Exploring Space

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Why We Haven't Returned to the Moon win real Mars, Europa and Saturn win real

Date:	10-21-03
Host:	George Noory
Guests:	Robert Zimmerman, Dr. Sky

Tuesday's main guest, author Robert Zimmerman (website)delved into the history and future of space exploration. Dissecting the American-Russian rivalry in the 1960s, he commented that the Soviets initially got the upper hand in the space race because the "whole energy of their society was behind it."

Later, after the US triumphed with the 1969 moon landing, Zimmerman said the "American public lost its will," after getting a look at the desolate and lifeless qualities inherent on the moon. Explorations of the moon were cut short and astronauts "saw less territory than a NYC cab driver sees in an afternoon of work," he jested.

More excited about the possibilities for life on Europa than Mars, Zimmerman noted that some of the ridges circling Jupiter's moon have curious red extrusions. Saturn is also a "weird place," he said, pointing out that its rings "almost have the property of water." Closer to home, Zimmerman compared the structure of International Space Station to the technology used in submarines, and said that experiments being conducted there on weightlessness and bone loss could yield promising research for the problem of osteoporosis here on Earth.

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Bumper Music

Bumper music from Tuesday October 21, 2003

1.	Always on My Mind Willie Nelson	2.	Always On My Mind Elvis Presley	3.	Everyone's Gone to the Moon Jonathan King
4.	Eye In The Sky Alan Parsons Project	5.	Fanfare for the Common Man Emerson, Lake & Palmer	6.	Fortunate Son Credence Clearwater Revival
7.	Inca Dance Cusco	8.	Long Train Runnin' Doobie Bros.	9.	Love Her Madly The Doors
10.	Midnight Express (The Chase) Giorgio Moroder	11.	Midnight Express (The Chase) Giorgio Moroder	12.	People Are Strange The Doors
13.	Say You Will Fleetwood Mac	14.	The Last Mall Steely Dan	15.	The Logical Song Supertramp
16.	Sailing Christopher Cross	17.	Nobody Told Me John Lennon	18.	Black Water Doobie Bros.