Are We There Yet?

Scientists are on the hunt for signs of life on Mars and the icy moons of Saturn and Venus.

Under the Trump administration the space agency has been undergoing policy changes as it prepares for future missions and goals, like putting a nuclear power plant on the moon. The new budget proposed may be problematic. Plus, a new executive order lifts some launch and flight regulations for commercial space companies.

Veteran NASA Astronaut Winston Scott fields questions from curious kids. Plus, a look at how food plays a crucial role in space in the book Space Bites.

From making artificial moon dirt to painting with real moon dust, there are several ways that scientists and space explorers bring the moon to Earth. Plus, Firefly Aerospace is preparing to send several payloads to the moon.

Co-hosts, Regina Barber and Emily Kwong, explore Earth's oceans in a special series running this summer from NPR’s science podcast, Short Wave: Sea Camp. Plus, a look at the commercial space company sector.

A new proposal suggests sending a spacecraft to Venus to search for gases that are often linked to biological cycles here on Earth. Plus, a look at veteran Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar's book Space for Birds: Patterns and Parallels of Beauty and Flight.

The Trump Administration named Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, to be the interim NASA administrator. Plus, could life exist in an icy ocean on a distant moon within our solar system.

Catching up on your summer reading list? How about adding one more -- a science fiction thriller series set in space? Plus, a new company is taking their design process off Earth and designing sneakers in space using AI designers and 3D printing.

A new observatory in Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, is searching the skies for things like asteroids, dark matter and dark energy. What new things might it uncover about the cosmos? Plus, the rovers on Mars are exploring two craters that have evidence of past water. Could they also be home to ancient life? lead scientists closer to finding out if Mars had water flowing on its surface.

With warmer weather and more free time for some, summer is a time to relax, unwind and to stargaze. Plus, another way to unwind is by reading space books like Star Bound: A Beginner's Guide to the American Space Program, from Goddard's Rockets to Goldilocks Planets and Everything in Between

Astronomers have discovered an object light-years away that’s emitting timely pulses like nothing ever seen before. Plus, the next private space crew is grounded. How are they dealing with the delay?

From our cells to our universe, everything comes to an end.

A budget proposal from the White House would cut about a quarter of NASA’s budget and cut key science missions if approved by Congress. Plus, President Trump withdrew his nomination of Jared Isaacman for NASA administrator and SpaceX once again launched its massive Starship rocket.

Varda Space is sending "huggable" capsules into low-Earth orbit for autonomous research and just recently, it returned its third successful mission. Plus, often nicknamed Earth’s twin, Venus didn’t evolve like Earth at all.

Lockheed Martin delivered the Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis II mission. Now, the agency is preparing the vehicle for the more than ten-day flyby of our moon—with a crew of four. Plus, Voyager's thrusters are back online after over two decades.

From the inaugural launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket to plans for SpaceX’s Starship to lift once off again, it’s been a busy year for commercial space. Plus, one engineer is making a sweat shield to protect spacecraft when re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

The Orlando Museum of Art and the Central Florida Astronomical Society are hoping to inspire people to see the connection between art and space. Plus, we take a look at how the space economy is fairing under the new presidential administration and its policy changes.

In our own galaxy, a planet’s orbit slowly got closer and closer to a star, resulting in the star gobbling up its own planet. Plus, one veteran astronaut is using his inspiration from his space career to inspire others to reach for the stars.

One of the rovers on Mars made a big discovery on the red planet: the largest organic carbon molecules to date. This discovery could lead scientists closer to answering the age-old question: could there have been life on Mars? Plus, just like pirates roam the seas, the idea of pirates or criminals in space could be more of a reality than science fiction.