ChatGPTAshton sits down with Kirsten Whittingham, President of Max Space, to discuss her remarkable career, the groundbreaking inflatable modules being developed at Max Space, and how she stays inspired in a dynamic industry. If you're passionate about learning from trailblazing women in space and want a deeper dive into the future of inflatable space habitats, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! https://getmaxspace.com

Joining this panel are Nicole Willett, Education Director of the Mars Society, and Jen Carver-Hunter from NASA’s Spaceward Bound Utah program. Together, we explore Nicole's Mars Engineering Design competition and Jen's K-12 STEM initiatives, both of which are dedicated to invigorating and inspiring the next generation of students! https://www.marssociety.org/education/intl-mission-to-mars-design-course-competition/ https://www.marssociety.org/news/2023/02/28/teachers-as-learners-the-impact-of-spaceward-bound-utah/

Ashton Zeth, the newly appointed director of the Ambassador Program, interviews our Mars Society Ambassadors. This panel includes James Melton, Nasir Rizwan, Jonathan Nalder, and Emmanuel Kyei Twumasi.

In this episode, we dive into the world of analog space missions with our guest, Michaela Musilova, the former director of HI-SEAS. With a remarkable track record of organizing over 40 Moon and Mars analog missions, she shares her extensive experience and insights. Discover more about HI-SEAS and the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) as we explore their unique contributions to space research. She also discusses her participation in the 2024 Analog Astronaut Conference held at Biosphere 2 in Arizona. Tune in as she recounts her two impactful missions at MDRS, and her journey from leading a satellite launch team to teaching astrobiology and founding a space technology company in Slovakia. https://michaelamusilova.com

Ashton Zeth hosts a senior NASA panel with Nujoud Merancy & Dr. Lindsay Hays about Mars & Moon Exploration. Featured Panelists: Nujoud Merancy, Deputy Associate Administrator, Strategy and Architecture Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center, will discuss technical aspects of exploration architectures, focusing on returning astronauts to the Moon, establishing a lunar presence, and landing humans on Mars. Dr. Lindsay Hays, Lead Scientist Mars Sample Return, Program Scientist in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, and Deputy Program Scientist for the Astrobiology Program, will discuss the Mars Sample Return Mission and research on exobiology and habitable worlds.

Ashton interviews James Burk, Executive Director of the Mars Society. They talk about the new mission at Flashline Mars Arctic Station, James' mission at MDRS in Utah, and many updates of the Mars Society.

On this month's episode, Ashton hosts a panel with Laura Forczyk & Ling Xin about reporting on space & current state of space exploration. Ling Xin, originally from Beijing and now based in Ohio, is a science journalist known for her coverage of space, astronomy, and physics. With contributions to publications such as the South China Morning Post, Scientific American, Science, Physics World, Nature, and others, she brings complex scientific concepts to life for readers around the world. Laura Forczyk, an experienced space analyst, is a familiar face on various national and global news outlets, including CNN, Bloomberg, New York Times, CNBC, The Guardian, BBC, and Politico. Alongside her media appearances, she brings a wealth of experience as a space scientist, author, coach, and small business owner.

Ashton interviews Dr. Jan Špaček, an astrobiologist and senior research scientist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution -- about many topics including Mars Sample Return, life on Mars, and life on Venus. Listen in as we explore the thrilling world of Martian exploration and the ongoing quest to discover life beyond Earth. Jan explains that since the Viking missions of the 1970s, NASA hasn't focused on searching for life on Mars; however, his project, ALFA, aims to change that. This episode also discusses possible US competition on Mars, like China’s future mission to probe Mars' subsurface ice. We discuss the critical importance of Mars Sample Return missions before human exploration, the potential for life on Venus, and the intriguing economics of commercial spaceflight versus traditional NASA missions. Tune in to explore the intersections of science, technology, and the big existential questions that drive us to reach for the stars. AlfaMars #MARS #LifeonMars

Ashton Zeth interviews Leonard David, renowned space journalist. Topics range from Curiosity rover, Bill Nelson, potential for a space race, and life on Mars.

Ashton Zeth interviews former NASA astronaut Jose M. Hernandez alongside his son, Dr. Julio Hernandez, a researcher at Purdue University and former Mars analog astronaut.Jose worked at NASA Johnson Space Center from 2001 to 2011, where he served as an astronaut, legislative analyst, branch chief, and materials research engineer. He was on the STS-128 shuttle mission, during which he oversaw the transfer of thousands of pounds of equipment between the shuttle and the International Space Station and helped with robotics operations.More recently, Jose serves as President and CEO of Tierra Luna Engineering, LLC, a California-based engineering consulting firm that focuses on aerospace engineering, non-destructive evaluation, failure analysis, and general engineering services.Last year, Amazon released “A Million Miles Away”, a biopic film about Jose and his inspiring path as a migrant worker from Mexico to an American astronaut. Starring actor Michael Pena, the movie received high acclaim as a “great family movie with messages of determination and perseverance.”Julio is a Characterization and Research Engineer at the Hypersonics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center within the Purdue Applied Research Institute. He obtained his Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in July 2023, focusing on self-sensing composite materials and additive manufacturing. In addition, he previously served as a botanist for Crew 245 during his two-week tenure as a Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) analog astronaut in 2021.

