all right well I’ll think a and it’s a real pleasure to be
a and it’s a real pleasure to be
a and it’s a real pleasure to be speaking here so speaking of everyone
speaking here so speaking of everyone
speaking here so speaking of everyone doing different things I’m going to take
doing different things I’m going to take
doing different things I’m going to take you to Mars today and so in order to do
you to Mars today and so in order to do
you to Mars today and so in order to do this I’ll just ask you to have your 3d
this I’ll just ask you to have your 3d
this I’ll just ask you to have your 3d glasses which are hopefully provided
glasses which are hopefully provided
glasses which are hopefully provided there at the ready but I’ll tell you
there at the ready but I’ll tell you
there at the ready but I’ll tell you when to use them don’t have to go yet
when to use them don’t have to go yet
when to use them don’t have to go yet okay so as a planetary scientist it’s my
okay so as a planetary scientist it’s my
okay so as a planetary scientist it’s my goal to understand the geological
goal to understand the geological
goal to understand the geological history of planets in our solar system
history of planets in our solar system
history of planets in our solar system and I spend a lot of my day looking at
and I spend a lot of my day looking at
and I spend a lot of my day looking at pictures of planets and hopefully the
pictures of planets and hopefully the
pictures of planets and hopefully the earth is still the planet that I look at
earth is still the planet that I look at
earth is still the planet that I look at the most on a good day but I spend a lot
the most on a good day but I spend a lot
the most on a good day but I spend a lot of my time looking at this planet the
of my time looking at this planet the
of my time looking at this planet the planet Mars and Mars is is really unique
planet Mars and Mars is is really unique
planet Mars and Mars is is really unique in our solar system for a number of
in our solar system for a number of
in our solar system for a number of reasons it’s a dynamic planet it’s much
reasons it’s a dynamic planet it’s much
reasons it’s a dynamic planet it’s much colder and more arid than the earth but
colder and more arid than the earth but
colder and more arid than the earth but there are winds that blow sand dunes and
there are winds that blow sand dunes and
there are winds that blow sand dunes and dust storms around the surface of the
dust storms around the surface of the
dust storms around the surface of the planet today there are channels carved
planet today there are channels carved
planet today there are channels carved into its surface which are evidence of
into its surface which are evidence of
into its surface which are evidence of rivers that once flowed across the
rivers that once flowed across the
rivers that once flowed across the planet billions of years ago when there
planet billions of years ago when there
planet billions of years ago when there is liquid water stable and there’s
is liquid water stable and there’s
is liquid water stable and there’s sedimentary rocks but hopefully record
sedimentary rocks but hopefully record
sedimentary rocks but hopefully record clues to what that ancient climate was
clues to what that ancient climate was
clues to what that ancient climate was doing as you laid down layers of
doing as you laid down layers of
doing as you laid down layers of sediment over time and Mars has really
sediment over time and Mars has really
sediment over time and Mars has really captured the imagination of the public
captured the imagination of the public
captured the imagination of the public and captured the attention of scientists
and captured the attention of scientists
and captured the attention of scientists most importantly because it represents
most importantly because it represents
most importantly because it represents one of our best shots for looking for
one of our best shots for looking for
one of our best shots for looking for evidence of life outside of the earth
evidence of life outside of the earth
evidence of life outside of the earth within our solar system and there’s one
within our solar system and there’s one
within our solar system and there’s one other important reason that Mars is so
other important reason that Mars is so
other important reason that Mars is so fascinating if you’ve seen the movie the
fascinating if you’ve seen the movie the
fascinating if you’ve seen the movie the Martian recently Mars is one of the
Martian recently Mars is one of the
Martian recently Mars is one of the easiest planets to travel to and the
easiest planets to travel to and the
easiest planets to travel to and the surface conditions are such that you
surface conditions are such that you
surface conditions are such that you could actually travel there and walk
could actually travel there and walk
could actually travel there and walk around on the surface with a spacesuit
around on the surface with a spacesuit
around on the surface with a spacesuit but you could look at it with your own
but you could look at it with your own
but you could look at it with your own eyes so the description of my talk I’ll
eyes so the description of my talk I’ll
eyes so the description of my talk I’ll admit was a bit of a teaser I won’t be
