On this episode of REACH , Brian and Meredith learn about NASA's Mars 2020 Mission and more as we are joined by an expert in launching these missions and receive a very special visit from the red planet itself on our segment "Did You Know...?"

Hosts: Brian Holden and Meredith Stepien 

Written by: Sandy Marshall with Nate DuFort, Meredith Stepien and Brian Holden. 

Co-Created, Produced by: Nate DuFort and Sandy Marshall 

Edited by: Nate DuFort

Music composed by: Jesse Case

Logo by: Steven Lyons

Thanks to Michael Staab,  Fault Management and System Autonomy Engineer for Lunar Missions at Northrop Grumman. For more on his work, you can follow Michael  on Twitter @AstroStaab

This Thursday, join the Cosmosphere and Michael for a virtual broadcast featuring live insights & commentary about the Perseverance rover and Mars 2020 mission. Event begins at 6.30 CST (time subject to change). Mark your calendars!

Click this link to follow the Mars 2020 Mission and the journey of the Perseverance Rover.

Mars was played by the always amazing Randy Havens. You can catch Randy on Netflix’s Stranger Things as everyone’s favorite science teacher, Mr. Clarke. Follow Randy online @MrRandyHavens

And a big thanks to our friend Sarah Smail and Chicago’s Adler Planetarium for this week’s at-home activity. To see the detailed Mars surface that Sarah mentioned you can visit NASA's site at this link. And for more information on Sarah and  Adler Planetarium visit adlerplanetarium.org 

And special thanks this week to our REACH learning community: Thanks Blythe and Desmond! 

Do you have a space related question that we didn’t get to? Well, you can submit that question for our bi-weekly “Reaching Out” episodes. Just get your parents permission and give us a call at 312-248-3402 (or an email at [email protected]) and leave us a message with your first name, where you're from and your question for a chance to be featured in an upcoming episode.

You can find REACH on Twitter and Instagram or at http://www.ReachThePodcast.com

REACH: A Space Podcast for Kids is a production of Soundsington Media committed to making quality programing for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com