The man behind the Mars rover on exploring space
Kobie Boykins is one of the few people on Earth who can truly call themselves a Mars explorer. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer designed critical parts of all the NASA spacecraft that have roamed the red planet in the last two decades. His solar arrays helped power the Opportunity rover long after its expected lifespan on Mars.
More recently, he helped create the Mars Science Laboratory, called Curiosity, that landed in 2012. Boykins is also on the front lines of science communication for NASA. He speaks about Mars and the future of space exploration at the Fitzgerald Theater Thursday night at 7 p.m. as part of the National Geographic Live series.
Use the audio player above to hear Boykins' interview with host Tom Weber.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.