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!

Honeybee Robotics

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

Ashton interviews Sergii Iakymov, director of Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah. Sergii also talks about his recent mission at HERA -- NASA's human exploration research analog.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/hera/

https://mdrs.marssociety.org/

Ashton Zeth interviews Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica. Eric Berger, author of the highly acclaimed "Liftoff" and his new book "Reentry", has an insightful conversation about the space industry, SpaceX, and about the future of space travel.

Ashton Zeth interviews speakers from the 2024 Mars Society Convention at the University of Washington in Seattle. Includes interviews with: - Dr. Pete Worden of Breakthrough Initiative - Howard Hu, Orion Program Director at NASA - Anna Wadhwa on microgravity experiments - Bryan Versteeg, space concept artist - Edwin Kite on Martian atmosphere terraforming - Dr. David Caitling Filmed August 8-11 in Seattle Washington at 'The Hub' on the University of Washington's campus during the annual Mars Society Convention. #MarsSociety2024 #MarsExploration #SpaceInnovation

Ashton Zeth and Alan Boyle interview Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society, about the new Mars Exploration Act. The legislation proposal mandates NASA to put humans on Mars in under 10 years.

#MarsExplorationAct

#MarsSociety