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>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW."
MY GUEST TONIGHT IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HAYDEN PLANETARIUM AT THE
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, THE HOST OF "STAR TALK"
AND "COSMOS," AND THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK, "COSMIC QUERIES."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW," NEIL deGRASSE TYSON!
NEIL, HOW ARE YOU?
>> DOING GOOD.
DOING GOOD.
DUDE.
>> Stephen: NOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR, YOU ARE
ELIGIBLE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE HERE IN NEW YORK.
AND I UNDERSTAND THIS MORNING YOU GOT THE SECOND SHOT.
NOW, I'VE HEARD-- >> I GOT THE SECOND SHOT 11
HOURS AGO, YES.
>> Stephen: OKAY, AND I HEARD THAT THEY CAN-- IT CAN FEEL A
LITTLE ROUGH AFTER THE SECOND SHOT.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> I'M A LITTLE LOOPY NOW.
( LAUGHS ).
>> Stephen: LOOPY?
LIKE...
>> JUST A LITTLE LOOPY.
BUT, NO, I FEEL FINE.
I WAS NEVER MUCH OF A SIDE EFFECTS GUY MY WHOLE LIFE, SO I
DON'T EXPECT TO-- TO PUT A CHECK IN ALL THE BOXES THAT THEY LIST.
BUT, OTHERWISE, YEAH, IF I'M OTHERWISE INCOHERENT, THAT COULD
BE WHY.
I GOT IT UP AT HARLEM HOSPITAL.
>> Stephen: HERE YOU ARE GETTING THE FIRST DOSE 28 DAYS
AGO.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ONE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT OF THE SHOT
WAS OF THE GUN SHOW.
( LAUGHTER )
OUT.
NOW, I'M GLAD-- I'M GLAD-- >> WHAT?
>> THAT'S JUST WHAT'S LEFT OVER FROM 40 YEARS AND 40 POUNDS AGO
WHEN I USED TO BE IN SHAPE.
>> Stephen: YOU LOOK GOOD, MAN.
YOU LOOK REALLY GOOD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: I WOULDN'T-- I WOULDN'T FACE YOU IN THE
WRESTLING RING.
>> OKAY.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE A MAN OF SCIENCE.
WHAT IS-- WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOU GETTING THE
SHOT?
>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT.
FIRST OF ALL, CONSIDER WHO WE THINK OF NORMALLY AS HEROES IN
SOCIETY.
OFTEN IT'S SOMEONE WHO SAVES A LIFE OR SEVERAL LIVES.
AND PUTTING THEIR OWN LIFE AT RISK, SOMETIMES.
AND WHEN I THINK OF THE COVID VACCINE DEVELOPED BY LAB
RESEARCHERS, WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT THERE'S A GROUP OF
SCIENTISTS WHOSE NAMES YOU WILL NEVER KNOW.
THERE WILL BE NO STATUES TO THEM.
YET, THEY WILL HAVE SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES BY DEVELOPING
VACCINES IN RECORD TIME.
AND SO, SO I THINK THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE USE OF THE TERM
"SUPER HERO."
IF YOU-- ( LAUGHING )
SO SCIENTISTS MAY BE THE ONLY AUTHENTIC, LEGITIMATE SUPER
HEROES IN SOCIETY, AND I TIP MY HAT TO THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE
CANNOT RECITE THEIR NAMES BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THEM, AND
NOBODY IS BUILDING STATUE S.
>> Stephen: OKAY, LET'S GET TO SOME OTHER HARD SCIENCE HERE.
THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF MARS MISSIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WHO DO WE GOT UP THERE RIGHT NOW, BESIDES NASA ARE
PERSEVERANCE?
>> WHINA IS UP THERE.
AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, THE FIRST TIME AN ARAB STATE HAS
REACHED MARS.
AND SO, YEAH, IT'S ALL VERY EXCITING.
>> Stephen: ARE THEY-- ARE THEY IN ORBIT AROUND MARS OR HAS
ANYBODY GONE DOWN■ç BESIDES US?
>> SO CHINA HAS AN ORBITER, A LANDER, AND A ROVER.
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAS AN ORBITER THAT'S SPECIFICALLY
TUNED TO LOOK AT AND SAMPLE THE ATMOSPHERE.
BECAUSE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED-- I DON'T WANT TO VALUE JUDGE IT.
SOMETHING HAPPENED ON MARS WHERE MARS USED TO HAVE LIQUID RUNNING
WATER ON ITS SURFACE, AND NOW IT'S BONE DRY.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO STUDY THE OUTER ATMOSPHERE OF MARS JUST TO
SEE IF THERE ARE CLUES THERE AS TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO
MARS IN THE PAST.
WE SENT A ROVER, PERSEVERANCE ROVER, WHICH MY FAVORITE PART OF
IT, IT'S GOT A HELICOPTER.
IT'S-- IT'S BAD-ASS.
