so this morning I’m going to tell you the story of two worlds and we’re going
the story of two worlds and we’re going
the story of two worlds and we’re going to begin here with our own so so how
to begin here with our own so so how
to begin here with our own so so how many of you in the audience have seen
many of you in the audience have seen
many of you in the audience have seen this picture before yeah fairly
this picture before yeah fairly
this picture before yeah fairly Universal right this is one of the
Universal right this is one of the
Universal right this is one of the iconic images of the space program how
iconic images of the space program how
iconic images of the space program how many of you were alive when this picture
many of you were alive when this picture
many of you were alive when this picture was taken okay a fewer fewer number in
was taken okay a fewer fewer number in
was taken okay a fewer fewer number in the audience so I too was not alive when
the audience so I too was not alive when
the audience so I too was not alive when this picture was taken nevertheless has
this picture was taken nevertheless has
this picture was taken nevertheless has had an extraordinary impact on my career
had an extraordinary impact on my career
had an extraordinary impact on my career motivating what I do and it’s a study of
motivating what I do and it’s a study of
motivating what I do and it’s a study of contrast right so here we have the
contrast right so here we have the
contrast right so here we have the beautiful orb of our own earth you can
beautiful orb of our own earth you can
beautiful orb of our own earth you can make out the clouds you make out the
make out the clouds you make out the
make out the clouds you make out the water and you know that there’s this
water and you know that there’s this
water and you know that there’s this beautiful amazing system of ecosystems
beautiful amazing system of ecosystems
beautiful amazing system of ecosystems in life all across this planet
in life all across this planet
in life all across this planet contrasting that with the lifeless
contrasting that with the lifeless
contrasting that with the lifeless cratered surface of the Moon and you
cratered surface of the Moon and you
cratered surface of the Moon and you realize how precious this world really
realize how precious this world really
realize how precious this world really is to us but what is it that allows some
is to us but what is it that allows some
is to us but what is it that allows some planets to sustain environments that
planets to sustain environments that
planets to sustain environments that support life what is it that makes some
support life what is it that makes some
support life what is it that makes some planets habitable why do they exist in a
planets habitable why do they exist in a
planets habitable why do they exist in a way that they could host life for
way that they could host life for
way that they could host life for billions of years and others don’t so
billions of years and others don’t so
billions of years and others don’t so that takes me to the second world and
that takes me to the second world and
that takes me to the second world and that is Mars so it’s not a photo of Mars
that is Mars so it’s not a photo of Mars
that is Mars so it’s not a photo of Mars this is a topographic image of Mars I’ve
this is a topographic image of Mars I’ve
this is a topographic image of Mars I’ve rotated the planet so that you’re
rotated the planet so that you’re
rotated the planet so that you’re looking down into the the low northern
looking down into the the low northern
looking down into the the low northern plains and right and you can see these
plains and right and you can see these
plains and right and you can see these rivers in these channels sneaking into
rivers in these channels sneaking into
rivers in these channels sneaking into this low basin and you think wow did
this low basin and you think wow did
this low basin and you think wow did that have an ocean it sure looks like it
that have an ocean it sure looks like it
that have an ocean it sure looks like it had rivers and yes we now know yes it
had rivers and yes we now know yes it
had rivers and yes we now know yes it did indeed have rivers but those of you
did indeed have rivers but those of you
did indeed have rivers but those of you who have been following the Mars story a
who have been following the Mars story a
who have been following the Mars story a little forth planet out from the Sun our
little forth planet out from the Sun our
little forth planet out from the Sun our neighbor you know though that it is cold
neighbor you know though that it is cold
neighbor you know though that it is cold it is dry the atmosphere is incredibly
it is dry the atmosphere is incredibly
it is dry the atmosphere is incredibly thin and liquid water does not exist in
thin and liquid water does not exist in
thin and liquid water does not exist in a long-term sustainable way on the
a long-term sustainable way on the
a long-term sustainable way on the surface of Mars today okay and so the
surface of Mars today okay and so the
surface of Mars today okay and so the question is why what
question is why what
question is why what happened okay did Mars once look much
