RED HOOK — Former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino is heading to Red Hook next month to talk about Mars and the possibility of human exploration on the Red Planet.
Massimino, along with theoretical physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss, will take part in Pioneer Works' "Scientific Controversies" series Nov. 21.
The free talk, titled "One-Way Ticket to Mars," explores the implications of sending people to Mars for the first time.
Janna Levin, the series' creator, host and scientist-in-residence at Pioneer Works, started the popular sessions last year as a way to discuss unanswerable questions in science that continue to baffle experts, she said.
Levin wanted to encourage honest conversations that moved away from a panel-discussion format and into something casual and unrehearsed — the kind of exchange one would have "if we were having drinks on my couch," she said.
The event will also feature cocktails, music and food from the Morocho food truck.
In the past year, the series has taken on topics such as "The Goddamn Particle" on the Higgs boson particle, the possibility of a multiverse and "Is Reality Beautiful?" said Levin, a professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College.
Levin decided to take on Mars for the next subject as the world moves closer to a possible manned expedition to the planet. NASA has a goal of sending astronauts to the Red Planet in the 2030s and private companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to colonize Mars.
Massimino, Krauss and Levin will also likely discuss the importance of a manned mission versus a robotic one and fears of contaminating the planet.
The talk will take place Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer Works, located at 159 Pioneer St. Doors will open at 7 p.m. RSVP to the free event here.