IT'S GOT A HELICOPTER AND ENGINEERS THOUGHT THIS THROUGH
BECAUSE THE MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE IS MUCH THINNER THAN ON EARTH.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIFT A PAYLOAD YOU NEED WIDER ROTOR
BLADES, AND YOU HAVE TO SPIN THEM FASTER.
BUT GRAVITY ON MARS IS LESS, SO THAT HELPS YOU OUT.
IT'S MOSTLY AN ENGINEERING DEMONSTRATION, BECAUSE IF THAT
WORKS, YOU'RE NO LONGER LIMITED TO LOW SLOW-MOVING ROVERS.
YOU CAN DROP INSIDE A CRATER, BACK OUT.
SO I'M READY FOR THIS.
>> Stephen: HOW DOES IT GET BACK TO THE ROVER ITSELF?
IS THERE G.P.S. ON MARS?
LIKE, WHAT'S-- HOW DOES IT ORIENT ITSELF?
>> THERE ARE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU'RE NOT ON EARTH, AND
SOMETIMES YOU USE STARS OKAY TO TRIANGULATE YOUR POSITION, JUST
LIKE THE OLDEN DAYS HERE ON EARTH.
STONE NAVIGATION USED TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO FIND YOUR WAY TO
GRANDMA'S■ç HOUSE.
BUT ON MARS, THE COORDINATES OF WHERE YOU ARE, IT KNOWS HOW FAR
IT GOES IN ANY DIRECTION, UP OR DOWN.
THAT WHOLE COORDINATE SYSTEM IS ESTABLISHED ON LANDING.
SO THAT'S NOT-- THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
WE'VE GOT THAT.
WE GOT THAT.
>> Stephen: OKAY, GOOD, GOOD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL, MAN.
>> I HAVE TO SAY, WE HAVE THREE MISSIONS TO MARS AND IT'S NOT AN
ACCIDENT THEY ALL KIND OF LANDED TOGETHER BECAUSE THE ORIENTATION
OF EARTH AND MARS IN ORBIT IS FAVORABLE FOR A LOW-ENERGY TRIP
BETWEEN EARTH AND MARS ONCE EVERY 26 MONTHS.
SO EVERYBODY LAUNCHES AT AROUND THE SAME TIME.
AND, OF COURSE, THEY'LL GET THERE AT AROUND THE SAME TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY -- >> Stephen: WHAT WAS YOUR
REACTION-- I LOVE THE VIDEO, THE ACTUAL-- THE ROVER CAPSULE, AS
IT CAME IN, SHOT OF ITS-- OF ITS ENTRY INTO THE MARTIAN
ATMOSPHERE, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE PARACHUTES DEPLOYED.
I JUST ABOUT BURST INTO TEARS.
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> OH, IT'S SO-- IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME NASA PUT MORE CAMERAS UP THERE, RATHER
THAN JUST THE SCIENTIFIC ONES THAT ARE AT BASE CAMP.
LET US EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, THOSE MOMENTS OF TERROR IN THE
ARROW BREAKING COMING INTO MARS.
LET US PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
THE WEIGHT OF THOSE CAMS ARE SMALL COMPARED TO THE
S.U.V.-WEIGHT OF THE THING GETTING PLUNKED DOWN ON MARS.
YEAH.
PLUS, WE CAN HAVE SOUNDS FROM MARS.
>> Stephen: I KNOW.
>> IT'S JUST EXTENDING OUR SENSES SO THE ROBOT BECOMES MORE
OF AN EMISSARY OF HUMANS RATHER THAN SOME DISTANT, SEPARATED,
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT.
AND IT BECOMES WAY COOLER.
WAY MORE IMPORTANT FOR NASA TO-- TO-- TO GET RECOGNIZED AS A-- AS
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL PARTICIPATE IN AS A COLLECTIVE
EXPLORERS ON THE SURFACE OF ANOTHER PLANET.
>> Stephen: EVERYBODY'S GOING UP THERE.
WHY ARE PEOPLE GOING TO MARS NOW?
AND I DON'T MEAN JUST LIKE BECAUSE IT'S CLOSEST TO EARTH
AND ITS ORBIT AROUND THE SUN.
I MEAN, WHY ARE THESE COUNTRIES ALL EAGER TO GO UP THERE?
IS IT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SIGNS OF LIFE UP
THERE?
BECAUSE HERE'S MY THEORY.
OKAY, FIRST, PEOPLE INTO ORBIT.
THAT'S A BIG PRIZE.
FIRST MAN ON THE MOON, THAT'S A BIG PRIZE.
WHAT'S THE NEXT BIG PRIZE?
IS IT PUTTING A MAN ON MARS?
OKAY.
BUT WE PUT A MAN OR AN ASTRONAUT ON ANOTHER CELESTIAL BODY.
IT'S FINDING EVIDENCE OF LIFE.
ISN'T THAT THE NEXT BIG BRASS RING HERE?
DOESN'T EVERY COUNTRY WANT TO BE THE ONES TO SAY THEY FOUND IT?
