🎙 Ashton Zeth sits down with James Burk, Executive Director of the Mars Society, to share updates on the newest analog station HOPE in Ladakh, India (with ISRO as partners), record participation at MDRS, plans for the upcoming 2025 Mars Society Convention at USC, the launch of the new Mars Society Research Journal, and exciting developments from the Mars Technology Institute.
🌍 Highlights:
Massive participation at MDRS this season
Launch of the HOPE Analog in Ladakh
Mars Society Convention 2025 — October 9–11 at USC (don’t miss Rob Manning at the Friday Night Banquet!)
Updates from the Mars Technology Institute and new collaborations like Purdue University
Discussing what's next in Mars exploration
📅 Preliminary Convention Schedule (subject to change): View Here
---Links --
Journal of Space Analog Research
HOPE analog Announcement:
The Mars Society Convention 2025
https://www.marssocietyconference.org
Sponsor the upcoming convention in October: https://www.marssocietyconference.org/sponsors
Four Sponsorship Levels:
Flashline Analog in the Arctic
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bhavya Lal, space policy leader, MIT alum, PhD from George Washington University, and recipient of NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal. After serving in senior leadership at NASA, Dr. Lal returned to RAND: School of Policy to continue shaping the conversation on national space strategy.
Our discussion spans some of the most urgent issues in space today: the growing orbital debris problem, the need for a shared global dataset, and the tension between America’s resources and ambitions in space. She emphasizes why strategic coherence and bipartisan commitment are essential for credibility and long-term success.
We also talk about the power of books to shape perspective, highlighting George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides — a life-changing novel that offers an “anti-history” of collapse and resilience, and what it teaches us about humanity’s fragile place on the cosmic shore.
🚀 Episode: Matt Gjertsen – From the Flightline to SpaceX to Startups
Matt Gjertsen has lived a life that blends military discipline, startup hustle, and a love for space. From early dreams of going to Mars, to serving as an Air Force instructor pilot, to shaping HR and training during SpaceX’s Crew Dragon era — his path has been anything but ordinary.
Now, through his own leadership courses and podcast, Matt explores what makes great teams tick — from the grind of late nights at startups to mission-focused endeavors. In this conversation, he shares how his military background gave him unique insights into building high-performing teams, why space still pulls at his heart, and how we can intrigue the world beyond the space bubble.
🌌 Expect talk of leadership, resilience, space stations, and the culture that pushes humanity further.
🎧 Tune in if you want to know what it takes to lead where it matters most — whether in the cockpit, the boardroom, or orbit.
Matt's Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen
https://bettereverydaystudios.com/
Host / Producer of Leadership Launchpad Podcast
In this episode, space expert Leonard David dives into the evolving landscape of space law on the Moon, highlighting growing conflicts—especially with China—and framing it as the new space race. He shares insights from his unique background working near the historic Atlas rocket and discusses the impact of funding cuts during the Trump administration on space exploration. Leonard also breaks down the latest news about plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon and what this means for future lunar missions.
Don’t miss this timely conversation on the challenges and ambitions shaping humanity’s next giant leap.
A Stellar Chat with Ad Astra Su, Galactic Gal, and Astro Alexandra
Join us for a captivating journey back to our July 15th episode, featuring an incredible trio of space communicators: Ad Astra Su, Galactic Gal, and Astro Alexandra! This special conversation offered a unique glimpse into the world of an engineer working on lunar payloads at a top aerospace company, exploring the delicate balance of privacy while maintaining a prominent social media presence. Our guests also shared exciting insights into their next big adventures, both on Earth and beyond.
Tune in for an inspiring and educational discussion that truly explored the vastness of the universe and the personal journeys within it.
Find them on Social Media & the web:
https://www.thegalacticgal.com
https://www.astroalexandra.com
https://www.instagram.com/adastrasu/?hl=en
Join us for this fascinating episode recorded July 1st, where we sit down with Crew 315 from the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). Our guests —
🌟 Dave Laude (Commander)
🔧 Michael Andrews (Crew Engineer)
🩺 Urban Koi (Health & Safety Officer)
🎨 Tim Gagnon (Crew Artist; also a KSC Artist — kscartist.com)
— share their personal inspirations and reflections from their two-week analog Mars mission.
