Space Policy Edition: Why are outer planets missions so expensive?

Planetary Radio

Friday, March 4, 2022 - 1 hour 28 minutes

It's the 50th anniversary of Pioneer 10, the first spacecraft to the outer planets. Pioneers 10 and 11 were scrappy, low-cost endeavors that blazed the path for future exploration. But the future has been expensive: outer planets missions are some of the priciest planetary probes in history. Can we get back to a pioneering spirit and increase the frequency of outer planet exploration? To find out, we talk with Mark Wolverton, author of “The Depths of Space: The Story of the Pioneer Probes,” and Scott Bolton, principal investigator for Juno, the most affordable Jupiter mission in decades. Casey and Mat also discuss the dynamic and tragic situation in Ukraine, and its implications for space. Discover more here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/pioneer-10-and-11-bolton-wolverton

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Subscribe to this podcast

Riverton Weather

More Delmarva weather is available here.

Wed
61°F
Thu
66°F
Fri
72°F
Sat
77°F

Currently playing on Delmarva FM

The Rick Smith Show
7:00am - 8:00am

Serving up a heaping portion of democracy with a side of fairness, the grit of a Teamster, and no apologies.

Coming up on Delmarva FM

The BradCast
8:00am - 9:00am

Brad is an LA-based investigative journalist/blogger, political commentator, author, Commonweal Institute Fellow, and the Publisher and Executive Editor of BradBlog.com
Letters and Politics
9:00am - 10:00am

Mitch Jeserich. Explore the history behind today’s major global and national news stories.