What doesLong Beach Comic Conhave that other big conventions do n’t ? A whole serial of program devoted to space exploration , call up Space Expo . We talked to the panellist about route tripping on Mars , weird landforms on Ceres , and what fictional technologies they most care would become a reality .
Less than two weeks from now , Long Beach Comic Con is partner up with theColumbia Memorial Space Centerto host Space Expo , a series of exhibit and panels on robots , spacesuit , and terrestrial exploration .
“ Space , the outer space computer program and science are all a part of the same dada polish dialog as comic books and science fiction , ” the space center ’s Chief Executive Ben Dickow explains in their insistence release . Part of the idea behind this program is to get fans excited about science , so they ’ll support the next wave of blank exploration .
We have a delicate spot for the intersection of science and culture , so this listing of panels is making us pretty envious . Two panels are looking at the science of fable , two preserve the yr of exploration by rivet on find from Dawn and New Horizons , and the final panel skip into the wonders of technology that already exist , and might one day . We jaw with the panelists about what to expect over the weekend .
Andre Bormanis brought science to Star Trek , and coordinate the research behind Cosmos . Image courtesy Space Expo
First up , match wing into the procedure of bringing science into fiction with Andre Bormanis , the film director of scientific research forCosmos : A Spacetime Odysseyand the science consultant for various Star Trek present . Of of course we had to need him why he does it !
io9 : Why let in real science in fictional stories ?
Andre Bormanis : The interview has progressively high standards and greater scientific literacy today . When most people take a skill fiction narration , or see a picture show about the future of space travel , for example , they have a sealed reason of the realities and challenges railroad engineer will have to trade with to make that happen . Most SF fans understand that in the near - term , the only way to render artificial gravity in a spaceship is by rotation , centrifugal force . The sort of artificial solemnity seen on Star Trek , on the other deal , is much further in the future , if it ’s even possible at all .
io9 : What is the most rewarding part of figure out on Cosmos or Star Trek ?
Bormanis : I be intimate the original Star Trek when I was a kid , and also the original Cosmos . mature up , Carl Sagan was one of my bomber , one of the grounds I majored in physics and uranology in college . His ability to articulate the sense of wonderment I and so many others line up in existence is still unique . To be able to work on remakes of these shows , give how much they meant to me personally , was sinful . Back in college I never would ’ve imagined it ! And now I ’m perpetually equal by how much the appearance I work on signify to so many people .
Watney take a roadtrip from from Acidalia Planitia to Schiaparelli crater . Image credit : NASA / Fred Calef III
Space Expo attendee will get a chance to talk with actual Mars rover driverMike Seibert , Martian cartographerDr . Fred Calef III , and planetary geomorphologist Dr. Serina Diniegawill as they discussMark Watney ’s fictional journey in The Martian .
io9 : What are some of the highlight along the conjectural Martian route trip between Acidalia Planitia and Schiaparelli ?
Dr. Fred Calef III : extend through Mawrth Vallis would be astonishing for the huge cliffs and old terrain that scientists love ; in factMawrth is one of the high graded landing site for the Mars 2020 rover . Going to the edges of tumid Crater would also declare oneself a striking vista and chance to face at careen around the crater rim .
Mike Seibert : It really depends on the itinerary . The direct route taken in the Martian interbreeding some heavy cratered terrain in northwest Arabia Terra . And asSpirit , Opportunity , andCuriosityhave shown us ; the views from the rim of and inside craters are unbelievable .
io9 : How would you feel if some future astronaut on Mars scavenge parts from your rover blood-related to how Watney stripped Pathfinder for part in The Martian ? Any ideas on how the parts might be repurposed ?
Calef : If the astronaut is clean region to save their lifetime , go for it ! The solar panels could be used to power small science instruments . Perhaps the wheels could be used on a ‘ Franken - rover ’ .
Seibert : I think we would be beaming that Spirit or chance were able to continue to contribute to the exploration of Mars . Those that design the rovers would be especially proud that their system of rules had outlast the rough surround of Mars for such a long time .
Opportunity has many constituent , that if undamaged could be used . The MER wanderer are in effect a mobile variation of the Pathfinder lander with a different science load . We have X - band radios that can be used to talk directly to Earth . The modest Gain Antenna does n’t require being pointed at Earth , so it would be utile for initially re - establishing contact with Earth . The eminent Gain Antenna would be useful for well lineal to communication , but first Opportunity would take to know where Earth is .
What the MER scouter ’s have that would be very useful , but Pathfinder did not have , is a UHF radio . The UHF radio is used to lecture to the American and European orbiters at Mars . As future human missions to Mars will undoubtably use orbiter to relay datum to Earth , the UHF radio would be the serious option for even eminent - bandwith communication .
The solar regalia could be used to bring home the bacon up to another kW of power each sol depending on season ( I ’m assuming that with a human there it could be kept dust free ) .
io9 : Not every name used to describe topographic point on Mars are on the official maps , or have a different official names ( Mount Sharp instead of Aeolis Mons ) . Why does that happen ?
Calef : Most rock-and-roll and craters the rovers gossip are below the size that theInternational astronomic Union(IAU ) , who officially names objects in the solar system , cares about . Rover missions also do this because they want to specify names that have significance to the team member . The Curiosity rover squad picked name calling based on plaza where they did some fieldwork or live .
