Science Fiction Greats on Humanity’s Destiny in Space

Robert Zubrin of the Mars Society talks with Gregory Benford, David Brin, Geoffrey Landis and Larry Niven about terraforming Mars, the origin of life, the drive to explore and more. Emily Lakdawalla tells us what expect when the Cassini Mission comes to a spectacular end. The Cassini theme continues through this week’s What’s Up segment with Bruce Betts.

Related Links:

• Mars Society 20^th Annual International Convention
• Gregory Benford
• David Brin
• Geoffrey Landis
• Larry Niven
• What to expect during Cassini’s final hours
• One Earth Message Kickstarter Campaign
• Chop Shop Planetary Society Store

This week's prizes are the brand new Chop Shop-designed Planetary Radio t-shirt, and a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account.

This week's question:

On what rocket did the Cassini spacecraft launch in 1997?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, September 20th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

How long is the longest dimension of the Cassini spacecraft, not counting the booms—the main spacecraft’s structure before deployment?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

Giovanni Domenico Cassini, for whom the Cassini mission is named, began a mapping project that was continued by four generations of Cassinis, especially his grandson and great-grandson. What did they map?

Answer:

Giovanni Domenico Cassini began a mapping project that extended across four generations of his family. It was a topographic map of France, the first ever created of an entire nation.