admit was a bit of a teaser I won’t be
admit was a bit of a teaser I won’t be talking about actual humans going to
talking about actual humans going to
talking about actual humans going to Mars today although I certainly hope
Mars today although I certainly hope
Mars today although I certainly hope that one day we do send humans to Mars
that one day we do send humans to Mars
that one day we do send humans to Mars and there’s a lot of really smart people
and there’s a lot of really smart people
and there’s a lot of really smart people working to make that happen
working to make that happen
working to make that happen sometime in the future but for now
sometime in the future but for now
sometime in the future but for now that’s a goal for the future instead
that’s a goal for the future instead
that’s a goal for the future instead I’ll be talking about how we explore the
I’ll be talking about how we explore the
I’ll be talking about how we explore the surface of Mars robotically so i’m a
surface of Mars robotically so i’m a
surface of Mars robotically so i’m a member of NASA’s Curiosity rover mission
member of NASA’s Curiosity rover mission
member of NASA’s Curiosity rover mission a science team member and this is our
a science team member and this is our
a science team member and this is our lovely robot that we use to explore the
lovely robot that we use to explore the
lovely robot that we use to explore the surface of Mars and we’ve been doing
surface of Mars and we’ve been doing
surface of Mars and we’ve been doing that since 2012 and we landed here in a
that since 2012 and we landed here in a
that since 2012 and we landed here in a part of mars called Gale Crater and you
part of mars called Gale Crater and you
part of mars called Gale Crater and you can see these great rocks in the
can see these great rocks in the
can see these great rocks in the foreground here and in the background
foreground here and in the background
foreground here and in the background there’s a mountain known as Mount sharp
there’s a mountain known as Mount sharp
there’s a mountain known as Mount sharp but I’ll talk a little bit about and
but I’ll talk a little bit about and
but I’ll talk a little bit about and that’s a really interesting bot about a
that’s a really interesting bot about a
that’s a really interesting bot about a five kilometer high mountain sitting in
five kilometer high mountain sitting in
five kilometer high mountain sitting in the middle of this crater made from top
the middle of this crater made from top
the middle of this crater made from top to bottom almost entirely of these
to bottom almost entirely of these
to bottom almost entirely of these layered sedimentary rocks that we hope
layered sedimentary rocks that we hope
layered sedimentary rocks that we hope record information about Mars is
record information about Mars is
record information about Mars is changing climate over time and what the
changing climate over time and what the
changing climate over time and what the ancient surface conditions might have
ancient surface conditions might have
ancient surface conditions might have been like and whether they could have
been like and whether they could have
been like and whether they could have been habitable for life to arise one of
been habitable for life to arise one of
been habitable for life to arise one of the things that I’ve been really struck
the things that I’ve been really struck
the things that I’ve been really struck by over the past few years of being on
by over the past few years of being on
by over the past few years of being on this mission and looking at the images
this mission and looking at the images
this mission and looking at the images of Mars that come down every day from
of Mars that come down every day from
of Mars that come down every day from the rover has been the importance of the
the rover has been the importance of the
the rover has been the importance of the human experience in order to interpret
human experience in order to interpret
human experience in order to interpret the rocks that we see so how we process
the rocks that we see so how we process
the rocks that we see so how we process all that data coming back from the
all that data coming back from the
all that data coming back from the rover’s instruments with our own human
rover’s instruments with our own human
rover’s instruments with our own human sensory organs and so in many ways
sensory organs and so in many ways
sensory organs and so in many ways actually the rover is designed to mimic
actually the rover is designed to mimic
actually the rover is designed to mimic many of the capabilities of a human
many of the capabilities of a human
many of the capabilities of a human Explorer so of course instead of legs we
Explorer so of course instead of legs we
Explorer so of course instead of legs we have wheels here and instead of a mouth
have wheels here and instead of a mouth
have wheels here and instead of a mouth to communicate those science results
to communicate those science results
to communicate those science results back to the earth we have an antenna but
back to the earth we have an antenna but
back to the earth we have an antenna but we do have an arm only one with which we
we do have an arm only one with which we
we do have an arm only one with which we can reach out and touch the surface we
