Hyde Park Civilizace

Pete Worden, astrophysicist, former director of NASA ARC

7. 12. 2019

He wants to send a fleet of probes smaller than a postage stamp to a star that’s more than 4 light years away. And they should send back pictures. They will be accelerated to 20% of the speed of light by a laser. How far along is this project? What was the role that Pete Worden played during the Cold War in the Strategic Defense Initiative, better known as the Star Wars program? And why, in his time as the head of NASA Ames, did he come to work dressed as a goat herder?

English version

55:17

English version

Original versions

Roberto Vittori, ESA astronaut

Roberto Vittori, ESA astronaut

Amy Edmonson, psychologist, management professor

Amy Edmonson, psychologist, management professor

Krzysztof Chyliński, molecular biologist

Krzysztof Chyliński, molecular biologist

Charles Spence, experimental psychologist

Charles Spence, experimental psychologist

Brian Cox, science presenter

Brian Cox, science presenter

Alexei Pazhitnov, creator of Tetris

Alexei Pazhitnov, creator of Tetris

Paolo Nespoli, Italian astronaut

Paolo Nespoli, Italian astronaut

Roshane Saidnattar, Khmer Rouge genocide survivor

Roshane Saidnattar, Khmer Rouge genocide survivor

Bessel Van der Kolk, psychiatrist

Bessel Van der Kolk, psychiatrist

Samantha Cristoforetti, Italian astronaut

Samantha Cristoforetti, Italian astronaut

Emanuelle Charpentier, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Emanuelle Charpentier, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Reinhard Genzel, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Reinhard Genzel, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Merlin Sheldrake, biologist, author of books on fungi

Merlin Sheldrake, biologist, author of books on fungi

Richard Henderson, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Richard Henderson, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Jack Fairweather, author of Witold Pilecky's biography

Jack Fairweather, author of Witold Pilecky's biography

Clint Williamson, Vladimír Dzuro, war crimes investigators

Clint Williamson, Vladimír Dzuro, war crimes investigators

Thomas Ebbesen, physical chemist, Kavli prize laureate

Thomas Ebbesen, physical chemist, Kavli prize laureate

Thomas Cech, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Thomas Cech, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Jean Tirole, economist

Jean Tirole, economist

Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut

Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut

Andreas Eckart, astrophysicist, European Southern Observatory

Andreas Eckart, astrophysicist, European Southern Observatory

Stephen Biddle, historian, military analyst

Stephen Biddle, historian, military analyst

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, CIA intelligence officer

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, CIA intelligence officer

Iain Stewart, geologist

Iain Stewart, geologist

Joachim Mnich, director for research and computing, CERN

Joachim Mnich, director for research and computing, CERN

Josef Aschbacher, director-general of European Space Agency

Josef Aschbacher, director-general of European Space Agency

Charles Rice, virologist

Charles Rice, virologist

Satchin Panda, sleep researcher

Satchin Panda, sleep researcher

Carole Mundell, astrophysicist

Carole Mundell, astrophysicist

Joe Navarro, FBI investigator

Joe Navarro, FBI investigator

Jeffrey Almond, vaccinologist

Jeffrey Almond, vaccinologist

Barry Barish, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Barry Barish, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Diego Saikin, space probes constructor

Diego Saikin, space probes constructor

David Sinclair, biologist, longevity researcher

David Sinclair, biologist, longevity researcher

Leroy Chiao, American astronaut

Leroy Chiao, American astronaut

Petr Neužil a Vivek Reddy

Petr Neužil a Vivek Reddy

Eric Lander, mathematician, geneticist

Eric Lander, mathematician, geneticist

Peter Doherty, Nobel prize in medicine laureate

Peter Doherty, Nobel prize in medicine laureate

sir Paul Nurse, Danuše Nerudová, Pavel Gruber

sir Paul Nurse, Danuše Nerudová, Pavel Gruber

Adrian Krainer, biochemist, SMA drug creator

Adrian Krainer, biochemist, SMA drug creator

Rainer Weiss, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Rainer Weiss, Nobel prize in physics laureate

David Cannadine, historian, president of British Academy

David Cannadine, historian, president of British Academy

Tina Jalonen, Development Director, nuclear waste fuel storage operator Posiva Oy

Tina Jalonen, Development Director, nuclear waste fuel storage operator Posiva Oy

William Daniel Phillips, Nobel prize in physics laureate

William Daniel Phillips, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Gerard Mourou, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Gerard Mourou, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Samuel Sternberg, bioscientist

