Our Space Adventure in the Land of Enchantment ends this week on planetary radio. Radio. 7.5. 4. 3. 3. 2. 1. 3. 2. 1. Main engine start, 0, and lift off of the Atlas 5 with curiosity.

Seeking clues to the planetary puzzle about life on Mars.

Welcome to the travel show that takes you to the final frontier,

and this week to both New Mexico and the Red Planet.

I'm Matt Kaplan of the Planetary Society with a cavern full of guests, most of them participants

in October's International Planetary Caves Workshop.

But we'll start with Planetary Society Executive Director Bill Nye, who attended the November 26

launch of Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory rover.

Then we'll hear how Emily Lachto-Wala reacted to the outset of this ambitious mission.

Bill, we catch you still in Florida, and as we speak it was only yesterday that you were at the launch of Curiosity the

Mars Science Laboratory. Absolutely it was spectacular it was spectacular

it went off right at the moment ten oh two eastern time shot straight up in these

rockets this is the atlas five you know and this is the first time they put on

four solid fuel boosters attached or strapped on to the outside.

And the flame is longer than the 200 foot something tall rocket, 60 meters, 70 meter tall rocket 60 meters

70 meter tall rocket and the thing just shoots up

You could see way way up there gonna go over the top as the saying goes and you could see the

Boosters separate it was really something and

this is a new beginning I mean we're sending this rover that is heavier bigger than

any other spacecraft to land on the surface of Mars and we're going to have a

look around August 5th or August 6th depending what time zone you live in.

And now that I think of it there'll be a little celebration of this coinciding with this in Pasadena that the planetary

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