science fiction

Guest: Dr. Wendell Mendell. Topics: Planetary science, lunar development and habitats, NASA, Constellation, space politics, science fiction. We welcomed Dr. Wendell Mendell back to the show. Please note that you are invited to comment, ask questions, and rate this program on the new Space Show blog, http://thespaceshowoutsidethebox.blogspot.com. In our first segment, Dr. Mendell gave us an insiders view of the Constellation project given his being part of the project at NASA JSC.

Guest: Michael Belfiore. Topics: DARPA, space and technology research and development. Michael Belfiore returned to The Space Show to discuss his new book, "The Department of Mad Scientists: How DARPA Is Remaking Our World, from the Internet to Artificial Limbs." This book is available on the One Giant Leap Foundation (OGLF) website as an Amazon partner, www.amazon.com/dp/0061577936?tag=onegialeafou-20. Remember, if you buy the book from the OGLF site, Amazon makes a contribution to The Space Show/OGLF.

Guest: Dr. Jeff Bell. Topics: Augustine Commission, NASA budget, human spaceflight. Dr. Jeff Bell returned for this two hour program in three segments. During our first segment, Dr. Bell started a discussion about how the internet and blogs have impacted the space cadet community, both for the good and the bad. Don't miss this interesting discussion. Dr. Bell then began addressing the Augustine Commission findings and talked about budget issues given he pointed out NASA budget problems as early as 2007 in a Spacedaily.com article.

Guest: Dr. Matt Colborn. Topics: space art and illustration, science fiction, Space Cynics, NewSpace critiques & solutions. Dr. Matt Colborn joined us from the UK for this Space Show program. If you recall, Dr. Colborn posed a question on Space Cynics a few months past regarding the Cynics criticizing NewSpace without offering solutions to the problems they cited. The Cynics responded to Matt's comment by putting up on Cynics responses and The Space Show has featured programs focused on those responses.

Guest: Dr. Richard Kirby. Topics: space education, space comedy, UNICEF, space history, science fiction. Dr. Richard Kirby returned to the Space Show to discuss New Horizons In Space Science Education. In the process of discussing this topic, we covered many subjects and issues ranging from starting at a very early age, even birth, and making sure people know that they are citizens of the cosmos and without limitation on their imagination and abilities to adult education focusing on math, science, history, and more. Dr.

Guest: Dr. Nader Elhefnawy. Topics: Space cadet politics, liberal, conservative, and libertarian space politics, space tourism, economic space drivers. Dr. Nader Elhefnawy returned for this Space Show program to discuss his March 16, 2009 Space Review article, "Space Cadet Politics' (www.thespacereview.com/article/1328/1). Dr. Elhefnawy discussed his perspective on why space cadet politics are they way they are (the term space cadet is used in a positive sense in this discussion).

Guests: Jack Hagerty, Jon Rogers. Topics: Flying saucers in film and popular culture, science fiction, flying discs. Authors Jack Hagerty and Jon Rogers were the guests for this program to discuss their newly published book by Apogee, "The Saucer Fleet." As we started the discussion, the first order of business was to define flying saucer for the book and our discussion as "an aircraft or spacecraft with planar-circular wings that resembles a disc. 2) Any artwork or hardware made to indicate an aircraft or spacecraft that is shaped like a disk" as stated on Page iv of the book.

Guest: Dr. Sherry Bell. Topics: Transhumanism, space settlement, sex in space, Department of Space. Dr. Sherry Bell was our guest today to discuss the new Aerospace Technolgy Working Group (ATWG) book, "Living In Space: Cultural And Social Dynamics, Opportunities, And Challenges In Permanent Space Habitats." Dr. Bell told us about several of the chapters including a forward by Dr. Buzz Aldrin and others which separates commercial space from NASA and calls for the establishment of a cabinet level Department of Space.

Guest: Jim Funaro. Topics: Contact Conference, NASA Ames, ET contact, anthropology, science fiction, Mars, SETI, Mars Phoenix Mission. Jim Funaro returned to discuss with us the upcoming Contact Conference to be held at NASA Ames from April 3-5, 2009. NASA Ames is located in Mountain View, California. You can find out more about the conference, the Contact group, register online, and make hotel reservations on the Ames base by visiting http://www.contact-conference.org .

Guest: Dave Thompson. Topics: Dr. Who, science fiction, Daleks, SONIC screwdriver, BBC, regeneration, James Bond. Join us for this most entertaining, informative, and pleasurable trip through the BBC television series, Dr. Who. Dave Thompson, in his book, "Eclectic Gypsy: An Unauthorized Biography of Doctor Who," starts us at the beginning of the famous British sci-fi television series and takes us down to the 11th Doctor who is about to make his appearance. Dave told us about the Daleks, his favorite alien race, the Cybermen, and the Slitheen.