Ann Druyan and the Breakthrough SETI Initiatives

The Breakthrough Initiatives will pump $100 million into the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in the next 10 years, vastly expanding humanity’s quest to learn if it has company in the universe. Among the leaders of this brave new project is Cosmos creator Ann Druyan. Join us for a special, extended conversation with Ann. Did Bruce Betts really say Cthulhu lives on Pluto? Emily Lakdawalla and Bill Nye will return next week.

Related Links:

• The Breakthrough Initiatives
• Carl Sagan Portal/Cosmos Studios
• Chop Shop Kickstarter Campaign for Historic Robotic Spacecraft Poster Series Two

This week's prizes are a fabulous Planetary Radio t-shirt and a beautiful ChopShop Store New Horizons print!

This week's question:

What is the only Apollo Lunar Module whose Ascent Stage probably still survives in space?

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, August 11th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

If you were a car company trying to market the Apollo mission Lunar Roving Vehicle, what would you name it, and what would your slogan be? There is no right answer. Answers will be judged based on humor and/or effectiveness or whatever other criteria we feel like.

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

As of July 14th, what was the unofficial name given by the New Horizons team to the dark feature that some have also unofficially called “The Whale?”

Answer:

The unofficial name given by the New Horizons team to the feature on Pluto originally called “The Whale” is Cthulhu, the monster created by H.P. Lovecraft for a 1928 story in “Weird Tales.”