can reach out and touch the surface we
can reach out and touch the surface we can even use it to take selfies like the
can even use it to take selfies like the
can even use it to take selfies like the one shown here which is exactly what a
one shown here which is exactly what a
one shown here which is exactly what a human Explorer would do and then we have
human Explorer would do and then we have
human Explorer would do and then we have eyes and in the form of cameras and so
eyes and in the form of cameras and so
eyes and in the form of cameras and so I’m going to talk a bit about using
I’m going to talk a bit about using
I’m going to talk a bit about using those cameras today and how we
those cameras today and how we
those cameras today and how we understand the surface of Mars apply at
understand the surface of Mars apply at
understand the surface of Mars apply at tens of millions of kilometers away
tens of millions of kilometers away
tens of millions of kilometers away through the lens of a robotic camera so
through the lens of a robotic camera so
through the lens of a robotic camera so first I want to take you all over back
first I want to take you all over back
first I want to take you all over back to 1976
to 1976
to 1976 this is the very first image of the
this is the very first image of the
this is the very first image of the Martian surface returned from the Viking
Martian surface returned from the Viking
Martian surface returned from the Viking one lander and so before this image was
one lander and so before this image was
one lander and so before this image was returned to the earth all we had was
returned to the earth all we had was
returned to the earth all we had was data from telescopes from the earth or
data from telescopes from the earth or
data from telescopes from the earth or from orbiters hundreds of kilometres in
from orbiters hundreds of kilometres in
from orbiters hundreds of kilometres in orbit above Mars and so to get this
orbit above Mars and so to get this
orbit above Mars and so to get this picture down for the very first time you
picture down for the very first time you
picture down for the very first time you can imagine is a wholly different
can imagine is a wholly different
can imagine is a wholly different experience of understanding what Mars is
experience of understanding what Mars is
experience of understanding what Mars is like you can see a surface that’s very
like you can see a surface that’s very
like you can see a surface that’s very similar to what you might see on the
similar to what you might see on the
similar to what you might see on the earth here with fine-grained soil a
earth here with fine-grained soil a
earth here with fine-grained soil a couple of loose rocks distributed around
couple of loose rocks distributed around
couple of loose rocks distributed around the surface it looks a lot like
the surface it looks a lot like
the surface it looks a lot like something you might see here on this
something you might see here on this
something you might see here on this planet alright so get your 3d glasses
planet alright so get your 3d glasses
planet alright so get your 3d glasses out I’ll take you back to 2016 and
out I’ll take you back to 2016 and
out I’ll take you back to 2016 and here’s one of the first images we
here’s one of the first images we
here’s one of the first images we returned from curiosity this is an image
returned from curiosity this is an image
returned from curiosity this is an image taken on the twenty-seventh Martian day
taken on the twenty-seventh Martian day
taken on the twenty-seventh Martian day or Saul of the mission and what I want
or Saul of the mission and what I want
or Saul of the mission and what I want you to do is imagine looking down at
you to do is imagine looking down at
you to do is imagine looking down at your feet and seeing this rock a couple
your feet and seeing this rock a couple
your feet and seeing this rock a couple tens of centimeters across exposed on
tens of centimeters across exposed on
tens of centimeters across exposed on the surface what I want you to
the surface what I want you to
the surface what I want you to appreciate as how this color and 3d
appreciate as how this color and 3d
appreciate as how this color and 3d information helps you experience the
information helps you experience the
information helps you experience the rock and this rock in particular was
rock and this rock in particular was
rock and this rock in particular was very important early on in the mission
very important early on in the mission
very important early on in the mission because you’ll see that there are small
because you’ll see that there are small
because you’ll see that there are small rounded pebbles and gravels and sand
rounded pebbles and gravels and sand
rounded pebbles and gravels and sand grains that make up that rock and in
grains that make up that rock and in
grains that make up that rock and in fact that’s very similar to what you
fact that’s very similar to what you
fact that’s very similar to what you might see exposed say for instance on
might see exposed say for instance on
might see exposed say for instance on the banks of the Delaware River not too
the banks of the Delaware River not too
the banks of the Delaware River not too far from here or any small stream on the
