Australia Gets Serious About Space

The Australian government announced that it would create a national space agency at the 68th annual International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide. We’ll talk with IAC 2017 CEO Brett Biddington about what this means for his country. Last week’s IAC was also where Elon Musk provided more details about his audacious plan to put hundreds of humans on Mars by the mid-2020s. Digital Editor Jason Davis has the scoop. A really easy space trivia contest question could win you space art and much more as you hear What’s Up in the night sky.

Related Links:

• 68^th IAC Adelaide 2017
• International Astronautical Federation
• ABC: Australian space agency to employ thousands and tap $420b industry, Government says
• Skin in the Game: Realising Australia’s National Interests in Space to 2025
• SpaceX CEO Elon Musk updates Mars colonization plans
• Chop Shop Planetary Society Store

This week's prizes are the Chop Shop-designed Planetary Society t-shirt, a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account, AND a beautiful mounted print by space artist Michelle Rouch from her Astro Girls series of Marilyn Monroe on Mars.

This week's question:

In English, what does the Russian word “Sputnik” mean?

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

Last week's question:

What is the definition of the metallicity of a star?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

When OSIRIS-REx flies by Earth on September 22, 2017, over what continent will it be at its closest approach?

Answer:

OSIRIS-REx was over Antarctica during its Earth flyby closest approach on September 22, 2017.