The Cosmic Companion VIP Newsletter April 20, 2021 - Joshua Ravich and Andrew Fazekas

Two exciting guests for our longest episode yet! We talk with NASA's Joshua Ravich about the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars and discuss amateur astronomy with Andrew Fazekas - Nat Geo's "Night Sky Guy."

Hello everyone!

This week, we have a pair of amazing guests. First, we talk to Joshua Ravich, NASA’s lead mechanical engineer for the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars. We will discuss the design, testing, operation of this remarkable little robotic explorer. Next, we will be joined by Andrew Fazekas, National Geographic's Night Sky Guy, discussing amateur astronomy, science, and exploring the Cosmos.

But, first, we'll examine a new study showing ways that oxygen might be produced on planets in the absence of life, and what that could mean in the search for extraterrestrial life. Next, we look in on a newly-discovered rocky world not far from our own home. Then, we journey out to the edge of out planetary family, where the New Horizons spacecraft reaches a historic milestone.

And, later in this newsletter, a special installment of Max on Mars, featuring the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars!

Here’s tomorrow’s episode of the show, in an advance showing for our VIP subscribers: