Giant Leap: The Race to Mars and Back

Humans have long been fixated on Mars, first as a metaphor of what lies beyond our reach, and now, increasingly, as a destination - for our probes, and ourselves, and perhaps even for our first base in deep space. Still, fulfilling our Mars yearnings in the next few decades requires enormous technological advancement. Can we now build a spacecraft capable of sustaining prolonged human travel in deep space? What are the remaining logistical hurdles to solve in finally launching our first mission to Mars? Do we know all we need to know about the human body, and its limits, in order to take this next leap into space? Join us to learn about these interplanetary challenges and opportunities, and their surprising implications for the future. Part 1 of 3 - 'A Day in Deep Space: Technology, Research, and the Human Condition' featuring Kate Greene, Science and Technology Journalist, Former Crew Writer for NASA-funded HI-SEAS project; Josh Hopkins, Space Exploration Architect, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.; Dr. Tara Ruttley, Associate ISS Program Scientist, NASA's International Space Station; Phil Plait, Writer, Slate's Bad Astronomy Blog, Author, Death from the Skies!