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Nicholas Hannah Blog Post 2

 

Nicholas Hannah Blog Post 2

1.)  Title, date, and URL:

On a Mission. Season 4, episode 3: Rise of the Twins: Spirit and Opportunity. Published February 16th, 2022.

Episode 3: Rise of the Twins: Spirit and Opportunity | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

 

2.)  Topic:

The topic of this podcast is the twin mars rovers: Spirit and Opportunity, launched in 2003. This episode outlines the historical importance of the two rovers and how they bolstered American spirit in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Cuffs fashioned from metal of the World Trade Center, memorials to those lost in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and the names of many Americans inscribed in a cd.

 

3.)  Interview:

Interviewer Ellie Mckay speaks with NASA engineer Matt Wallace (now Director for Planetary Science), who was in NASA for several years before working on the rovers. Following the failures of the Mars climate orbiter, Mars polar lander, and space shuttle disasters, organizational reform swept through nearly all levels of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory branch where he worked. This interview is the most notable part of this podcast. A podcast which interviews the team members of these large organizations is a great find, rather than relying solely on official statements.

There are several news stand-ups throughout the podcast as well. These help to set the stage for the historical significance of these rover landings. They are also a nice break from the technical nature of a podcast on space travel.  

 

4.)  Music:

The music varies based on the topic being discussed. It ranges from quiet piano to electric guitar solos, and even has some electronic music which I can only describe as corny. It’s used mostly as a transition between two related topics, or from a topic to an interview.

 

5.)  Presentation:

The interviewer can sound a bit robotic at times, like they’re reading from a script. This is probably their personal style, though, and it doesn’t detract from the interview at all. The amount of effort put into this podcast is easily apparent. There is so much content just within a few minutes of listening.

 

6.)  Final Thoughts:

This podcast series will be an excellent resource as I work towards my final presentation. It is informative, entertaining, and the interviewer makes sure to tell a well-crafted story throughout the episode. I will try to listen to a few more episodes in my free time to see what else I can use.

 

 

 

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