A titanic encounter with Chris McKay on planetary radio. Hi everyone and welcome back to Public Radio's travel show that takes you to the

final frontier. I'm Matt Kaplan. When we last talked to Chris McKay, it was about

Mars. This time the famed planetary scientist joins us to discuss Saturn's Moon

Titan just in time for a close encounter with that hazy sphere.

Bruce Betts has yet another space trivia question for you and this week's what's up.

And it all begins with these space headlines.

A pesky steering motor isn't keeping

Mars Rover's spirit from continuing her exploration of the Columbia hills.

Once thought to be a one-time anomaly, the pesky problem resurfaced last week.

Opportunity remains in better health than her sister and is even catching a bit more life-giving

sunlight as she traverses Andurance. Now nearing 300 Martian days are souls.

Both rovers have lasted three times as long as their warranties.

Detroit are you listening?

As we prepare this week's show, Cassini Huygens is in good shape, too, with the spacecraft's

handlers at the jet propulsion lab practicing for a very close fly-by of Saturn's moon Titan.

By the time many of you hear this broadcast,

there should be high quality images posted on JPL's website.

You'll also see them on the Planetary Society site at planetary.org.

That's where you can get to know JPL's director Dr. Charles Elachi even better.

Elachi, who was our guest on Planetary radio last week, provides an intimate look at decades

of experience that led to his leadership of the renowned facility.

By the way, Old Albert has done it again.

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