusive extra podcast that is enjoyed weekly by our Patreon supporters of $3 or more. We cover all kinds of news from planetary science, rockets and spacecraft, space policy, all with a Moon and Mars focus. Enjoy this week’s episode for free, and consider signing up to support independent space media. See some of the special limited time offers for new Patrons, too! Support WeMartians on Patreon Headlines for this week Chang’e 5 successfully lands on Moon, retrieves samples Chang’e 5 rendezvous and docking China to proceed with Long March 9 Orion PDU failure could add 12 month delay SLS begins Green Run Wet Dress Rehearsal Blue Origin fires BE-7 engine New process for making hydrogen and oxygen from martian brine InSight measures Martian Background Noise Curiosity Sol 2958 Curiosity Sol 2959 Curiosity Sols 2960-2961 Curiosity Traverse Map (revamped!) Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 36 – December Hurricanes (feat. Eric Berger)
87 – HALO (feat. Michael Staab)
NASA is building a new outpost at the Moon called the Lunar Gateway. It’s a place for science but also a place to stage lunar activities like landings on the surface. Michael Staab from Northrop Grumman joins us to talk about the core module of Gateway, HALO, and what we can expect from it when it gets there. We talk HALO and Lunar Gateway NASA Awards Northrop Grumman contract for HALO Recent plans for HALO Follow Michael and HALO NASA’s Lunar Gateway site Michael’s Twitter (@AstroStaab) Michael’s LinkedIn Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 36 – December Hurricanes (feat. Eric Berger) Support WeMartians on Patreon Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post. You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too! Get your Mission Patch now!
86 – Equitable Design (feat. Kavya Manyapu)
As more and more human spaceflight vehicles enter service, and more and more people have access to spaceflight, the need to design vehicles to accommodate different kinds of passengers becomes more and more important. Kavya Manyapu, a spacesuit engineer on Boeing’s Starliner program, joins Jake to talk about equitable design, and the challenges and payoffs of pursuing it. We talk spacesuits and equitable design Boeing Suit unveiling Follow Kavya and Boeing’s Starliner Kavya’s Wikipedia Profile on Kavya in Rocket Women Kavya’s appearance on Space4U Podcast Boeing Starliner Site Boeing Future U Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 35 – The Two Mile of the Space Industry featuring Caleb Henry Support WeMartians on Patreon Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post. You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too! Get your Mission Patch now!
85 – Vera Rubin Ridge (feat. Abigail Fraeman)
In early 2019, NASA’s Curiosity Rover wrapped up a year-long chapter in its mission exploring Vera Rubin Ridge, an elevated rocky plateau with high iron content. Many months later, we’re starting to see the science results roll in. JPL’s Abigail Fraeman, the Deputy Project Scientist for the mission and campaign leader for the ridge chapter, joins Jake to talk about what we learned about the ridge, and how it surprised us. We talk Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars A view of Vera Rubin Ridge from Curiosity as it climbed up Vera Rubin Ridge from orbit with CRISM data overlay JGR Planets Special Issue on Vera Rubin Ridge Follow Abby & the Curiosity Rover Abby’s Twitter (@abbyfrae) Curiosity Mission Updates Where is Curiosity Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 34 – Repeatedly Googling Area 51 (feat. Emilee Speck, plus Anna and Henna from But It Is Rocket Science) Support WeMartians on Patreon Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post. You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too! Get your Mission Patch now!
84 – The Mars Underground (feat. Charity Phillips-Lander)
The surface of Mars has been a subject of repeated exploration, from both in orbit and in situ. But this exploration is only skin-deep, and a growing community of scientists are calling on NASA to explore the Mars underground. Charity Phillips-Lander joins Jake to talk about this exciting world underground and how she thinks we might have a chance to learn about it with a mission concept called MACIE. We talk Subterranean Exploration of Mars Visions and Voyages – Planetary Decadal Survey, 2013-2023 New Decadal Survey Page The MACIE Concept Page MACIE White Paper Follow Charity Phillips-Lander Charity’s Website Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 34 – Repeatedly Googling Area 51 (feat. Emilee Speck, plus Anna and Henna from But It Is Rocket Science) Support WeMartians on Patreon Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post. You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too! Get your Mission Patch now!