👨🚀 What you'll hear in this episode:
🚀 The story behind the 100 Cameras Experiment — a unique photography initiative fostering connection, reflection, and community through images captured during isolation and confinement.
👨🍳 How the crew bonded over taking turns cooking meals and navigating life in close quarters under Martian simulation.
📸 Tim Gagnon’s insights on blending art, science, and space exploration as part of NASA’s creative community.
🤝 Tales of teamwork: Helping a stranded van in the Utah desert while maintaining sim integrity.
🌱 Urban Koi tells us about receiving NASA funding for her Mushroom Forge initiative.
👉 Learn more about Crew 315’s mission:
🔗 Final Mission Summary – MDRS Crew 315
🔗 Tim Gagnon’s KSC Artist Site
🔗 Urban Koi's Instagram
From Pathfinder to Perseverance: A Planetary Scientist’s Journey 🔍
Origin Story: A Spark from the Museum
A childhood visit to the Air and Space Museum sparked a lifelong love of space. Inspired by the Pathfinder mission and an exhibit on the Moon. Declared: “I’m going to discover water on the Moon.” Katie determined: “I want to work on another planet.” From Caltech to JPL, now as acting project scientist for Perserverance.
Katie has been working on Perseverance rover, now 4.5 years into the mission.
Carries ~40 sample tubes.
32 filled, 7 left—final stages of a historic sample collection.
Decisions now more deliberate with remaining tubes.
Once a lake with rivers, Jezero Crater offers strong evidence for past water.
Home to sedimentary rocks, excellent for preserving signs of ancient environments.
Special focus on carbonates—formed from surface water + CO₂:
Preserve unique environmental signals.
Key to understanding Mars’ paleoclimate.
Sample with "leopard spots"—dark rims, light interiors.
Possible signs of oxidation-reduction reactions.
These could hint at the presence of microbial life.
And much more ! Tune into this episode to hear more from the Acting Project Scientist for the Perserverance rover at NASA's JPL.
🎙️ New Episode: CEO CJ Jannette of BlackStar Orbital – Building the Future of Personal Space Access
In this electrifying episode, we sit down with CJ Jannette, CEO of BlackStar Orbital, live from Los Angeles and fresh off Space Tech Expo in Long Beach. With deep roots in SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and NASA’s hydraulics systems, CJ is now pioneering a new frontier: making space accessible for everyone.
We cover:
🚀 His Direct-to-Phase II SBIR win and $1.8M contract 🛰️ A classified payload launching on Axiom-4
📦 The buzz around SpaceBox – a consumer space payload service for wedding rings, business cards, and more
🔬 BlackStar’s focus on microgravity research, thermal protection breakthroughs, and aerogel-carbon fiber structures 🛫 Spaceplanes, subscale X-37s, and why Dream Chasers are the “yachts of space”
⚠️ EpiPens and the danger of toxicity in orbit, and how space certification is becoming essential
📍 Updates from Titusville, FL – home of their latest operations near pads 39A and 39B 🌌 Why he’s excited about Space Force, CLPS 2 (CMPS), and the role of small payloads in making space personal and repeatable
If you're interested in space entrepreneurship, payload innovation, or simply want to know how to send a piece of yourself to space, don’t miss this one.
🛰️ Reach out to BlackStar Orbital about SpaceBox missions — new flights are launching soon!
BlackStar Orbital
https://www.spacedrone.io/
Connect with CJ Jannette:
Join us for a powerful 60-minute episode of Red Planet Live featuring trailblazing women in STEM—Janet Ivey, Janeya Griffin, and Amy Imhoff—as we dive into the complex realities of building careers in science, space, and technology.
