In this season 4 finale, Gentry Lee and Rob Manning reveal how surprises, hidden flaws, and uncertainties have always been a part of rovers and the exploration of Mars.

Secrets of the Mars Rovers – S4E12

Aaron Yazzie and others explain how, by scooping dirt and drilling rocks, rovers are digging deeper into the mysteries of Mars.

Digging In: When Rovers Get Dirt on Mars - S4E11

How does a rover keep driving on a planet with no gas stations? Shonte Tucker, Sabah Bux and Rob Manning power us through the ways Mars rovers keep going.

The Power of the Rovers – S4E10

Before a rover can make tracks on Mars, it first has to rocket off Earth, speed through space, and then alight gently on the planet’s surface. Al Chen and Swati Mohan guide us through the many stages of a rover’s flight to Mars.

Before You Can Drive, First You Have to Fly – S4E9

Buckle up for a Mars tour with rover driver Vandi Verma, and learn how NASA’s rovers have evolved to better explore this alien world.

How to Drive a Mars Rover – S4E8

Bob Balaram and Teddy Tzanetos share stories of how the Mars helicopter came to be, and transport us on Ingenuity’s flights through dusty Martian skies.

Flying with Ingenuity: the Mars Helicopter – S4E7

The Perseverance rover holds many promises: to look for evidence of life on Mars, to collect rock samples meant to be sent to Earth one day, and to test technology that could be used in a future human Mars mission.

The Promise of Perseverance – S4E6

The Curiosity rover is a big nerd at heart, fitted with a science lab to take in the planet Mars. Get the inside scoop on the mission’s many discoveries and dramas after a decade on the Red Planet.

A Ton of Curiosity - S4E5

Born together, the Spirit and Opportunity twin rovers followed divergent paths after they landed on opposite sides of Mars. Opportunity’s journey was marked by good fortune, while Spirit’s was troubled from the start.

A Lifetime on Mars: The Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity - S4E4

After two failed missions to Mars, NASA tried to double its odds for success by sending twin rovers to the Red Planet. Part one of the story of Spirit and Opportunity takes us from their birth to their launch from Earth.

Rise of the Twins: Spirit and Opportunity - S4E3

A journey to the stars doesn’t just begin at the launchpad. Discover new worlds through epic stories told by scientists on missions to outer space.

Really well done! Loved hearing background stories and very entertaining. I want more ❤️

Great stories!

Not just cool science, but inspiring people who are the scientists. Thank you NASA.

Came to Learn

On a Mission

Earth is a living, dynamic world thanks to volcanoes and the planetary heat that fuels them. The InSight mission wants to see if Mars also has a heartbeat deep inside its cold exterior.

A Matter of Life and Death

Wonder

Technology can take you to unexpected places. The MarCO cubesats, flying towards Mars with InSight, are breaking new ground on how far these small satellites can go.

Worlds of Wonder

Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu is in charge of the InSight mission’s robotic arm and hand. His work on space robots has led him to give a helping hand back home.

Robots Lend a Hand

Space missions often defy the odds, overcoming all obstacles. The people who work on these missions also face challenges to get where they are today.  Marleen Martinez Sundgaard, the testbed lead for InSight, personifies this tenacious spirit.

True Grit on the Road to Mars

The Earth "rings" when earthquakes strike, just as vibrations through a bell create a ringing sound. The InSight mission will see if tremors cause Mars to chime with its own planetary song.

Music of the Spheres

Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker’s love of exploration changed our understanding of the cosmos.

Season Two, Episode 10: Comets: A Love Story

Finding black rocks in the darkness of space isn’t easy, but new methods could help spot them all.

Season Two, Episode 9: Hunting in the Dark for Monsters

Every year, intrepid Antarctica explorers hunt for space rocks that have fallen to Earth.

Season Two, Episode 8: Diamonds in the Ice

What’s in a name? Whether you call it a planet or an asteroid, missions that explore small worlds are always exciting.

Season Two, Episode 7: Planet Asteroid

Asteroids, ho! Pioneering space miners dream of Psyche, the largest metal asteroid in the solar system.

Season Two, Episode 6: The Prospects of Heavy Metal

Why are missions like OSIRIS-REx bringing pieces of an asteroid back home?

Season Two, Episode 5: Catch a Falling Star

Unlike the dinosaurs, we have a space program. There are many ways we could steer an asteroid off its path towards Earth.

Season Two, Episode 4: Deflecting Disaster

If a big asteroid is heading our way, how does NASA prepare for the oncoming disaster?

Season Two, Episode 3: Bracing for a Crash

What happens when a giant asteroid hits Earth?

Season Two, Episode 2: Impact!

Earth is in a cosmic shooting gallery. With so many asteroids zipping around, how can we find them all before they find us?

Season Two, Episode 1 - The Sky Is Falling

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1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from a carefully curated podcast episode.
Every Monday & Wednesday.

Want a 3rd insight and episode every week? Email me at curation@owltail.com.

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