© 2024 Central Florida Public Media. All Rights Reserved.

90.7 FM Orlando • 89.5 FM Ocala

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Are We There Yet?

Mars updates: Percy's sample collection and the possibility of astronaut missions

By Brendan Byrne

Published February 7, 2023 at 12:00 PM EST

Ways To Subscribe

NASA's Perseverance rover takes a selflie looking down at one of its sample tubes. — NASA’s Perseverance took this selfie of itself looking down at one of 10 sample tubes deposited at the sample depot it created in an area nicknamed “Three Forks.” This image was taken by the WATSON camera on the rover’s robotic arm on Jan. 20, 2023, the 684th Martian day, or sol, of the mission.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover is busy collecting samples on Mars, packing them in tiny tubes with plans to send them back to Earth.

It’s also discovering the history of Mars by exploring the planet’s geology as it traverses an ancient lake looking for signs of life.

We’ll talk with University of Florida astrobiologist and mission scientists Amy Williams about the mission so far and what’s ahead for Percy on the red planet.

Then, from nuclear rockets to inflatable habitats -- technology for human missions to Mars is rapidly developing. How close are we to astronaut missions to the red planet? We’ll ask Explore Mars CEO Chris Carberry about the challenges and developments that are getting us ever closer to boots on the ground.

More Reading:

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Completes Mars Sample Depot (NASA/JPL)
Mars helicopter Ingenuity soars over Perseverance rover tracks on 41st flight (Space.com)
Humans to Mars (exploremars.org)

Are We There Yet?

Brendan Byrne

Brendan Byrne is Central Florida Public Media's Assistant News Director, managing the day-to-day operations of the newsroom, editing daily news stories, and managing the organization's internship program. Byrne also hosts Central Florida Public Media's weekly radio show and podcast "Are We There Yet?" which explores human space exploration, and the weekly news roundup podcast "The Wrap."

See stories by Brendan Byrne

More Episodes

Space

In the search for life in the universe, it's time to get nuclear

Brendan Byrne

As NASA develops nuclear thermal propulsion rockets for human exploration in our solar system, some astrobiologists say the technology could help us answer the age-old question: Are we alone?
Space

Neil deGrasse Tyson on the search for life outside our planet

Brendan Byrne

Is there life out there? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says the answer to that question could come from our own solar system.
Space

Inflatable space is bursting at the seams

Brendan Byrne

Inflatable habits could be the future of space exploration. But before they leave this planet, they have to explode.
From the moon to Mars: A look at an intriguing finding on Mars and NASA's plans for deep space exploration

Brendan Byrne

How will NASA's lunar missions help get humans to Mars? And a look at an intriguing finding by NASA's newest Martian explorer in the search for signs of ancient life on Mars.

Load More