83 – Humans to Mars 2020
The annual Humans to Mars summit went virtual this year, and WeMartians stopped by to listen in on the discussions about getting humans to Mars. From life support to surface power, politics, and medicine, the summit covers a wide variety of topics. Guests Shawna Pandya, Robyn Gatens, Michelle Munk, Lee Mason, Marcia Smith and Chris Carberry join Jake to see where we’re at in this long-term plan. Humans to Mars Summit Explore Mars website This year’s Humans to Mars Summit Agenda Follow Explore Mars and our Guests Explore Mars on Twitter Shawna Pandya on Twitter Shawna Pandya’s Website Robyn Gatens names Acting Director of the ISS Michelle Munk’s NASA Bio Lee Mason’s NASA Bio Space Policy Online Marcia Smith’s Twitter Chris Carberry’s Twitter Chris Carberry on Off-Nominal Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode 33 – Regular-ass Fishing Boar (feat. Loren Grush) Support WeMartians on Patreon Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post. You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too! Get your Mission Patch now! WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
82 – WeMartians Live – Mars 2020 Perseverance Launch
In the first ever WeMartians live video webcast, Jake is joined by co-host Tanya Harrison and special guests Alexandra Pontefract, Nathan Williams, and Phillip Hargrove to experience the launch of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Mars 2020 Perseverance Video Version of this Webcast NASA successfully launches Mars 2020 Follow our Guests Tanya Harrison Twitter (@TanyaOfMars) Alexandra Pontefract (@astrobio_alex) Phillip Hargrove Twitter (@FlightMastrPhil) Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 32 – Well Within the Kill Zone (feat. Richard Garriott) Support WeMartians on Patreon WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
81 – A Probe Called Hope (feat. the Mars Hope team)
It’s the Summer of Mars, and in between the larger space agencies of the United States and China vying to put the next rover on the surface, a small, upstart space agency in the United Arab Emirates is also looking to make their mark. Team members Mohsen Al Awadhi, Hessa Rashid Al Matroushi and Ayesha Al Sharafi from the UAE’s Mars Hope mission join Jake to talk about their successful launch and what they hope this mission will say to the people of the UAE and the world. Mars Hope Mars Hope launches Successfully Follow Mars Hope Mars Hope Twitter (@HopeMarsMission) Ayesha Twitter (@ayesha_sharafi) Hessa Twitter (@HR_Almatroushi) Mohsen Twitter (@MohsenAlAwadhi) Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 32 – Well Within the Kill Zone (feat. Richard Garriott) Support WeMartians on Patreon Announcing the first WeMartians Livestream Event for Perseverance Be sure to join us on July 30th at 7:10AM EDT (T-40 minutes before launch). Co-host Tanya Harrison and I will be welcoming three amazing guests to talk about the NASA Perseverance launch, from science to engineering and more. You can watch it on the Off-Nominal YouTube channel (subscribe to get the notification we’re live!). We’ve Made Space Better Here at Off-Nominal, we’ve been following the demonstrations against racial inequality and police violence in the United States, Canada, and around the world with concern. These events have highlighted deep problems with how we treat each other in many domains, and space exploration is not exempt. While we have been processing this in real-time, it has become obvious that we must do our part and use our platform to speak up against these inequalities and take action to stop them. We have engaged with our Discord community to come up with a plan. The first part of this plan is to raise money for two great organizations listed above. Thanks to two anonymous listeners and our friend Tim Dodd the Everyday Astronaut, we’ve been able to match $11,000 of listener donations with twice that again. All in, we’ve raised nearly $35,000 for the Banneker Institute and Black Girls Code. Read more about the results here. Thank you for helping us work together to make space better.