Guest:  Dr. Robert (Bob) Zubrin;  Topics:  Annual Mars Society Convention, humans to Mars, technology, artificial gravity & more.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com.  Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.

We welcomed back Dr. Bob Zubrin to The Space Show.  Bob originally planned on a 60 minute program but as you will hear, we did a full 90 minute program without a break.  Bob started out talking about the upcoming 19th Annual International Mars Society Convention to be held at the Catholic University in Washington, DC from Sept. 22-25, 2016 (see www.marssociety.org). Bob focused on the keynote speakers and the debates planned for the conference.  The debates will focus on the ARM mission, space law and common heritage, planetary protection, and the presidential candidates and their probable space policy.  Bob then referenced the 80 some tracks for individual presentations.  Our guest said the debates and the keynotes will be live streamed.  I will promote that schedule on TSS once it becomes available.

After describing the conference, Bob began answering listener email and phone call questions.  The topics ranged from the rate of progress being made on getting humans to Mars to SpaceX & Musk plans for Mars, the use of the SLS and possibly the Falcon Heavy, & the risk of waiting too long to do it causing missed opportunities.  This last topic was important as Bob linked the Apollo generation to those that won WW2 and could do just about anything.  Those generations are disappearing and that attitude as he said, is being left behind at a fast rate.

Marshall called to ask about Europe and European participation in a humans to Mars program.   Bob was supportive of European and other nations participating but said that they would not be able to lead.  He said only the U.S. could offer such leadership and bring others into the project.

Kim called to suggest that going to the Moon might be more inspirational than Mars. For one reason, she said one could more easily transmit large amounts of data to Earth and that would be inspiring compared to what might happen with Mars.  Don't miss how Bob responded to her comments and questions. 

Doug Messier wanted to know who might be going to Mars and compared Mars to Mojave and worse saying that people did not want to live in Mojave.  As with before, don't miss Bob's response to Doug's set of questions.

Dr. Doug from S. California emailed Bob about his possible collaboration with those supporting lunar settlement. Bob said he would and described how he thought such collaboration might work out. For the most part, the hardware used for Mars could also be used for a lunar program when there were no available windows for going to Mars.  You will want to hear all of what our guest had to say about this possible collaboration.

Next, we took a call from Paris, France supporting on orbit colonies over going to Mars.  Our caller suggested it would make more sense to settle an orbital colony than going to Mars.  Dr. Zubrin refuted the caller's analysis saying it was actually cheaper to go to a place for a settlement than to build a place for a settlement.  It was a good give and take for several minutes before I had to move on from the call given the remaining time for the program.  Be sure you listen to the full discussion regarding the orbital settlement.

Artificial gravity was a topic.  Bob had much to say as to why NASA was not pursuing this but that gravity experiments were essential for sending humans to Mars.  The lack of the experiments to determine the gravity RX demonstrates a lack of seriousness about getting humans to Mars.  Post your comments about this on our blog. 

Before the program ended, Bob was asked about using SEP, ion thrusters, space solar power, and more.  Bob explained why he was not that supportive of these devices.  Listener Alan sent an email wanting to know about potential dual use with the DOD for space security & NASA humans to Mars missions. Tim was the last caller asking about the small nuclear power reactors being developed at Marshall, Kilopower. 

Please post your comments/questions in the comments section for this archived show on The Space Show website.  Dr. Zubrin can be reached through me or his website.