Robert Bigelow and His Expandable Space Habs

Bigelow Aerospace’s BEAM expandable/inflatable space module will be attached to the International Space Station later this year. Mat travels to the company’s headquarters for a conversation with founder and CEO Robert Bigelow. Bill Nye is headed to the all-star Humans Orbiting Mars workshop in Washington DC. Share Emily Lakdawalla’s excitement as the MESSENGER spacecraft nears its explosive end on the surface of Mercury. A lunar eclipse is days away! Bruce Betts has the details on What’s Up.

Related Links:

• Bigelow Aerospace
• NASA’s NextSTEP Program
• LPSC 2015: MESSENGER's Low-altitude Campaign at Mercury
• April 4/5 Total Lunar Eclipse
• Jim Bell’s “The Interstellar Age: Inside the Forty-Year Voyager Mission”

This week's prize is a snazzy Planetary Radio t-shirt!

This week's question:

What constellation appears on the flags of Australia and New Zealand? (Come on Southern Hemisphere patriots and fans!)

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, April 7th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What is the approximate latitude of the center of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What is the closest known white dwarf star?

Answer:

Sirius B is the closest white dwarf star to our own.