On this month's episode, Ashton hosts a panel with Laura Forczyk & Ling Xin about reporting on space & current state of space exploration.

Ling Xin, originally from Beijing and now based in Ohio, is a science journalist known for her coverage of space, astronomy, and physics. With contributions to publications such as the South China Morning Post, Scientific American, Science, Physics World, Nature, and others, she brings complex scientific concepts to life for readers around the world.

Laura Forczyk, an experienced space analyst, is a familiar face on various national and global news outlets, including CNN, Bloomberg, New York Times, CNBC, The Guardian, BBC, and Politico. Alongside her media appearances, she brings a wealth of experience as a space scientist, author, coach, and small business owner.

Ashton interviews Dr. Jan Špaček, an astrobiologist and senior research scientist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution -- about many topics including Mars Sample Return, life on Mars, and life on Venus.

Listen in as we explore the thrilling world of Martian exploration and the ongoing quest to discover life beyond Earth. Jan explains that since the Viking missions of the 1970s, NASA hasn't focused on searching for life on Mars; however, his project, ALFA, aims to change that. This episode also discusses possible US competition on Mars, like China’s future mission to probe Mars' subsurface ice. We discuss the critical importance of Mars Sample Return missions before human exploration, the potential for life on Venus, and the intriguing economics of commercial spaceflight versus traditional NASA missions.

Tune in to explore the intersections of science, technology, and the big existential questions that drive us to reach for the stars.

AlfaMars

#MARS

#LifeonMars

Ashton Zeth interviews Leonard David, renowned space journalist. Topics range from Curiosity rover, Bill Nelson, potential for a space race, and life on Mars.