Clipper’s champions: Space advocates and the fight for a mission to Europa

快船的拥护者:太空倡导者和为执行欧罗巴任务而奋斗

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

科学

2024-10-09

1 小时 4 分钟
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单集简介 ...

The Planetary Society and space advocates around the world fought to make Europa Clipper a reality. This week, we learn more about the tumultuous history of the mission with Casey Dreier, The Planetary Society’s chief of space policy.

单集文稿 ...

  • Europa Clipper would not have been possible without space advocates this week on planetary radio, I'm Sarah el Ahmed of the planetary society with more of the human adventure across our solar system and beyond.

  • Jupiter's moon Europa is one of the most promising targets in the search for life beyond Earth, but the mission probably wouldnt have existed without the space fans who advocated for it today.

  • Well learn more about the tumultuous history of the mission with Casey Dreier, our chief of space policy.

  • But first, Matt Kaplan, our senior communications advisor, will give us an update on the successful launch of the European Space Agencys Hera mission and the delay to the launch of Europa Clipper.

  • Before we go, Bruce Betts, the chief scientist here at the planetary Society, will tell you more about two upcoming opportunities to view comets in the October sky and whats up?

  • If you love planetary radio and want to stay informed about the latest space discoveries, make sure you hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcasting platform.

  • By subscribing, you'll never miss an episode filled with new and awe inspiring ways to know the cosmos and our place within it.

  • On Monday, October 7, 2024, the European Space Agency, or ESA's Hera mission, blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

  • It's on its way back to the didymus and dimorphous asteroid system, the target of NASA's previous double asteroid redirection test, or DarT mission.

  • You may remember that it purposefully smashed into dimorphos in 2022.

  • It was humanity's first test of the kinetic impactor technique, which we're going to use hopefully to redirect asteroids someday.

  • You can learn more about the Hera mission in last week's episode.

  • At the time that that episode came out, we weren't yet sure whether or not Hera was going to launch on time.

  • That was due to the grounding of SpaceX's Falcon Nine rockets.

  • Thankfully, Harrah launched as planned, but the incoming Hurricane Milton has caused an unfortunate delay to the Europa clipper launch.

  • With more details on what's going on in launches in Florida, we're joined by Matt Kaplan, our senior communications advisor.

  • Good morning, Matt.

  • Good morning, Sarah.

  • It's still a good morning and a good week for exploration of the solar system, even though we won't be seeing everything happen that we had hoped.

  • Yeah, it's definitely a good news, bad news kind of situation right now, and we don't know what it's going to be like later on this week.