The Lonely Mountain on Ceres is a new favourite for odd places in our Solar System . prototype credit : NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA
In our yr of exploration , panels on all the discovery are bound to be exciting . The first panel focuses on everything we ’ve learned about thedwarf planet Ceresand theasteroid Vestawith mission engineersKeri BeanandKristina Larsonfrom theDawn ballistic capsule , and the other is on that most charismatic of dwarf planet , Pluto .
io9 : What ’s the most exciting landforms we ’ve establish on Ceres ?
Dr. Serina Diniega : There ’s so much interesting geology that is just coming into focussing , but the main feature I ’ve mean about is the “ Lonely Mountain ” ( previously known as the Pyramid , base on appearing within earlier , lower - resolution images ) . Its overall flesh , with those usurious side and flat rough-textured top , is just compel me to equate it with the features and processes that I study on the Earth and Mars , and essay to calculate out what its history is . Add in its closing off from other sight of that character , and it ’s a neat enigma !
io9 : What ’s the most exciting landforms we ’ve found on Pluto or Charon ?
Dr. Serina Diniega : Again , there ’s so much interesting geology on those outer solar organisation eubstance , and every young epitome brings a new mystery . So far , I ’ve been most intrigue bythe lack of craters on Pluto and Charon . That is not what we expect a minuscule dead body on the outskirts of the solar system of rules to look like ! For illustration , those frozen plainswithinPluto ’s “ Heart”(also colloquially call Tombaugh Regio ) – I saw that range of a function and for a instant thought I was looking at Mars , but the environment on those bodies is so very different , withdifferent ices(frozen methane , frozen nitrogen , and wintry water on Pluto , vs. frozen C dioxide and wintry water on Mars ) and unlike processes involved . I look forwards to hearing about how a Earth’s surface couldlook so youngand what outgrowth mold it , within such a different environment from the internal solar system planets I study , when the New Horizon scientists figure it out .
The Low - Density Supersonic Decelerator and parachute prototypes may let for cloggy payloads to Mars if we canjust play out the crick . ikon credit : NASA
The last panel is about what happens when real life meet MacGyver : the outrageous engineering that goes into current space charge , the prototypes presently under ontogeny , andthe ideasthat might one daylight force back the next contemporaries of geographic expedition .
io9 : Whatfictional technologydo you most wish well we had in real life for space exploration ? What would you use it to do ?
Bormanis : Warp drive , of row ! I ’d drop the sleep of my animation explore the Milky Way wandflower , seeking out foreign new worlds .
Keri Bean : Personally , I would jazz if we hadfaster - than - light travel . I ’d even settle for significant - fraction - of - the - hurrying - of - light locomotion . Everything in quad is VERY far apart , but if we could get to finish faster , we could search more of our solar system in a timely mode .
Diniega : When I watch movies likeAvengers , I am most green-eyed of the3D hologram displaysused for appear over information . In studying landforms , so much involve look for convention and connective – in the Earth’s surface feature ’s appearance and in environmental measuring . Being able to manipulate data point and interact with it in such a natural manner , that I think could really encourage how we action information and define the questions that we then test .
Calef : Faster than clear locomotion ( FTL ) . Technology like teleportation may be potential to solve , but pass past the speed of light is physically unimaginable , so it’sdifficult to impossible to travel beyond our solar system of rules , not to cite another star or galaxy in a life , which I ’d love to do . I ’d use FTL to travel to an exoplanet in a habitable zona to see what s creep around .
Kristina Larson : I wish that we had some sort of hibernation technology for transport astronauts on long blank space journeys . How awe-inspiring would it be to go to sleep on Earth and wake up outside of our solar organization ? !
Seibert : Near instantaneous , faster than light , non - product line of mint communications . This would allow us to ensure space vehicle as they land on the far side of planets and moons . We could teleoperate rovers on Mars allowing us to repel far in a single soh . Imagine watching live as a space vehicle orb Saturn go across through the rings . Communications like this would permit future human explorers to communicate with family and friends at home , despite being gazillion of miles from home base .
The Columbia Memorial Space Center will be bring their space suit [ left ] and robotics display [ right ] to Space Expo . persona credits : Columbia Memorial Space Center
io9 : What are you most looking forward to at Space Expo ?
Bean : I ’m looking forwards to talking with my fellow space geeks . quad fascinate everyone , and I jazz being able-bodied to apportion what I do at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory . I ’ll blab out to anyone and everyone about explore space , so even if I ’m just brook in a line somewhere I ’ll discover up a conversation with the people around me .
Bormanis : Spending time with fellow space enthusiasts , finding out what masses are activated about these day . We ’re in a conversion era in human space trajectory , and the next ten years could be the most revolutionary time since the 1960 ’s .
Calef : Hoping to share my knowledge about Mars and animate people to think more about space geographic expedition . [ As for the rest of the convention , I ’m ] count forward to seeing the different cosplays on the exposition floor and possibly ascertain John Barrowman from Doctor Who , Torchwood , [ and ] Arrow .
Diniega : I ’ve never been to a Comic Con before , but am excited about participating in this convergence between scientist and skill / sci - fi enthusiasts .
Larson : I take care forward to learning about newfangled melodic theme and technologies in the macrocosm of space exploration , as well as sharing ideas with fellow space enthusiasts .
Seibert : I am look to see the latest result from other NASA missions around the solar system . While I am Mars centric professionally , the exploration of the remainder solar arrangement is fabulously exciting to me .
Are you going to the convention ? What are you looking forward to ?
connect with the author at[email protected]or take after her at@MikaMcKinnon .
CeresDawnMarsNew HorizonsThe Martian
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