Andy Ryan
Senior payload scientist at Astroforge and former lead scientist on OSIRIS-REx's sample physical and thermal analysis working group, specializing in thermal measurements and sample analysis from asteroid Bennu.
Best podcasts with Andy Ryan
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Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 2min
Boulders All the Way Down
Andy Ryan, senior payload scientist at AstroForge and former lead on OSIRIS‑REx thermal analysis, explains how Bennu turned out to be a boulder-strewn surprise. Short chats cover why missions expected sand, the TAG sampling drama, thermal tools like lock-in thermography and CT scans, and what porous, cracked rocks mean for mining, planetary defense, and future low-cost asteroid visits.
Nov 27, 2025 • 44min
It’s Always A Spectrometer
This week, planetary scientist Andy Ryan joins the conversation. With a background in planetary geology and experience on OSIRIS-REx, he dives into how spacecraft instruments unveil the secrets of asteroids. Discover the intriguing world of thermal emission spectroscopy and how it determines mineral composition. Andy also discusses the challenges of matching scientific objectives with instrument capabilities and the evolution of payload development. Plus, he shares insights on upcoming missions like DeepSpace-2 and the future of asteroid exploration.