In this episode, we’ll unpack the recent public reaction to Blue Origin’s announcement of an all-women spaceflight crew, and what it reveals about gender dynamics in the space industry. From media backlash to public perception, we’ll explore how this moment fits into the broader narrative of women pushing boundaries in aerospace.
Each of our guests brings a unique and inspiring background:
🚀 Janet Ivey – celebrated science communicator and founder of Janet’s Planet, inspiring youth through space education.
🔬 Janeya Griffin – innovation strategist and founder of The Commercializer, helping bridge the gap between government technology and commercial application and co-founder/CEO of Equity Space Alliance.
🌌 Amy Imhoff – STEM advocate, author, and space futurist, known for her work in science fiction and space policy intersections.
Together, they’ll share their journeys, accomplishments, and the hard-won lessons learned navigating the male-dominated sectors of STEM and space exploration. We’ll discuss mentorship, representation, systemic barriers, and how each of these women is shaping the future of humanity beyond Earth.
https://www.equityspacealliance.com/
https://www.amyimhoff.com/
https://www.janetsplanet.com/about
In this episode of Red Planet Live, Ashton Zeth interviews Dr. Oleg Demidov of Beyond Earth Ventures, a space-focused VC firm backing cutting-edge startups like Lunar Outpost and Xeno Power. Dr. Demidov shares insights from his own entrepreneurial journey, the growing role of robotics in the space economy, and what it takes to launch and lead a venture capital firm investing in the next generation of off-world innovation. Whether you're a founder, investor, or space enthusiast, this episode offers a front-row seat to the business of space exploration.
Contact Dr. Oleg Demidov:
Life on the ISS with Astronaut Tracy Dyson 🚀 | Red Planet Live
What’s it really like to live and work aboard the International Space Station? In this special episode, host Ashton Zeth sits down with veteran astronaut Dr. Tracy Dyson, who shares unforgettable stories from her three space missions—including helping build the ISS and her recent journey alongside Butch and Sunni.
We explore the rhythms of daily life in orbit: from drinking coffee in microgravity and squeezing in vital exercise, to performing constant experiments and winding down during “PreSleep.” Tracy also offers meaningful advice on staying curious and persevering through tough times—on or off the planet.
We even watch a clip of her floating aboard the ISS during the show and answer thoughtful audience questions. Whether you're a space enthusiast or just ISS-curious, this episode brings humanity and humor to life in orbit.
🎧 Hosted by Ashton Zeth. Tune in and get inspired—Tracy brings space down to Earth.
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In this compelling episode of Red Planet Live, we sat down with Dr. Luther Beegle, Principal Investigator of the SHERLOC instrument aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover. While we originally set out to explore SHERLOC’s role in detecting organic compounds and signs of past habitability on Mars, our conversation took us even further.
We discussed the Allan Hills 84001 (ALH84001) Martian meteorite discovered in Antarctica as an inspiration to Luther's career, discussed key missions across the solar system, and explored why a Mars Sample Return mission is critical before sending humans to the Red Planet. Dr. Beegle also offered behind-the-scenes insights into the challenges of planetary exploration and the innovative technology propelling Mars science into the future.
🔴 Tune in for an eye-opening journey into the science, strategy, and wonder of Mars exploration and beyond!
Inside MDRS: The Latest from the Mars Desert Research Station
Get an exclusive update from one of the world’s premier Mars analog research facilities — the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). Host Ashton Zeth sits down with three key leaders shaping the future of MDRS: James Burk, Executive Director of The Mars Society; Kay Radzik, Director of Refits; and Sergii Iakymov, MDRS Director.
They dive into the latest missions, ongoing upgrades, and how you can support the continued modernization of MDRS through their current crowdfunding campaign.
