Guest: Dr. Robert (Bob) Zubrin. Topics: NASA, the Mars Program, Dr. Zubrin's new book, "Merchants of Despair." You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. 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. Some important websites applicable to this program are as follows: Dr. Zubrin's recent article in the National Review Online, www.nationalreview.com/articles/291099/obama-wrecks-mars-program-robert…. Dr. Zubrin's new book, Merchants of Despair: Radical Environmentalists, Criminal Pseudo-Scientists, and the Fatal Cult of Antihumanism: www.amazon.com/Merchants-Despair-Environmentalists-Pseudo-Scientists-An…. Please remember that if you buy the book from Amazon using this link, Amazon will contribute part of the purchase price to OGLF/The Space Show. During our hour long first segment, Dr. Zubrin talked about the NASA part of the President's Proposed FY 13 budget for NASA. He referred to his National Review Online article in addition to providing us with financial and economic analysis, the importance of the Mars program, and the consequences of cancelling it and other proposed uses of NASA funding that do not accomplish much. This is a comprehensive and hard hitting discussion which addresses how to make our space program, NASA, private space, and Mars more relevant to the nation. He also explains why it is so important to see humans as creators, not destroyers, and to see space as a significant and important path forward for us all. He fielded many listener emails and caller questions on lots of subjects, including prizes and a recent MSN poll regarding those wanting to go to the Moon, Mars, or stay at home. During the second segment which was close to 90 minutes, Dr. Zubrin continued discussing the FY 13 budget and its consequences for NASA and the country, but he also talked about his new book in detail, even linking it to the space program. Many issues came up as Bob's book uses history and scientific arguments to refute the claims of those movements and efforts to limit growth, space development, distort science for a political agenda, and more. These issues take up most of the discussion, along with listener questions on both NASA and Mars along with the book topics he laid out for us. For example, questions about the use of the nuclear rocket came up. Limiting resources and commercial growth came up as opposed to expanding resources and robustly developing space by both NASA and the private sector were extensively discussed. Listeners asked many questions about Space X and rocket alternatives to SLS and the issue of global warming. Bob told us stories from the book going back in history to the days of Rev. Thomas Malthus and his population theories as written during the period of 1798 to 1826 through to modern times with the Club of Rome, Paul Ehrlich, and Dr. Holdren. He used the banning of DDT as one example given in his new book. Bob's closing comments addressed the crisis in our space program and the choice we have to make regarding a devastating vision for our future or a creative and positive future vision that includes space. His final comments were about the 15th Annual Mars Society Conference which will be in Pasadena, CA in early August this year, set to coincide with the likely timing of the landing of the Curiosity Rover on Mars. Please post your comments/questions regarding this program on the Space Show blog URL above.
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