Alan Stern's Golden Spike Sets Sights on the Moon

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Planetary Radio covers asteroid imagery from Galileo, urgent concerns about U.S. budget sequestration and its impact on NASA, and Alan Stern’s ambitious new venture Golden Spike to commercially send humans to the Moon for foreign government customers. The episode also highlights Golden Spike’s crowdfunding and Uwingu’s public exoplanet naming effort, then closes with skywatching advice on Comet Pan-STARRS, a Voyager 1 anniversary, and a Webb Telescope gold trivia game.

Main Topics: Galileo asteroid imagery and why asteroids look rounded (Priority: 4/5): Emily Lakdawalla discusses a Galileo mission image of Gaspara, explaining how impacts, micrometeoroids, and asteroid-quake-like shaking smooth asteroid surfaces over time. Sequestration and NASA/planetary science funding (Priority: 5/5): Bill Nye argues that across-the-board budget cuts threaten NASA, especially planetary science, and urges listeners to contact Congress in support of an omnibus bill restoring funding. Golden Spike and commercial human lunar missions (Priority: 5/5): Alan Stern outlines Golden Spike’s plan to create the first commercial human lunar transportation system, using mostly existing hardware to send expeditions to the Moon for about $1.5 billion. Public participation: Indiegogo and Uwingu (Priority: 4/5): Stern describes a crowdfunding campaign for Golden Spike and explains Uwingu’s new public exoplanet-naming website, which funds grants for space research and education. Comet Pan-STARRS and weekly skywatching (Priority: 4/5): Bruce Betts previews Comet Pan-STARRS as the brightest comet in years, gives viewing tips for March 2013, and notes the moon’s proximity for photo opportunities. Space history and trivia (Priority: 3/5): The segment recalls Voyager 1’s 1979 Jupiter flyby and includes a trivia question about the largest optical refractor plus a question on the origin of gold-coated Webb Telescope beryllium mirrors.

Key Arguments: Asteroids appear rounded and lumpy because impacts, micrometeoroids, and seismic shaking continually erode sharp edges and redistribute surface material. Sequestration-style cuts are dangerous because they can hit planetary science first, undermining one of NASA’s strongest and most valuable programs. Congressional action on the omnibus bill is presented as the practical path to restoring NASA funding and protecting planetary science. Golden Spike claims human lunar missions can be done for roughly the cost of a flagship robotic mission by combining existing launchers, capsules, and commercial crew hardware. The company’s business case targets foreign nations that want human spaceflight prestige and lunar science without building their own capabilities. Uwingu is framed as a 21st-century funding model: the public participates in exoplanet naming, and the revenue supports research and education grants. Comet Pan-STARRS offers a rare, accessible observing opportunity, especially with binoculars and mid-March timing in the western sky.

Data Points: Golden Spike mission cost target: about $1.5 billion - Stern says human lunar expeditions can be done for this amount, roughly comparable to a flagship robotic mission Golden Spike timeline: 2019 test flights; 2020 commercial operations - Stern’s target dates for entering service Golden Spike crowdfunding goal: $240,000 - Indiegogo campaign launch target Crowdfunding metaphor: $1 per mile to the Moon - Explanation of the Golden Spike Indiegogo goal Uwingu exoplanets: over 160 billion - Stern cites the vast number of known exoplanets to justify public naming participation Comet Pan-STARRS closest approach to Earth: March 5, 2013 - Bruce Betts’ viewing guidance Comet Pan-STARRS closest approach to Sun: March 9, 2013 - Bruce Betts’ viewing guidance Best viewing window: mid-March 2013 - He says northern hemisphere observers may have the easiest viewing then Voyager 1 Jupiter flyby: 1979 - This week in space history James Webb gold coating amount: 48.25 grams - Gold used across the Webb mirror segments Webb mirror diameter: 6.5 meters - Size of the primary mirror discussed in the trivia segment Webb primary mirror segments: 18 - Number of beryllium segments coated in gold Yerkes Observatory primary lens: 40 inches / 102 centimeters - Trivia answer about the largest optical refractor used for scientific research Yerkes archival plates: over 150,000 - Listeners noted the observatory’s photographic plate archive

Pivotal Quotes: "The company is building the first commercial human lunar transportation system." — Alan Stern: Stern summarizes Golden Spike’s core mission "Planetary science is the best that NASA does." — Bill Nye: Bill Nye argues against sequestration cuts harming NASA funding "We're not inventing anything we don't have to. We're using existing launch vehicles." — Alan Stern: Stern explains the cost-cutting strategy behind Golden Spike

Implications: The episode frames space exploration as both a public good and a commercial opportunity: NASA science needs political protection, while private/public models may expand lunar access and research funding. Listeners are urged to act politically, observe the sky, and engage with new space platforms.