Support the future of Mars exploration: mars-desert-research-station.raisely.com/
Dr. Robert Zubrin joins us to discuss his latest article in The New Atlantis, "The Mars Dream is Back—Here’s How to Make it Actually Happen." In this episode, Zubrin outlines the fastest and most practical path to getting humans to Mars, including the formation of a NASA Tiger Team and the introduction of the Starboat—a Starship-based vehicle designed to serve as a more efficient Mars Ascent Vehicle. He also makes the case for why a Mars mission must become a national goal—one that unites all Americans in support of exploration, innovation, and a bold future beyond Earth. Tune in for an inspiring and strategic conversation on how we can make the dream of Mars a reality.Read the full article by Dr. Robert Zubrin: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/public...
Red Planet Live – Jim Cantrell on SpaceX, Startups, and Lessons from Failure
In this episode of Red Planet Live, we sit down with Jim Cantrell, a space industry veteran, founding member of SpaceX, and CEO of Phantom Space. Jim shares fascinating stories from his time working alongside Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX, discussing the challenges, near-misses, and how close to failure SpaceX really came.
He dives into the valuable lessons failure has taught him over the years, shedding light on the tough realities of space entrepreneurship. Jim also discusses his latest venture, Phantom Space, and its mission to revolutionize space access .
This episode is packed with audience Q&A, where Jim answers burning questions about the future of space exploration, the commercial space race, and what it really takes to build a successful space startup.
If you're into space, startups, or the raw, unfiltered truth about what it takes to change the world, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! 🚀🔥
🔴 Listen now on Red Planet Live!
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https://www.jimcantrell.com/bio
Ashton Zeth interviews Shelli Brunswick, a globally recognized leader in space innovation and former Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, shares her insights on leadership and the future of space exploration in the latest episode of Red Planet Live. Shelli also discusses her book, 'What's Space Got to do With it?: Ten Life Lessons for Personal Growth" and future space books under development. She offered invaluable career advice, inspiring listeners with her expertise and passion for advancing opportunities in the space industry.
What's Space Got to Do With It? - by Shelli Brunswick
Drilling Into the Future of Space Exploration with Kris Zacny (Honeybee Robotics)
In this episode, Kris Zacny from Honeybee Robotics takes us on a journey into the boldest frontiers of space exploration. We discuss the possibility for the largest hole ever drilled on the Moon with the Blue Ghost Mission 1, planned to happen in under 40 days, and the groundbreaking Prime-1 mission aiming to jackhammer lunar ice a meter below the South Pole's surface. Could Firefly and Intuitive Machines both be landing on the Moon at the same time?
We also explore JAXA’s Phobos mission, set for 2026, where a mere seconds-long operation on the Martian moon could result in the first-ever Mars sample return—an incredible twist in the race for interplanetary exploration.
Kris dives into the Sentinel Mission, focusing on Earth observation to track climate change, including ocean rise, snowpack, and ice thickness. We also hear about the power of AI in accelerating space discoveries and the competitive but highly effective internship programs shaping the future of space innovation.
Finally, Kris shares his dream of drilling 10-20 meters below Mars' surface, his thoughts on NASA’s Viper mission (he’s willing to eat his hat if it doesn’t go to the Moon). This episode is packed with visionary ideas, like the space shotgun, and includes the engineering of cutting-edge space missions.
Don’t miss it!
Interviews with Flashline Crew 16, featuring participants Tiffany Swarmer and Michael Andrews. Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island—the world’s largest uninhabited island, located 900 miles from the North Pole.
https://fmars.marssociety.org/
In the latest episode of Red Planet Live, host Ashton Zeth interviews Rod Pyle, managing editor of Ad Astra, for an engaging discussion about space exploration.
The conversation spans a variety of exciting topics, including the incoming NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the potential for an orbital commodity exchange, updates on Starship, and much more!
Rod Pyle is a prominent space author, journalist, and historian, known for his significant contributions to space studies and development
Ashton Zeth interviews Dr. Steven Benner about all things about extant life on Mars.
About Dr. Benner
Steven Benner, renowned American chemist, has taught at Harvard, ETH Zurich, and the University of Florida. Founder of TWIST, the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, EraGen Biosciences, and Firebird BioMolecular Sciences, Benner's work bridges academia and innovation in molecular science.
Ffame -- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution
