James Green hails from Burlington, Iowa, a town situated on the Mississippi River. Growing up as a "river rat," he enjoyed water skiing and catfish catching. His passion for astronomy ignited during high school when an enthusiastic chemistry teacher, Mr. Vinson, initiated an after-school astronomy class, providing access to a 12-inch refractor telescope. Green delved into astrophotography and even had his work featured in "Sky and Telescope" magazine. Transitioning from practical astronomy in high school to majoring in astronomy at the University of Iowa, Green found his way into the space program. Despite financial challenges, he pursued graduate studies and joined Dr. Don Gurnett's research team, focusing on space-based astronomy and computer analysis of data from missions like IMP-6, IMP-8, and Voyager 1 and 2. Green credits two influential figures for his journey—high school teacher Mr. Vinson and Dr. James A. Van Allen, a renowned teacher at the University of Iowa. Dr. Van Allen's guidance and encouragement led Green to conduct solar research, solidifying his passion for space exploration. Throughout his career, Green has experienced numerous highlights, from giving science talks to receiving standing ovations at the International Space University. However, one of his most significant moments was the discovery facilitated by the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission data. Offering advice to aspiring space scientists, Greent emphasizes the importance of excelling in math and science and underscores the significance of determination in achieving success. Beyond his professional endeavors, Greent delves into Civil War history, researching, visiting battlefields, and working on book projects related to the era.

April 11, 2017: The interview with Dr. Jim Green provides an in-depth look into his role as the head of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, the challenges and successes he has encountered, and the importance of planetary science funding. The discussion covers a wide range of topics, including the significance of NASA's planetary science program in the federal budget, the impact of budget cuts on the program, and the process of prioritizing missions using the decadal planning guide. The interview also delves into the potential for life on other planets, particularly Mars and Europa, and the importance of water in the search for extraterrestrial life. It highlights some of the major discoveries made by NASA missions, such as Cassini-Huygens, Mars Odyssey, and Dawn, and discusses the potential threat of near-Earth objects. The interview further explores the discovery of exoplanets, the use of ion engines in space exploration, and the efforts to replenish the stockpile of plutonium-238 for powering spacecraft. The discussion also touches on NASA's approach to human exploration and the agency's involvement in the production of "The Martian" movie. The interview concludes with a discussion of how the film could have incorporated more elements related to Mars exploration.

June 7, 2017:  This interview with Dr. James Green provides an in-depth look into his work in planetary science, public outreach, and his role in raising public awareness about NASA's scientific achievements. Dr. Green discusses his interest in social media as a tool for public engagement and shares his experiences from key events in planetary science, including the Cassini mission to Saturn, the Juno mission to Jupiter, the landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars, and the flyby of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft. The interview also delves into the evolution of our solar system and the rearrangement of other solar systems around other stars. Dr. Green emphasizes the importance of public engagement and shares the surprising discoveries made during these missions. He also discusses the challenges of securing support and funding for planetary missions, specifically the Europa mission, and the importance of working with agencies like OMB and OSTP. He highlights the role of the Planetary Decadal in guiding the direction of planetary science and the changing priorities of different administrations. Dr. Green provides insights into the Mars 2020 mission, which is focused on studying climate change on Mars and potentially finding evidence of past life. He discusses the mission's process, including coring rock and studying the planet's history, and the testimony process for Congress. He also talks about the importance of the relationship with other NASA offices, such as Human Exploration, for planning future missions to Mars. The interview further explores Dr. Green's experience giving a talk at NASA, the process of choosing a landing site on Mars, the challenges of high launch vehicle costs, and the importance of international partnerships in space exploration. He also discusses the potential impact of political changes on these partnerships. Dr. Green shares his work on international partnerships in planetary science, the challenges and contributions he has made in his position, and the tough decisions he has had to make, including the effort to restart the production of plutonium-238 for space missions. He emphasizes the importance of long-term leadership and experience in the field. The interview concludes with a discussion on the importance of perseverance in difficult tasks and the necessity of plutonium for various space missions.