Guests: John Batchelor, Dr. Geoffrey Landis,  Dr. David Livingston.  Topics:  Venus with cloud cities and a landsail rover.  You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. We do not permit the commercial use of any Space Show program or part thereof, nor do we permit Space Show programs to be edited, placed on YouTube, or other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted in news articles, papers, academic & research work but must be cited or referenced in the proper citation format. Contact Dr. Livingston for questions about our copyright and trademark policies which we do enforce.  This program is archived on The Space Show website, podcasting, and blog sites with permission from John Batchelor. Please visit the John Batchelor Show website for more information about this fine program, www.johnbatchelorshow.com.  Remember, your Amazon Purchases Can Help Support The Space Show/OGLF (www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.  Please note that audio and transition issues are a result of copying the John Batchelor broadcast & are not within my control as they originate in the Batchelor studio.

John Batchelor and I welcomed Dr. Geoffrey Landis to a double segment of Hotel Mars to discuss both cloud city possibilities for the Venusian atmosphere and the proposed Venus Landsail Rover project.  During the first segment, Dr. Landis described differing ideas for cloud cities in the Venusian atmosphere about 50 KM up from the surface.  He responded to several questions from John and me, we discussed the winds, the Earth-like environment and the opportunity to have hundreds if not more of such cities floating in the atmosphere.  In the second segment, Dr. Landis described his idea for a surface rover powered by a landsail.  He explained this in detail but also said the surface was like being in hell.  He did say that due to advances in electronics and radio communications, if they used silicon carbide or possible gallium nitride for radios and electronics the think the electronics could survive on the surface of Venus.  Remember, the surface temperatures are about 450 C and the surface pressure is about 90 times that of Earth.   Dr. Landis was hopeful that such a landsail surface mission to Venus could be planned in the near future by NASA or other national space agencies.

'You can email Mr. Batchelor or Bill Harwood  through me at drspace@thespaceshow.com.