Live at the Planetary Defense Conference!

Air Date: 04/22/2013
Run Time: 28:50

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Guests:

Brent Barbee, Flight Dynamics Engineer, Goddard space Flight Center
Amy Mainzer, NEOWISE Principal Investigator, Jet Propulsion Lab
Bill Nye, Chief Executive Officer,
Cathy Plesko, Applied Physics Research Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
David Trilling, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Northern Arizona University

Topics: explaining science, events and announcements, podcasts and videos, fun, interview, Planetary Society, Planetary Society People, Bill Nye, Planetary Radio, Planetary Society Video, planetary defense and Mirror Bees, Planetary Society Events, asteroids, comets, Earth impact hazard, meteors, near-Earth asteroids, Spitzer Space Telescope, WISE, impact cratering

The world party for space once again celebrates the anniversary of the first human spaceflight. Our guests are Yuri’s Night founders Loretta and George Whitesides. George is also President and CEO of Virgin Galactic, now preparing SpaceShipTwo for its first powered flight. They are joined by Bobak Ferdowsi, JPL’s famous “Mohawk Guy,” flight director for Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory Rover. You’ll also hear Emily Lakdawalla on why this is the golden age of space exploration. Bruce Betts reports from the Planetary Defense Conference in Arizona. Bill Nye returns next week.

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Trivia Contest

This week's prize is Bill Nye the Science Guy's voice on your answering system!

This week's question:
What is the name of the pioneering planetary geologist who did the first detailed geological mapping of Meteor Crater in Arizona? He was also central to the determination that it was caused by an impact, along with lunar and other craters.

To submit your answer:
Complete the contest entry form at http:planetary.org/radiocontest no later than Monday, April 29, at 2pm Pacific Time.

Last week's question:
What is the diameter of Meteor Crater in Arizona?

Answer:
The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:
What is the reflective coating on the mirrors of the Chandra X-Ray Telescope?

Answer:
The mirrors are coated with Iridium.