Another year, another set of fascinating panels here at San Diego’s Comic-con international 2013. First off this Thursday is a panel for Europa Report, the film Space.com called “One of the most thrilling and realistic depictions of deep-space exploration since Moon and 2001: A Space Odyssey.”

The panelists were director Sebastian Cordero, composer Bear McCreary (composer of Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead), producer Ben Browning, and actress Karolina Wydra, alongside JPL scientists Steve Vance and Kevin Hand. Astronomer Dr. Phil Plait moderated.

Starting the panel off, Dr. Plait mentioned that the three reasons we explore space are resources, danger, and simply to explore — sheer curiosity. And sometimes that exploration comes with a price.

This week, the NSA stands their ground, JAY Z‘s got 99 problems, and his new album’s digital distribution is one, Apple‘s App Store celebrates its 5th Anniversary and you get the gifts, Dropbox remakes itself with DBX, and a closer look at Grand Theft Auto V