far from here or any small stream on the
far from here or any small stream on the earth rounded pebbles and gravels and
earth rounded pebbles and gravels and
earth rounded pebbles and gravels and this rock and others like it as we
this rock and others like it as we
this rock and others like it as we explored the surface of Mars gave us
explored the surface of Mars gave us
explored the surface of Mars gave us very strong evidence that this
very strong evidence that this
very strong evidence that this represents an ancient streambed of a
represents an ancient streambed of a
represents an ancient streambed of a river that was active billions of years
river that was active billions of years
river that was active billions of years ago on the surface of this planet and we
ago on the surface of this planet and we
ago on the surface of this planet and we had liquid flowing water across Gale
had liquid flowing water across Gale
had liquid flowing water across Gale Crater
and so there’s a couple of features here
and so there’s a couple of features here that really bring that experience back
that really bring that experience back
that really bring that experience back to us on earth both for the scientists
to us on earth both for the scientists
to us on earth both for the scientists who have to interpret that geology and
who have to interpret that geology and
who have to interpret that geology and to communicate those results to all of
to communicate those results to all of
to communicate those results to all of you members of the public and share the
you members of the public and share the
you members of the public and share the surface of Mars with you and so again
surface of Mars with you and so again
surface of Mars with you and so again there’s a lot of features that mimic the
there’s a lot of features that mimic the
there’s a lot of features that mimic the qualities of our human visual senses so
qualities of our human visual senses so
qualities of our human visual senses so just like our own eyes we have two
just like our own eyes we have two
just like our own eyes we have two cameras on the Mars rover and those are
cameras on the Mars rover and those are
cameras on the Mars rover and those are mounted at a height that’s pretty
mounted at a height that’s pretty
mounted at a height that’s pretty similar about two meters off the ground
similar about two meters off the ground
similar about two meters off the ground pretty similar to the view you
pretty similar to the view you
pretty similar to the view you experience walking around the surface of
experience walking around the surface of
experience walking around the surface of the planet and then we have those that
the planet and then we have those that
the planet and then we have those that color information which is so important
color information which is so important
color information which is so important right so our own cone cells in our eyes
right so our own cone cells in our eyes
right so our own cone cells in our eyes with three cones L sensitive to red
with three cones L sensitive to red
with three cones L sensitive to red green and blue light and to mimic that
green and blue light and to mimic that
green and blue light and to mimic that we have color filters on our cameras
we have color filters on our cameras
we have color filters on our cameras that are sensitive to red green and blue
that are sensitive to red green and blue
that are sensitive to red green and blue light to bring that realistic color back
light to bring that realistic color back
light to bring that realistic color back to us on the earth and it’s been really
to us on the earth and it’s been really
to us on the earth and it’s been really interesting to experience that although
interesting to experience that although
interesting to experience that although we have tons of other science
we have tons of other science
we have tons of other science instruments we have even a number of
instruments we have even a number of
instruments we have even a number of additional color filters that can sense
additional color filters that can sense
additional color filters that can sense out into the infrared beyond what our
out into the infrared beyond what our
out into the infrared beyond what our own eyes can see but those three colors
own eyes can see but those three colors
own eyes can see but those three colors which have been present on every single
which have been present on every single
which have been present on every single mission sent to the surface of Mars to
mission sent to the surface of Mars to
mission sent to the surface of Mars to date many other planetary missions to
date many other planetary missions to
date many other planetary missions to other bodies the red green and blue is
other bodies the red green and blue is
other bodies the red green and blue is how we process that visual information
how we process that visual information
how we process that visual information and it’s so important in order to
and it’s so important in order to
and it’s so important in order to understand what that place is really
understand what that place is really
understand what that place is really like and we can play one other trick
like and we can play one other trick
like and we can play one other trick here so now this is one of my favorite
here so now this is one of my favorite
here so now this is one of my favorite images of Gale Crater to date this is
images of Gale Crater to date this is
images of Gale Crater to date this is now mount sharp in higher resolution you
now mount sharp in higher resolution you
now mount sharp in higher resolution you can see these beautiful layered rocks
can see these beautiful layered rocks
can see these beautiful layered rocks exposed in the foothills here and you’ll
exposed in the foothills here and you’ll
exposed in the foothills here and you’ll notice that the sky is blue in this
notice that the sky is blue in this
notice that the sky is blue in this image rather than the typical pinkish
image rather than the typical pinkish
image rather than the typical pinkish dusty sky of Mars and what we’ve done
dusty sky of Mars and what we’ve done
dusty sky of Mars and what we’ve done here is actually alter the white balance
here is actually alter the white balance
here is actually alter the white balance of the image in order to replicate what
of the image in order to replicate what
of the image in order to replicate what these rocks would look like under earth
these rocks would look like under earth
these rocks would look like under earth illumination because that’s where we’ve
illumination because that’s where we’ve
illumination because that’s where we’ve calibrated all of our geological
calibrated all of our geological
calibrated all of our geological knowledge over years of wandering around
knowledge over years of wandering around
knowledge over years of wandering around deserts on the earth and this is what
deserts on the earth and this is what
deserts on the earth and this is what those raw
those raw
those raw would look like calibrated to our own
would look like calibrated to our own
would look like calibrated to our own visual systems okay so you can put the
visual systems okay so you can put the
visual systems okay so you can put the 3d glasses back on and again this is one
3d glasses back on and again this is one
3d glasses back on and again this is one of my favorite images what you’ll see
of my favorite images what you’ll see
of my favorite images what you’ll see here you can see some detail using the
here you can see some detail using the
here you can see some detail using the three-dimensional imaging system now
three-dimensional imaging system now
three-dimensional imaging system now only in black and white and what you can
only in black and white and what you can
only in black and white and what you can see here are ridges of sandstones very
see here are ridges of sandstones very
see here are ridges of sandstones very similar to what you might see in the
similar to what you might see in the
similar to what you might see in the desert southwest in the u.s. sloping
desert southwest in the u.s. sloping
desert southwest in the u.s. sloping away from the camera here up towards the
away from the camera here up towards the
away from the camera here up towards the foothills of Mount sharp off in the
foothills of Mount sharp off in the
foothills of Mount sharp off in the distance and part of my scientific
distance and part of my scientific
distance and part of my scientific interest on the mission is understanding
interest on the mission is understanding
interest on the mission is understanding what the three-dimensional relationships
what the three-dimensional relationships
what the three-dimensional relationships of these rocks can tell us about the
of these rocks can tell us about the
of these rocks can tell us about the ancient climate how water was moving
ancient climate how water was moving
ancient climate how water was moving around depositing that sediment and
around depositing that sediment and
around depositing that sediment and leaving it on the surface and here’s one
leaving it on the surface and here’s one
leaving it on the surface and here’s one other image again in 3d we’re looking up
other image again in 3d we’re looking up
other image again in 3d we’re looking up at a rock here now on the 850 fifth day
at a rock here now on the 850 fifth day
at a rock here now on the 850 fifth day of the mission we’re on about fifteen
of the mission we’re on about fifteen
of the mission we’re on about fifteen fifty or so now and we’re looking up at
fifty or so now and we’re looking up at
fifty or so now and we’re looking up at again a view of layers that are
again a view of layers that are
again a view of layers that are hopefully recording information about
hopefully recording information about
hopefully recording information about those ancient surface conditions on Mars
those ancient surface conditions on Mars
those ancient surface conditions on Mars that we’re trying to read layer by layer
that we’re trying to read layer by layer
that we’re trying to read layer by layer to understand what that planet was like
to understand what that planet was like
to understand what that planet was like whether it was habitable and whether the
whether it was habitable and whether the
whether it was habitable and whether the conditions were ever right for life to
conditions were ever right for life to
conditions were ever right for life to arise and so here we are with curiosity
arise and so here we are with curiosity
arise and so here we are with curiosity this is still in 3d and now this is from
this is still in 3d and now this is from
this is still in 3d and now this is from overhead looking down at our little r
overhead looking down at our little r
overhead looking down at our little r over there which you can see this is a
over there which you can see this is a
over there which you can see this is a very high resolution image taken from
very high resolution image taken from
very high resolution image taken from orbit and we’re continuing to explore
orbit and we’re continuing to explore
orbit and we’re continuing to explore the Martian surface driving around from
the Martian surface driving around from
the Martian surface driving around from outcrop to outcrop but now looking back
outcrop to outcrop but now looking back
outcrop to outcrop but now looking back at this image I hope you can understand
at this image I hope you can understand
at this image I hope you can understand the importance of having those eyes on
the importance of having those eyes on
the importance of having those eyes on the ground and the difference in the
the ground and the difference in the
the ground and the difference in the experience it gives you in understanding
experience it gives you in understanding
experience it gives you in understanding the surface of Mars so I’ll leave you
the surface of Mars so I’ll leave you
the surface of Mars so I’ll leave you with two thoughts first I want to say
with two thoughts first I want to say
with two thoughts first I want to say that I think we will send humans to Mars
that I think we will send humans to Mars
that I think we will send humans to Mars one day even though we have fantastic
one day even though we have fantastic
one day even though we have fantastic Rovers that are able to do incredible
Rovers that are able to do incredible
Rovers that are able to do incredible things on the surface of Mars I think if
things on the surface of Mars I think if
things on the surface of Mars I think if you can imagine just from your own
you can imagine just from your own
you can imagine just from your own experience a postcard simply will never
experience a postcard simply will never
experience a postcard simply will never be good enough to translate the
be good enough to translate the
be good enough to translate the information of a place a picture of the
information of a place a picture of the
information of a place a picture of the Grand Canyon can never replicate the
Grand Canyon can never replicate the
Grand Canyon can never replicate the experience of going there standing on
experience of going there standing on
experience of going there standing on the rim
the rim
the rim and looking down into that chasm right
and looking down into that chasm right
and looking down into that chasm right and so for Mars having robots will never
and so for Mars having robots will never
and so for Mars having robots will never satisfy our curiosity to go there and
satisfy our curiosity to go there and
satisfy our curiosity to go there and see it with our own eyes and second I
see it with our own eyes and second I
see it with our own eyes and second I want to say that this importance of the
want to say that this importance of the
want to say that this importance of the human experience and our human sensory
human experience and our human sensory
human experience and our human sensory experience is no in no way limited to
experience is no in no way limited to
experience is no in no way limited to exploring Mars this is important in your
exploring Mars this is important in your
exploring Mars this is important in your own life as well and I think you know a
own life as well and I think you know a
own life as well and I think you know a lot of the division in the world today
lot of the division in the world today
lot of the division in the world today that we experience is derives from a
that we experience is derives from a
that we experience is derives from a lack of shared human experience and so
lack of shared human experience and so
lack of shared human experience and so what I would encourage you to do is
what I would encourage you to do is
what I would encourage you to do is rather than simply viewing the world
rather than simply viewing the world
rather than simply viewing the world through the lens of photographs and
through the lens of photographs and
through the lens of photographs and articles that you read to go out and
articles that you read to go out and
articles that you read to go out and experience the world meet people talk to
experience the world meet people talk to
experience the world meet people talk to them share human experiences and explore
them share human experiences and explore
them share human experiences and explore this world for yourself and who knows if
this world for yourself and who knows if
this world for yourself and who knows if you’re really ambitious we still will
you’re really ambitious we still will
you’re really ambitious we still will need a first human to set foot on Mars
need a first human to set foot on Mars
need a first human to set foot on Mars and see it with your own eyes thank you
and see it with your own eyes thank you
and see it with your own eyes thank you for having me
for having me
for having me [Applause]
”
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