Spacefarers

Spacefaring Humanity Guest: Christopher Wanjek author of Spacefarers; How Humans Will Settle the Moon, Mars, and Beyond Remember the excitement around the space race? We've made it to the moon, we’ve sent satellites, we’ve blasted off shuttles and rockets and telescopes. There’s no doubt that space is exciting, so why aren’t more humans in space? What happened to the excitement? Humans Could Use All Resources in the Solar System in 400 Years Guest: Martin Elvis, Senior Astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University As Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk set their sights on space colonization, astrophysicist Martin Elvis is raising the question of mining in space. What’s out there? How much is there? What will we use it for? And most importantly, what happens when we run out? Moving the Earth Guest: Matt Caplan, Assistant Professor, Physics, Illinois State University A stellar engine is a theoretical machine that could move the earth out of harm's way in the face of imminent planetary destruction. Could we build one if we needed to?