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Space.com Staff

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 130 —Dogs on Mars, Snakes on the Moon

On Episode 130 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jim Bell about the Mars Sample Return program and VIPER mission to the moon.

NASA's planetary exploration program is in trouble. The Mars Sample Return program is verging on cancellation, and the VIPER mission to the moon already has been. Both are critical precursors to human exploration of these places, as Dr. Jim Bell of Arizona State University will tell us. 

We need to know more about the surface of Mars -- with direct, in-the-lab studies of Mars rocks - -and we certainly need to understand where the volatiles -- another name for water and other resources of value -- are on the moon. And, if you're the US government, you'd like to do both before China does -- which is likely not far off. 

Does it matter who achieves these things first? And specific to the US, what role might private companies and individuals play in the drama?

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit 

Space news of the week

Model Falcon 9!

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(Image credit: Celestron)

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Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.

About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars? 

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.

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