A Journey to Space

Journey to Space is both a new and spectacular IMAX movie and an exciting, hands-on exhibition at the California Science Center. We learn about both this week. Emily Lakdawalla, Bill Nye and Bruce Betts celebrate an amazing achievement by the Japanese space agency at Venus. Host Mat Kaplan offers another big holiday prize package in the space trivia contest.

Related Links:

• California Science Center Journey to Space: The Exhibition
• Journey to Space 3D IMAX Film
• Live from Sagamihara: Akatsuki Orbit Insertion Success!
• Soyuz Launch Escape Tower Saves Astronauts From Rocket Explosion
• Randall Munroe’s “Thing Explainer—Complicated Stuff in Simple Words”

This week's prizes are a lovely Planetary Radio t-shirt, a set of 2016 Year In Space Desk and Wall Calendars AND a 200-point iTelescope.net account.

This week's question:

What was the first Japanese lunar orbiter? Careful, this is tricky.

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, December 15th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What was the seventh moon discovered in our solar system? (After our Moon, the four Galilean moons, and Titan?)

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What was the only time a launch escape system was fired with a crew aboard while the rocket was still on the pad?

Answer:

Soyuz T-10a (or T-10-1 or 7K-ST No.16L) Cosmonauts Vladimir Titov and Gennady Strekalov were saved in 1983 from the explosion of their rocket by the launch escape system.