Kids in Space!

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Planetary Radio covers three space-education and exploration stories: Emily Lakdawalla’s recovery of historical Voyager mission bulletins and their historical significance, Bill Nye’s argument that Pluto should be viewed as a Plutoid rather than a traditional planet, and NASA’s Kids in Micro-G program, which lets fifth- to eighth-grade students design ISS experiments. The show closes with Bruce Betts’ night-sky update, space history, and a trivia contest.

Main Topics: Voyager mission bulletins and space-history preservation: Emily Lakdawalla discusses scanned Voyager status bulletins that document the missions in real time, including technical issues, changing mission teams, and historical context from the pre-Internet era. Pluto classification and the 'Plutoid' argument: Bill Nye argues against restoring Pluto as a traditional planet, emphasizing the physical differences of icy outer-solar-system bodies and proposing the term 'Plutoid' for objects like Pluto and Eris. NASA's Kids in Micro-G student experiment program: Debbie Biggs explains how teachers can submit classroom experiments for execution aboard the ISS, describing deadlines, selection criteria, supported materials, and the educational value of flying student-designed science. International Space Station educational operations and astronaut involvement: The discussion highlights how NASA astronauts and the station program support education payloads and student experiments as part of broader STEM outreach. Night-sky observing and space trivia: Bruce Betts gives an observing guide for Jupiter, Orion, Venus, Spica, Saturn, and the Geminid meteor shower, plus a space-history note and contest answers about Greek mythology and Halley’s comet. Historical and mission milestones: The show references Mars Pathfinder’s launch, a meteorite strike on Elizabeth Hodges, and ongoing mission extensions like Mars Express and Venus Express.

Key Arguments: Historic mission documentation matters because it captures the development, setbacks, and human context of major space missions before the Internet age. Voyager’s printed bulletins show how exploration news was shared slowly but thoroughly, and they preserve a changing mission culture over time. Pluto should not be framed as a failed traditional planet; outer solar system icy bodies are physically different and merit a separate category, 'Plutoids.' NASA’s Kids in Micro-G succeeds because it makes students think like scientists, design experiments within real constraints, and see how microgravity changes results. Astronauts are enthusiastic participants in educational activities and can meaningfully inspire students toward STEM careers. The educational program is intentionally constrained to everyday classroom materials and station-available items so it can be practical and safe to fly. Amateur skywatching remains accessible and rewarding, especially during the Geminids and during notable planetary alignments.

Data Points: Voyager mission status bulletins: 99 - Emily Lakdawalla says the missions were chronicled in 99 scanned mission status bulletins. Printed newsletter length: 2 to 4 pages - The Voyager updates were distributed as short printed newsletters with photos. Mail delay for Voyager updates: 6 to 8 weeks - Readers often waited weeks after mission events to receive updates. Voyager launch year: 1977 - The Voyager missions are described as spanning from launch in 1977 onward. Last Voyager 1 solar system image: 1990 - Emily notes the last image of the solar system taken by Voyager 1 was in 1990. Kids in Micro-G eligible grades: 5th through 8th grade - Teachers of these grades are invited to submit experiments. Submission deadline: December 8 - NASA’s Kids in Micro-G deadline mentioned in the interview. Winning experiments last year: 9 - NASA selected nine experiments in the first year of the program. Total entries last year: About 132 - Debbie Biggs says NASA received about 132 entries the previous year. Operational target on ISS: No later than mid-March - NASA aimed to begin operations on the station by mid-March. Winner notification deadline: January 31 - NASA expected to notify winners by this date. NASA classroom materials limit: Common everyday items - The experiment kit uses accessible classroom materials plus items already aboard the ISS. Mars Express extension year: 2014 - Emily mentions Mars Express was re-extended until 2014. Geminid peak date: December 13 or 14 - Bruce Betts gives the expected peak time for the meteor shower. Contest entry deadline: December 13 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time - Listeners had until this deadline to answer the Geminid source-object question.

Pivotal Quotes: "It is a new thing. It’s not a traditional planet. No, it is a Plutoid." — Bill Nye: Bill argues for a separate category for Pluto and similar icy outer-solar-system bodies. "The astronauts executed those over the summer months that we just finished up in September with those." — Debbie Biggs: She describes the previous Kids in Micro-G experiments successfully performed on the ISS. "The montage of images that inspired Carl Sagan's famous pale blue dot paragraph" — Emily Lakdawalla: She explains the significance of Voyager 1’s iconic solar-system image sequence.

Implications: The episode underscores how space missions can educate as well as explore: preserving mission history, involving students in real ISS science, and using public outreach to build long-term STEM interest and scientific literacy.