Ashton Zeth interviews astrobiologist Dr. Graham Lau, host of "Ask an Astrobiologist". Dr. Graham Lau also serves as a logistics coordinator for the ⁠University Rover Challenge (URC) ⁠held by the Mars Society and the Communications & Marketing Director for the Blue Marble Institute. Dr. Graham Lau's links:  ⁠Ask An Astrobiologist⁠ ⁠Cosmobiota⁠ ⁠University Rover Challenge⁠ Blue Marble Institute

The Mars Society's live podcast, RedPlanetLive interviews the people instrumental to settling and exploring Mars. In this episode Ashton Zeth interviews the Dr. Shawna Pandya, a scientist-astronaut candidate!

The Mars Society's live podcast, RedPlanetLive interviews the people instrumental to settling and exploring Mars. In this episode, Ashton Zeth interviews the FMARS 15 crew who recently finished a 2-week mission at the Devon Island analog. The crew: Andrew WheelerTerry TrevinoAndy GrecoOlivia DraysonCaleb Pool For an even more in-depth look, check out this video with highlights and personal interviews from the crew's extraordinary trip:    • Flashline Mars - Arctic Mission Crew 15

This month's episode, Ashton Zeth, host of Red Planet Live interviews speakers from the International Mars Society Convention 2023.  Guests include:  Wolfgang Fink, PhD, Keonjian Endowed Chair in Robotics, U. of Arizona Tiffany Morgan, Deputy Director of NASA's Mars Exploration Program Roberto Carlino, Robotics Engineer at NASA Dr. Greg Autry, Director of Space leadership at ASU, Thunderbird School of Management Kai Staats, Director of Research for SAM at Biosphere 2 Roger Gilbertson, Mars Society Ambassador Eric Kristoff, M.S., EVA Link & Mars Society, Chicago Chapter ** Correction **  Dr. Wolfang Fink's title in the show should read, Keonjian Endowed Chair! A special thanks to all our guests.

In this episode Ashton Zeth hosts an interview with Dr. Robert Zubrin, Founder and President of the Mars Society. Dr. Robert Zubrin announces the formation of the Mars Technical Institute and is interviewed by Alan Boyle of GeekWire.

The Mars Society's live podcast, RedPlanetLive interviews the people instrumental to settling and exploring Mars. In this episode Ashton Zeth interviews a panel from the University Rover Challenge 2023. Ashton interviews Kevin Sloan, the director of The University Rover Challenge for the Mars Society.

The Mars Society's live podcast, RedPlanetLive interviews the people instrumental to settling and exploring Mars. In this episode Ashton Zeth interviews Emily Calandrelli, an American science communicator, former MIT engineer, and the host and an executive producer of Xploration Outer Space and Emily's Wonder Lab.

The Mars Society's live podcast, RedPlanetLive interviews the people instrumental to settling and exploring Mars. In this episode Ashton Zeth interviews Marcia Rieke, the Principal Investigator of the NirCam James Webb Space Telescope and Regents Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona.

he Mars Society's live podcast, RedPlanetLive interviews the people instrumental to settling and exploring Mars. In this episode Ashton Zeth interviews James Burk, the Executive Director of the Mars Society. James Burk, Executive Director, The Mars Society James Burk is the Executive Director of the Mars Society, which is the largest and most active Mars advocacy group in the world. He has volunteered with the Mars Society for over 25 years and has occupied the role as Executive Director for the past year and a half. James is also a member of the organization's steering committee and served as Director of Information Technology from 2011 through 2022. As part of this, he helped create the group's MarsVR project, a digital twin VR environment of Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah. In addition, James is a veteran analog astronaut, having served on multiple crew missions at MDRS and is currently commanding Crew 261 at the facility until May 13th, so he'll be providing us with a firsthand account of and taking your questions about his recent visit "to Mars" during our May 16th podcast.

On our 4th episode of the Red Planet Live reboot, we will interview Jim Green live with audience Q&A. We invite you to submit your questions to Dr. Green during the podcast. He's ready to answer anything NASA related, having spent 40 years working in senior positions at the agency. James Green, Chief Executive Officer, Space Science Endeavors LLC Jim Green has worked at NASA for 42 years before retiring in December 2022. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Iowa in 1979 and worked at Marshall Space Flight Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and NASA Headquarters. During Jim’s long career at NASA, he has been NASA’s Chief Scientist and was the longest serving director of the Planetary Science Division with the overall programmatic responsibility for the New Horizons spacecraft flyby of Pluto, the Juno spacecraft to Jupiter, and the landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, just to name a few. Jim has received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for the New Horizons flyby of the Pluto system and NASA’s highest honor, the Distinguish Service Medal. He has written over 125 scientific articles in refereed journals and over 80 technical and popular articles. In 2015, Jim coordinated NASA’s involvement with the film The Martian. In 2017 Asteroid 25913 was renamed Jamesgreen in his honor. RED PLANET LIVE is a monthly live podcast from The Mars Society--Ashton Zeth interviews the people instrumental in exploring and settling Mars. The show will focus on a wide variety of topics, including Mars and space exploration, STEM education, technology, women in science, and much more, with exciting and open discussions involving experts in these respective fields.