We're celebrating the 20th anniversary of Spirit and Opportunity on Mars, this week on planetary radio. I'm Sarah Al Ahmed of the Planetary Society with more of the human adventure across our solar system and beyond.

This month marks 20 years since NASA's twin Mars rover's spirit and opportunity

touched down on the surface of the red planet. Matt Gollumbeck, who was the project scientist

for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, joins us to celebrate.

But first, the countdown to the next great American Total Solar Eclipse continues.

As of the release of this show, we are now 68 days away from an astronomical

event that will blow the minds of millions as it passes over Mexico, the United States, and

Canada. In a moment, we'll be joined by one of my favorite humans, Kate Hals.

She's our public education specialist and Canadian space policy advisor.

She'll explain why this periodic alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun is more rare on the scale of the universe than you might think.

Stick around for what's up with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist,

as we honor the ingenuity Mars helicopter and the Mars missions that made it possible.

If you love planetary radio and want to stay informed about the latest space discoveries

make sure you hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcasting platform. By subscribing, you'll never miss an

episode filled with new and awe-inspiring ways to know the Cosmos and are placed within it.

I alluded to this a moment ago, but it is with a heavy and happy heart that we say

goodbye to the Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

After three years on Mars and 72 amazing flights, NASA announced last week that

ingenuity would soar no more. It traveled to Mars in the belly of the

Perseverance River and when it took to the Martian air on April 19th, 2021, it became the first craft to prove

that powered controlled flight on another world was possible.

The helicopter itself is still communicating with us.

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