Paul Hill, Ralph Wilkins and Jenifer Millard host. Damien Phillips and John Wildridge produce.

The Discussion: New Year resolutions, veganism, a little spoiler-free chat about the latest/last Skywalker movie and the new series of Dr Who, before some listeners’ emails.

The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:

- Christina Koch racks up a flight time record on the ISS.

- China’s moon rover breaks a lunar endurance record.

- Ethiopia becomes the 10th African nation to send a satellite into orbit.

- ESA launches their CHEOPS Exoplanet characterizing spacecraft.

- Space Force is go – and the world joins in.

- NASA’s new (22nd!) intake and what skills are needed to become an astronaut.

- OSIRIS-REx now has a target for return samples on asteroid Bennu.

Main news story: Boeing’s test of its StarLiner space capsule.

Q&A: Why does NASA search for signs of life rather than directly looking for life? From Gavin Price in the UK on Twitter: (@pilliarscreatio)

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Bio: Awesome Astronomy is a podcast beamed direct from an underground bunker on Mars to promote science, space and astronomy (and enslave Earth if all goes well).

 

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