We’re only ONE month away from the Perseverance Rover touching down on Mars! The search for life is a pillar of Mars exploration. But our search isn’t only confined to the planets of our solar system. Radio telescopes search for signals of intelligent life from far away planets, orbiting other stars. One such telescope, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, collapsed on December 1, 2020. In his story, “The Great Silence,” science fiction author Ted Chiang features the telescope as he considers the significance of the animal life that surrounds it.

Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RadioPublic | Stitcher

About Voyages to Mars: Summer 2020, NASA’s Perseverance rover launched on its seven month journey from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Jezero Crater, Mars. To accompany Percy on its seven-month journey, we’re compiling a literary mixtape of Martian-themed sci-fi set to music by DJ Kid Koala. New episodes are released every month.

Transcript

Voyages to Mars is made possible by the support of the Secretary of the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Orlando Regional Council.

Related Topics Spaceflight Astronomy Telescopes Society and Culture Science fiction
Twitter Comments? Contact Us
You may also like AirSpace AirSpace Presents
Voyages to Mars: Dreaming
December 15, 2020
AirSpace Presents
Voyages to Mars: Sending Humans
November 17, 2020
Reflections on Arecibo | Reflexiones Sobre Arecibo December 11, 2020