This week marks the anniversaries of two deadly shuttle accidents: the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster 20 years ago, and the destruction of Columbia in 2003. The shuttle, slated to fly again in May, is due for retirement in 2010.

In this hour of Science Friday, Ira and guests talk about the future. What will the next era of human spaceflight look like? And what roles will government and private industry play in that future? Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Tom Jones
Former NASA Astronaut
Author, "Sky Walking: An Astronaut's Memoir" (2006, Smithsonian Books)
Fairfax, Virginia

Elon Musk
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)
El Segundo, California

Rick Tumlinson
Co-Founder
Space Frontier Foundation
Editor, "Return To The Moon" (Apogee Books, 2005) North Hollywood, California

George Whitesides
Executive Director
National Space Society
Washington, DC

Books/Articles Discussed:

"Sky Walking: An Astronaut's Memoir," by Tom Jones. Smithsonian Books, 2006.

"Return To The Moon," Edited by Rick Tumlinson with Erin R. Medlicott (Apogee Books, 2005)

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

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This segment produced by Karin Vergoth