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                     INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR 

                        DR. ROBERT ZUBRIN

                      CONDUCTED MARCH 2, 2001


Moderators: John Yuda and Nahks (Jon Settle)


Scientific/Technical issues for a Mars mission:

 1. Mars at this stage seems like a long shot. We don't have the
    needed propulsion systems, the technology, or enough knowledge
    about that planet to be exploring it any time soon. Why do you
    think there are so many shortcomings in achieving this goal? Is it
    the government's fault, the private sector's, the public's, or all
    three? (Walid Dimachkie)

 2. What method of propulsion would be most practical to get to Mars?
    What barriers need to be overcome to develop and use this type of
    propulsion?  (Jim Musser)

 3. If we do send people to Mars, how will we circumnavigate the
    radiation exposure problem that astronauts will undoubtedly face?
    (Lauren Chung)

 4. How would you combat the problems of microgravity on the human
    body? How influential do you think the recommendations of the
    National Space Biomedicatl Institute's findings/recommendation
    will be? (Rachel Cervin)

 5. How accurately did the movie, Mission to Mars, portray the base the
    astronauts set up? (Matt Hughes)

 6. You said in 1998 that, "The technological innovations from 1963 to
    the present are insignificant. Without the opening of a new
    frontier on Mars, continued Western civilization faces the risk of
    technological stagnation."  Is going to Mars going to increase
    technology so much to make it seem that all we have done in the
    last 40 years is insignificant? (Josh Brosious)

 7. What technologies on Earth might work better on Mars? (Matt Hughes)

 8. Once a sustainable colony is in place on Mars, would the next step
    be to expand the existing colony or start a new colony in a
    completely different place? (Matt Hughes)


Martian Life:

 9. What will be the implications for Mars colonization if the
    explorers who travel to Mars find evidence of past or present
    life?  (Laura Yingling)

10. In the July/Aug. 2000 issue of The Planetary Report, you wrote an
    essay that dismissed the danger of back contamination from Mars,
    and said that experts in the field supported your position. In the
    Nov./Dec. issue, several of those so-called experts from NASA, the
    SETI Institute, and JPL adamantly disagreed with your
    assessment. What did you think of their counter arguments? Also,
    how can anyone be considered an "expert" on extraterrestrial life
    when such life has never been confirmed or studied? (Brock Pronko)


Economic issues:

11. In Entering Space, you told about your difficulty garnering
    support at Martin Marietta for your rocketplane, Black Colt. The
    Titan director told you, "Look Bob, it's a very clever idea, but
    you've got to get the picture, we build Titans. You sell one of
    these to the Air Force and we're out of business."  With NASA
    entrenched in LEO operations and the big three rocket makers
    ingrained in defense work, how can space enthusiasts garner
    support from the government and/or the private sector for human
    missions beyond earth's orbit?  (Brock Pronko)

12. What kind of short-term profit incentives are there in Mars
    exploration and/or colonization that would entice corporations to
    invest in such an endeavour? (John Yuda)

13. The original space program was built largely from the industrial
    base present from WWII and the Korean War. Do we presently have
    the industrial base necessary to construct and support a Mars
    mission, or would we need serious retooling? (Nahks)


Social/Political issues:

14. Why must we go to the red planet now? (Geoff Cooper)

15. Could you briefly give us your take on general public opinion on
    Mars exploration?  That is, does the public have "Mars fever," or
    does the majority believe funds and research would be better
    directed towards problems at home?  If necessary, how could we
    help generate "Mars fever?"  (Nahks)

16. With the present administration, do you think a trip to Mars will
    take place in the next 10...20 years?  (poss. longer?) (Katie
    Miller)

17. Specifically, what are your thoughts as to how the new Bush
    administration will tackle space related issues?  In other words,
    what near term and/or far term "policy" will the adminstration
    identify as requiring action? (Chris Hynick)

18. Assuming that money has been allocated towards space colonization
    and that the public is backing space exploration, do you believe
    that we should attempt to explore and colonize Mars first, or
    would a Moon base or space colony be a better option? (Chris
    Hynick)


Personal questions:

19.  When did you first start to dream of going to Mars (and when did
     you become professionally involved)? (Jason Camilo)


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