On Episode 153 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Robert Zubrin, founder and president of The Mars Society, about making real, actionable plans to send a crew to Mars.
In 1990, Zubrin and David Baker worked up a plan called "Mars Direct," which took the core of then-current NASA planning and streamlined it into a more realistic, affordable approach. Since then, some of the key elements have been incorporated into NASA's Design Reference Missions, still the primary set of plans for reaching Mars. Join us for this fascinating discussion.
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Space news of the week
- Never-'stuck’ Starliner astronauts return to Earth at last with Crew-9 duo in SpaceX Dragon splashdown
- Dolphins welcome SpaceX's Crew-9 astronauts home after splashdown
- Isar Aerospace sets date for first launch after receiving license
- SpaceX sets new rocket-reuse record on launch of US spy satellites
- Dr. Robert Zubrin
- The Mars Dream Is Back — Here’s How to Make It Actually Happen
- Moon Direct - The New Atlantis
- The Mars Decision - The New Atlantis
- The New World on Mars
Model Falcon 9!

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Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.
About This Week In Space
This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?
Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.