48. Space w/ Kirsten Banks

Ever since we were kids we’ve looked up at the night sky and felt a sense of wonder: wondering what really is out there, in our galaxy, among the planets and stars? It is still hard to comprehend that more than 50 years ago - without the technological advances we enjoy today - the human race was able to set foot on the moon.
Well now, there seems to be a whole new fascination with space. Space tourism is starting to gain traction with Elon Musk’s SpaceX finding success with its test flight earlier in 2020. This year is also seeing multiple attempts by different countries to reach the red planet of Mars. But I can’t help but feel that space exploration is a rich person’s game - so much so that we leave the wonder and marveling that we should all be able to enjoy, to those with the wealth and equipment to report back to us. Plus, it's a scary place riddled with space junk and black holes. So, what shall we do about space?
Joining the podcast to discuss is Kirsten Banks, a 23 year old astrophysicist who loves inspiring others to get into a headspace for space, including on TikTok. We spoke about space tourism, the dangers of the universe, and whether there’s life out there...
Kirsten can be found on Twitter @astrokirsten and on Instagram @astrokirsten. You can also read more of her work at astrokirsten.com.au.
The article mentioned in this episode is ‘Why are so many nations blasting off to Mars?’ by Sherryn Groch at The Sydney Morning Herald.
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What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.