Samuel Sternberg, bioscientist

Eric Wieschaus, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Eric Wieschaus, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Kip Thorne, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Kip Thorne, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Fraser Stoddart, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Fraser Stoddart, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Martin Rees, cosmologist

Martin Rees, cosmologist

Susan Greenfield, neuroscientist

Susan Greenfield, neuroscientist

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, pulsar discoverer

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, pulsar discoverer

Andrew and Indira Feustel

Andrew and Indira Feustel

Christopher Dobson, neurodegenerative disease scientist

Christopher Dobson, neurodegenerative disease scientist

Ottoline Leyser, plant biologist

Ottoline Leyser, plant biologist

Eric de Clercq, virologist, HIV drugs coinventor

Eric de Clercq, virologist, HIV drugs coinventor

Joseph Wippl, former CIA officer

Joseph Wippl, former CIA officer

Tomas Lindahl, Nobel prize in chemisty laureate

Tomas Lindahl, Nobel prize in chemisty laureate

Eliyahu Rips, mathematician, Soviet dissident

Eliyahu Rips, mathematician, Soviet dissident

Serge Haroche, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Serge Haroche, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Jean-Marie Lehn, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Jean-Marie Lehn, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Anita Sengupta, NASA and Virgin Hyperloop One scientist

Anita Sengupta, NASA and Virgin Hyperloop One scientist

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Phillipe Ciais, climatologist

Phillipe Ciais, climatologist

Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences laureate

Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences laureate

Katherina Zellweger, humanitarian

Katherina Zellweger, humanitarian

Steven Benner, chemist, synthetic biology founder

Steven Benner, chemist, synthetic biology founder

Kayla Iacovino, volcanologist

Kayla Iacovino, volcanologist

Divya Chander, physician, neuroscientist

Divya Chander, physician, neuroscientist

The Feustels - English version

The Feustels - English version

Stefan Hell, Nobel Prize for Chemistry laureate

Stefan Hell, Nobel Prize for Chemistry laureate

Daniel Dennett, philosopher

Daniel Dennett, philosopher

ESO special

Andreas Kaufer, director of La Silla-Paranal observatory

Andreas Kaufer, director of La Silla-Paranal observatory

Antonio Helles, ALMA astronomer

Antonio Helles, ALMA astronomer

Elyar Sedaghati, ESO fellow

Elyar Sedaghati, ESO fellow

Emanuela Pompei, staff astronomer, VLT

Emanuela Pompei, staff astronomer, VLT

Francisco Montenegro, head of science operations, APEX

Francisco Montenegro, head of science operations, APEX

Interview with Fernando Comerón, ESO representative in Chile

Interview with Fernando Comerón, ESO representative in Chile

Interview with Xavier Barcons, director of ESO

Interview with Xavier Barcons, director of ESO

Peter Sinclair, deputy site manager of La Silla observatory

Peter Sinclair, deputy site manager of La Silla observatory

Thomas Rivinius, instrument scientist, VLTI

Thomas Rivinius, instrument scientist, VLTI

Yoshinori Ohsumi, Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine laureate

Yoshinori Ohsumi, Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine laureate

Edward "Rocky" Kolb, cosmologist

Sergei Krikalev, former Russian cosmonaut

Sergei Krikalev, former Russian cosmonaut

Paul Modrich, Nobel Prize for Chemistry laureate

Paul Modrich, Nobel Prize for Chemistry laureate

James Kakalios, profesor of physics, comicsologist

James Kakalios, profesor of physics, comicsologist

Research of James Kakalios

Research of James Kakalios

Ben Feringa, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Ben Feringa, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Cédric Villani, mathematician, Fields Medal 2010 laureate

Cédric Villani, mathematician, Fields Medal 2010 laureate

Fabiola Gianotti, director-general of CERN

Fabiola Gianotti, director-general of CERN

Tim de Zeeuw, director general of European Southern Observatory

Tim de Zeeuw, director general of European Southern Observatory

Interview with Kenneth Mattox

Interview with Kenneth Mattox

Interview with Lyonel Badette

Interview with Lyonel Badette

Ada Yonath, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Ada Yonath, Nobel prize in chemistry laureate

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Nobel prize in physics laureate

Jane Goodall, primatologist

Jane Goodall, primatologist

Reinhold Messner, mountaineer, adventurer

Reinhold Messner, mountaineer, adventurer

Martin Chalfie, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Martin Chalfie, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Eric Betzig, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Eric Betzig, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Jamie Andrew, limbless mountaineer

Jamie Andrew, limbless mountaineer

Dan Shechtman, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Dan Shechtman, Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Tibetan spiritual leader

Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Tibetan spiritual leader

Harald zur Hausen, virologist, Nobel prize laureate

Harald zur Hausen, virologist, Nobel prize laureate

Bernard Bigot, director-general of ITER tokamak

Bernard Bigot, director-general of ITER tokamak

Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO

Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO

Johann-Dietrich Wörner, director general of European Space Agency

Johann-Dietrich Wörner, director general of European Space Agency

Douglas Vakoch, President of METI International

Douglas Vakoch, President of METI International

Benno Willke, responsible for the Advanced LIGO pre-stabilized laser subsystem

Benno Willke, responsible for the Advanced LIGO pre-stabilized laser subsystem

Paul Rusesabagina, Tatiana Rusesabagina, Robert Fremr, Rwandan humanitarian, who saved 1268 people during the genocide, his wife, judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

Paul Rusesabagina, Tatiana Rusesabagina, Robert Fremr, Rwandan humanitarian, who saved 1268 people during the genocide, his wife, judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

Jerome Friedman, Nobel Prize in Physics laureate, co-discoverer of quarks

Jerome Friedman, Nobel Prize in Physics laureate, co-discoverer of quarks

Philip Zimbardo, psychologist, author of the Stanford Prison Experiment

Philip Zimbardo, psychologist, author of the Stanford Prison Experiment

Paul Nurse, Nobel Prize laureate, geneticist, president of the Royal Society

Paul Nurse, Nobel Prize laureate, geneticist, president of the Royal Society

Scott Parazynski, astronaut, NASA

Scott Parazynski, astronaut, NASA

Gerard 't Hooft, Nobel Prize laureate, theoretical physicist

Gerard 't Hooft, Nobel Prize laureate, theoretical physicist

Timothy Snyder

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Peter Singer, philosopher

Peter Singer, philosopher

Mr. and Mrs. Klarsfeld

Mr. and Mrs. Klarsfeld

Roger Griffin, professor of modern history, Oxford Brookes University

Roger Griffin, professor of modern history, Oxford Brookes University

Niobe Thompson, anthropologist & Derek Muller, physicist

Niobe Thompson, anthropologist & Derek Muller, physicist

Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist

Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist

Charles Duke, astronaut, NASA, 10th man on the Moon, pilot of the lunar module of Apollo 16

Charles Duke, astronaut, NASA, 10th man on the Moon, pilot of the lunar module of Apollo 16

Steve Hughes

Robert Woodrow Wilson, Nobel Prize laureate, astronomer, discoverer of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Robert Woodrow Wilson, Nobel Prize laureate, astronomer, discoverer of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Andrey Zubov

Rolf-Dieter Heuer, general-director of CERN

Rolf-Dieter Heuer, general-director of CERN

Professor Noam Chomsky, linguist, political activist

Professor Noam Chomsky, linguist, political activist

Programmer Llewellyn Falco & professor Jack Copeland

Programmer Llewellyn Falco & professor Jack Copeland

Denis McQuail, media theorist

Denis McQuail, media theorist

Lawrence M. Krauss, theoretical physicist and cosmologist

Lawrence M. Krauss, theoretical physicist and cosmologist

Paul von Blum, historian, University of California in Los Angeles

Paul von Blum, historian, University of California in Los Angeles

Bruno Leibundgut

Bruno Leibundgut

Karel Zeman & Valentine Davydyants

Karel Zeman & Valentine Davydyants

Orley Ashenfelter, economist, Princeton University

Orley Ashenfelter, economist, Princeton University

George Elwood Smith, Nobel Prize laureate, co-inventor of the CCD sensor

George Elwood Smith, Nobel Prize laureate, co-inventor of the CCD sensor

David Nixon, space architect, helped building the ISS and Skylab

David Nixon, space architect, helped building the ISS and Skylab

Natalya Gorbanevskaya, Russian dissident, member of the Brave eight, people who protested in Moscow against the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968

Natalya Gorbanevskaya, Russian dissident, member of the Brave eight, people who protested in Moscow against the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968

James W. Rice, planetary geologist, chief of NASA Mars missions

James W. Rice, planetary geologist, chief of NASA Mars missions

Gregorii Toshinski, nuclear scientist, author of the fastest nuclear submarines

Gregorii Toshinski, nuclear scientist, author of the fastest nuclear submarines

John Searle, philosopher and linguist

John Searle, philosopher and linguist

Rick McCallum, Star Wars producer

Rick McCallum, Star Wars producer

Andrew Feustel, astronaut, NASA

Andrew Feustel, astronaut, NASA

Vint Cerf, vice-president and chief Internet evangelist for Google

Vint Cerf, vice-president and chief Internet evangelist for Google