Mars and Man's Pursuit of Space

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The latest attempt to land a probe on Mars was to have already sent information back to Earth, but for two days scientist have been listening to the sounds of silence. The Beagle2 was set to land on Christmas Day to begin a six month investigation for signs of life on the Red Planet, but scientists have yet to determine whether the probe landed safely. That's raised concerns that the British-made spacecraft may have been blown off course by Martian dust clouds, or worse still, that it may have crashed on the planet-s surface. Why the fascination with Mars? Should humans rely solely on robots or attempt a manned mission in the future? Guest host Jim Moret examines the latest attempt to land a space probe on the Mars and our continuing fascination about the possibility of life there with space scientists, and proponents and opponents of space exploration. Making News: Powerful Quake Jolts Iran, Thousands Feared Dead A 6.7 magnitude earthquake devastated the southern Iranian city of Bam early Friday, leveling many of that city-s homes. Early estimates say that as many as 10,000 people may have been killed and thousands more may be injured. Water, power and phone lines are out, and Iranian television shows 70 percent of the homes in Bam were destroyed. BBC correspondent Miranda Eeles is in Tehran. Reporter's Notebook: Television Goes Digital Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have set December, 2006 as the deadline by which the United States will switch from analogue to digital TV. Though broadcasters and manufacturers of television sets have been resisting, they-ve lost the argument in the federal courts. As always, that-s good news and bad news, according to Harry Shearer, humorist, actor, host of public radio-s Le Show, and a student of broadcast technology.
The latest attempt to land a probe on Mars was to have already sent information back to Earth, but for two days scientist have been listening to the sounds of silence. The Beagle2 was set to land on Christmas Day to begin a six month investigation for signs of life on the Red Planet, but scientists have yet to determine whether the probe landed safely. That's raised concerns that the British-made spacecraft may have been blown off course by Martian dust clouds, or worse still, that it may have crashed on the planet-s surface. Why the fascination with Mars? Should humans rely solely on robots or attempt a manned mission in the future? Guest host Jim Moret examines the latest attempt to land a space probe on the Mars and our continuing fascination about the possibility of life there with space scientists, and proponents and opponents of space exploration.
  • Making News: Powerful Quake Jolts Iran, Thousands Feared Dead
    A 6.7 magnitude earthquake devastated the southern Iranian city of Bam early Friday, leveling many of that city-s homes. Early estimates say that as many as 10,000 people may have been killed and thousands more may be injured. Water, power and phone lines are out, and Iranian television shows 70 percent of the homes in Bam were destroyed. BBC correspondent Miranda Eeles is in Tehran.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Television Goes Digital
    Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have set December, 2006 as the deadline by which the United States will switch from analogue to digital TV. Though broadcasters and manufacturers of television sets have been resisting, they-ve lost the argument in the federal courts. As always, that-s good news and bad news, according to Harry Shearer, humorist, actor, host of public radio-s Le Show, and a student of broadcast technology.
Guest Jim Moret has had an extensive career in both local and national television news reporting over the past 20 years, including nearly a decade at CNN. In addition he co-anchored CNN's The World Today, served as frequent guest host on Larry King Live and Burden of Proof. Recently, Moret appeared in the film, A Mighty Wind, and TV dramas such as The Practice and The West Wing. He has been a member of the California bar since 1981.

European Space Agency (ESA)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Cassini Mission to Saturn

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney