NASA Leaders on Getting Humans to Mars

The human journey to the Red Planet is long and hard, but Mat’s conversation with three NASA Associate Administrators at the Humans to Mars Summit was filled with cautious optimism. Emily Lakdawalla shares a beautiful image of Saturn almost lost in the myriad stars of the Milky Way. The first Space Launch System rocket won’t carry astronauts, and Bill Nye says that’s probably a good thing. Bruce Betts reports in from the Planetary Defense Conference in Tokyo for this week’s What’s Up.

Related Links:

• Explore Mars
• NASA Journey to Mars
• NASA Organization Structure (Scroll down to Mission Directorates)
• Saturn and Titan in the Milky Way
• The anatomy of a delay: Here's a timeline of twists and turns for NASA's SLS and Orion programs

This week's prizes are a Planetary Radio t-shirt, now available in both men’s and women’s styles, and a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account.

This week's question:

What Near Earth Asteroid will the Hayabusa 2 mission visit and return samples from?

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, May 24th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

With legs deployed, how tall was the Lunar Excursion Module (Ascent and Descent Modules)?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What are the names of the two Astrobots on the surface of Mars? You’ll find them on the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Answer:

Biff Starling and Sandy Moondust are the LEGO Astrobots sent by the Planetary Society to Mars on the Spirit and Opportunity rovers.