>> I'M NOT AUTHORIZED TO ANSWER THAT.
NEXT QUESTION.
>> Stephen: BECAUSE I'M RIGHT!
I'M RIGHT!
HERE'S MY THEORY-- HERE'S MY THEORY.
MY THEORY IS THAT Y'ALL KNOW IT'S UP THERE.
Y'ALL KNOW THERE'S EVIDENCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PRESENT TO THE
PUBLIC OR YOU DON'T WANT TO FREAK US OUT.
BUT THE CHINESE KNOW, THE E.A.E.
PEEK KNOW.
THE INDIANS KNOW.
WE KNOW.
WE'RE RACING UP THERE TO BE THE PEOPLE TO BRING BACK THE ROCK.
LOOK, YOU FOUND IT, BUT YOU WON'T TELL UZ RUBES.
>> OR THE REST OF THE WORLD IS FIG OTHER OUT HOW AND WAY TO --
>> Stephen: LIFE!
THERE'S LIFE UP THERE!
>> OR, THE REST OF THE WORLD IS GETTING TECHNOLOGICAL.
WE ARE NO LONGER THE SOLE OWNERS OF SPACE.
I'M JUST SAYING.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
>> GET OVER IT.
>> Stephen: I WON'T.
I WON'T.
YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT.
I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY IN THE FUTURE WHEN I COME BACK ON AND
SAY, "I KNEW THERE WAS LIFE BUT I COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE
I WAS SWORN TO SECRECY."
>> I DON'T DO FUTURE APOLOGIES.
>> Stephen: YOU WILL, IN THE FUTURE.
OKAY, IT USED TO BE GOVERNMENTS DID THE EXPLORATION.
NOW, A LOT OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY-- FOR INSTANCE, IT WAS JUST
ANNOUNCED TODAY IN 2025 THEY'RE GOING TO START BUILDING A SPACE
HOTEL.
ARE YOU READY TO BOOK A ROOM?
>> SURE, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE
RESTAURANTS AND STUFF AND OTHER SORT OF TRAPPINGS --
>> Stephen: IT'S GOING TO HAVE BASKETBALLS THAT YOU CAN DUNK.
IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
>> THE PROBLEM IS THE RESTAURANTS MIGHT NOT HAVE MUCH
OF AN ATMOSPHERE, I THINK.
>> Stephen: THEY'RE GOING TO SPIN IT, BABY.
OH, I SEE.
I SEE.
YOU GOT ME!
( LAUGHING ) >> I-- I THOUGHT YOU WERE
QUICKER THAN THAT, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: I'M NOT, NOT TONIGHT, MAN.
NOT TONIGHT.
>> WAIT, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
A HOTEL IS NOT THE SAME THING AS SPACE EXPLORATION.
THE EXPLORATION WILL LIKELY STILL OCCUR BY GOVERNMENT S.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
>> BUT WHEN YOU START TURNING IT INTO TOUR.
AND I HOTELS AND THEME PARKS, YEAH, I'M ALL FOR IT.
>> Stephen: WHAT ABOUT-- WHAT ABOUT-- WHAT ABOUT GUYS LIKE
BASISOSE OR BRANSON OR MUSK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY BEING THE FRONTIER OF
ROCKET DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW?
>> THAT'S FINE, BUT MY READ OF HISTORY TELLS ME HE'S NOT
SENDING THE ROCKET ANYWHERE FIRST, BECAUSE THAT'S EXPENSIVE,
AND IT'S A VERY SHORT VENTURE CAPITALIST MEETING.
"ELON WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
SEND HUMANS TO MARS.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
TRILLIONS.
I DON'T KNOW.
WILL PEOPLE DIE?
PROBABLY.
THAT'S A FIVE-MINUTE MEETING IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A BUSINESS CASE
FOR IT.
THERE'S NO R.O.I. TO DO IT FIRST.
GOVERNMENTS DO IT FIRST BECAUSE THEY HAVE GEOPOLITICAL REASONS
FOR WANTING TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
>> Stephen: THEY WANT TO GET THERE FIRST TO FIND OUT THERE'S
ALREADY LIFE THERE.
RIGHT.
>> YOU'LL GET OVER IT.
>> Stephen: I WON'T.
I WON'T.
I CAN'T WAIT-- OH, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU COME BACK HERE AND
ADMIT THAT I WAS RIGHT!
>> SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS-- SO HERE'S WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
WE DECIDE AS A COUNTRY WE WANT TO SEND ASTRONAUTS TO MARS.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SPACESHIP.
SO ELON SAYS, "I'VE GOT A SPACE SHIP."
AND THEN HE SELLS THE SPACE SHIP TO NASA.
THAT COULD HAPPEN.
THAT'S A BUSINESS CASE.
THAT'S FINE.
THAT COULD HAPPEN.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEIL'S NEW BOOK
"COSMIC QUERIES," AND HOW THE UNIVERSE ENDS.
IT WILL BE FUN.
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