happened okay did Mars once look much
happened okay did Mars once look much like Earth and what caused it to change
like Earth and what caused it to change
like Earth and what caused it to change we know at least it had rivers why did
we know at least it had rivers why did
we know at least it had rivers why did it lose that why did it lose its ability
it lose that why did it lose its ability
it lose that why did it lose its ability to hold water so those are the questions
to hold water so those are the questions
to hold water so those are the questions that really motivate my research so to
that really motivate my research so to
that really motivate my research so to place this all in a little bit of
place this all in a little bit of
place this all in a little bit of context so I’m a geologist so time to me
context so I’m a geologist so time to me
context so I’m a geologist so time to me you know we’re talking hours we’re
you know we’re talking hours we’re
you know we’re talking hours we’re talking years we’re talking centuries
talking years we’re talking centuries
talking years we’re talking centuries now it’s so about millions and billions
now it’s so about millions and billions
now it’s so about millions and billions of years and so let me give you just a
of years and so let me give you just a
of years and so let me give you just a little bit of a brief history of what’s
little bit of a brief history of what’s
little bit of a brief history of what’s going on at the time we think Mars had
going on at the time we think Mars had
going on at the time we think Mars had water and some critical points birth so
water and some critical points birth so
water and some critical points birth so up in the corner there so we’ve got the
up in the corner there so we’ve got the
up in the corner there so we’ve got the timeline coming across we have in the
timeline coming across we have in the
timeline coming across we have in the very early part of solar system history
very early part of solar system history
very early part of solar system history late heavy bombardment
late heavy bombardment
late heavy bombardment so meteorites smashing into the surfaces
so meteorites smashing into the surfaces
so meteorites smashing into the surfaces of all the planets building these
of all the planets building these
of all the planets building these planets I have here just the names we
planets I have here just the names we
planets I have here just the names we geologists use to denote epochs but
geologists use to denote epochs but
geologists use to denote epochs but think about this graph in terms of time
think about this graph in terms of time
think about this graph in terms of time so our first rocks on earth are not from
so our first rocks on earth are not from
so our first rocks on earth are not from the very beginning but we have the
the very beginning but we have the
the very beginning but we have the oldest mineral of zircon we have the
oldest mineral of zircon we have the
oldest mineral of zircon we have the oldest rock dating from about four
oldest rock dating from about four
oldest rock dating from about four billion years ago so about 500 million
billion years ago so about 500 million
billion years ago so about 500 million years into our planets history we get
years into our planets history we get
years into our planets history we get our first rock as a clue
our first rock as a clue
our first rock as a clue then coming online at about 3.8 billion
then coming online at about 3.8 billion
then coming online at about 3.8 billion years or so ago we have the first
years or so ago we have the first
years or so ago we have the first evidence of a rock that is a green stone
evidence of a rock that is a green stone
evidence of a rock that is a green stone belt that looks like it’s been formed
belt that looks like it’s been formed
belt that looks like it’s been formed and what laid down in liquid water
and what laid down in liquid water
and what laid down in liquid water shortly after that we have evidence for
shortly after that we have evidence for
shortly after that we have evidence for the oldest fossil life 3.5 billion years
the oldest fossil life 3.5 billion years
the oldest fossil life 3.5 billion years ago these little small microbes little
ago these little small microbes little
ago these little small microbes little fossils preserved in the rocks in
fossils preserved in the rocks in
fossils preserved in the rocks in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia so 1 billion years after the start of
so 1 billion years after the start of
so 1 billion years after the start of our planet we had life it’s not until
our planet we had life it’s not until
our planet we had life it’s not until much much later 2 billion years that our
much much later 2 billion years that our
much much later 2 billion years that our atmosphere had the oxygen that we
atmosphere had the oxygen that we
atmosphere had the oxygen that we breathe that allowed more complex
breathe that allowed more complex
breathe that allowed more complex life-forms to evolve all these different
life-forms to evolve all these different
life-forms to evolve all these different metabolisms including our own that takes
metabolisms including our own that takes
metabolisms including our own that takes oxygen that wasn’t even there until
oxygen that wasn’t even there until
oxygen that wasn’t even there until about about 2.3 billion years ago or so
about about 2.3 billion years ago or so
about about 2.3 billion years ago or so so that’s a brief history of our own
so that’s a brief history of our own
so that’s a brief history of our own planet we’re limited in our ability to
planet we’re limited in our ability to
planet we’re limited in our ability to understand that really earliest critical
understand that really earliest critical
understand that really earliest critical period though about what was happening
period though about what was happening
period though about what was happening in the solar system what is the early
in the solar system what is the early
in the solar system what is the early history of a terrestrial planet like by
history of a terrestrial planet like by
history of a terrestrial planet like by virtue the fact that we have these
virtue the fact that we have these
virtue the fact that we have these amazing plate tectonics system that
amazing plate tectonics system that
amazing plate tectonics system that recycle crust
recycle crust
recycle crust build mountains this is this is
build mountains this is this is
build mountains this is this is wonderful for geologists to study but it
wonderful for geologists to study but it
wonderful for geologists to study but it also means that the rock record from
also means that the rock record from
also means that the rock record from that earliest period is destroyed and
that earliest period is destroyed and
that earliest period is destroyed and far less than 1% remains now as a
far less than 1% remains now as a
far less than 1% remains now as a planetary geologist I’m very fortunate I
planetary geologist I’m very fortunate I
planetary geologist I’m very fortunate I can look to other worlds for clues about
can look to other worlds for clues about
can look to other worlds for clues about what was going on during the first
what was going on during the first
what was going on during the first billion years of solar system history so
billion years of solar system history so
billion years of solar system history so that takes us to Mars where over the
that takes us to Mars where over the
that takes us to Mars where over the last 10 years we’ve learned that at
last 10 years we’ve learned that at
last 10 years we’ve learned that at different points in history Mars had
different points in history Mars had
different points in history Mars had rivers and lakes Mars had catastrophic
rivers and lakes Mars had catastrophic
rivers and lakes Mars had catastrophic outflow channels releasing large volumes
outflow channels releasing large volumes
outflow channels releasing large volumes of water and Mars had a number of
of water and Mars had a number of
of water and Mars had a number of environments that we would recognize
environments that we would recognize
environments that we would recognize today on earth hydrothermal systems lake
today on earth hydrothermal systems lake
today on earth hydrothermal systems lake basins groundwater systems that city
basins groundwater systems that city
basins groundwater systems that city core not if we found these on earth
core not if we found these on earth
core not if we found these on earth today they would be places where we
today they would be places where we
today they would be places where we would find life so how do we know all
would find life so how do we know all
would find life so how do we know all this well over the last decades and
this well over the last decades and
this well over the last decades and accelerating really in the last 10 to 15
accelerating really in the last 10 to 15
accelerating really in the last 10 to 15 years NASA and the European Space Agency
years NASA and the European Space Agency
years NASA and the European Space Agency have found a number of orbiter missions
have found a number of orbiter missions
have found a number of orbiter missions in the first instance we know about the
in the first instance we know about the
in the first instance we know about the Rovers but let’s take a look at the
Rovers but let’s take a look at the
Rovers but let’s take a look at the orbiters so with increasing spatial
orbiters so with increasing spatial
orbiters so with increasing spatial resolution we zoom into the planet this
resolution we zoom into the planet this
resolution we zoom into the planet this is a fracture system called Nili fossae
is a fracture system called Nili fossae
is a fracture system called Nili fossae successive generations of orbiters
successive generations of orbiters
successive generations of orbiters better and better images you’ll see this
better and better images you’ll see this
better and better images you’ll see this image get colored in a moment so we have
image get colored in a moment so we have
image get colored in a moment so we have channel systems that flow down into this
channel systems that flow down into this
channel systems that flow down into this fracture we’re going to zoom in now to a
fracture we’re going to zoom in now to a
fracture we’re going to zoom in now to a very small area a little postage stamp
very small area a little postage stamp
very small area a little postage stamp on the surface where we also have
on the surface where we also have
on the surface where we also have mineralogical data we use hyperspectral
mineralogical data we use hyperspectral
mineralogical data we use hyperspectral sensors infrared data from orbit to map
sensors infrared data from orbit to map
sensors infrared data from orbit to map out minerals we can get down to an image
out minerals we can get down to an image
out minerals we can get down to an image resolution of 25 centimeters per pixel
resolution of 25 centimeters per pixel
resolution of 25 centimeters per pixel and you can start to see all the details
and you can start to see all the details
and you can start to see all the details of the landscape emerge right so we’re
of the landscape emerge right so we’re
of the landscape emerge right so we’re now at the stage that we’re kind of able
now at the stage that we’re kind of able
now at the stage that we’re kind of able to do geology on Mars as if we were
to do geology on Mars as if we were
to do geology on Mars as if we were standing on the other rim of the Grand
standing on the other rim of the Grand
standing on the other rim of the Grand Canyon kind of looking out at the layers
Canyon kind of looking out at the layers
Canyon kind of looking out at the layers of the rocks I’ll use the word
of the rocks I’ll use the word
of the rocks I’ll use the word stratigraphy the stacking of different
stratigraphy the stacking of different
stratigraphy the stacking of different rock units here the colors mean that
rock units here the colors mean that
rock units here the colors mean that they’re made out of different minerals
they’re made out of different minerals
they’re made out of different minerals the key unit here is this blue unit it’s
the key unit here is this blue unit it’s
the key unit here is this blue unit it’s a unit that is rich in clay minerals and
a unit that is rich in clay minerals and
a unit that is rich in clay minerals and in this particular unit you can see
in this particular unit you can see
in this particular unit you can see these these ridges you can see layers
these these ridges you can see layers
these these ridges you can see layers right even within that blue unit you can
right even within that blue unit you can
right even within that blue unit you can also see these ridges running through it
also see these ridges running through it
also see these ridges running through it well based on the minerals these iron
well based on the minerals these iron
well based on the minerals these iron magnesium clays it’s made out of along
magnesium clays it’s made out of along
magnesium clays it’s made out of along with the morphology of the ridges
with the morphology of the ridges
with the morphology of the ridges we’ve inferred that the 600 meter stack
we’ve inferred that the 600 meter stack
we’ve inferred that the 600 meter stack of sediments was was altered by
of sediments was was altered by
of sediments was was altered by hydrothermal fluids flowing through it
hydrothermal fluids flowing through it
hydrothermal fluids flowing through it altering the rock creating these zones
altering the rock creating these zones
altering the rock creating these zones where liquid hot liquid water flowed in
where liquid hot liquid water flowed in
where liquid hot liquid water flowed in conduits and this would have been a
conduits and this would have been a
conduits and this would have been a great habitat for some of these these
great habitat for some of these these
great habitat for some of these these hydrothermal microbial organisms that we
hydrothermal microbial organisms that we
hydrothermal microbial organisms that we see on earth I’ll just take you in a
see on earth I’ll just take you in a
see on earth I’ll just take you in a little picture tour of Mars this is
little picture tour of Mars this is
little picture tour of Mars this is another location sort of Mars’s art here
another location sort of Mars’s art here
another location sort of Mars’s art here but this is another mapping of minerals
but this is another mapping of minerals
but this is another mapping of minerals in a different region of Mars Mars
in a different region of Mars Mars
in a different region of Mars Mars phallus that bluish whitish layer that
phallus that bluish whitish layer that
phallus that bluish whitish layer that you see is in fact a paleo soil an
you see is in fact a paleo soil an
you see is in fact a paleo soil an ancient soil formed on the surface of
ancient soil formed on the surface of
ancient soil formed on the surface of Mars by water interacting near the
Mars by water interacting near the
Mars by water interacting near the surface this one’s a little bit easier
surface this one’s a little bit easier
surface this one’s a little bit easier to understand it looks for all the world
to understand it looks for all the world
to understand it looks for all the world like the Mississippi Delta right well
like the Mississippi Delta right well
like the Mississippi Delta right well that that is in fact it is in fact a
that that is in fact it is in fact a
that that is in fact it is in fact a Delta it’s in a large crater the jezero
Delta it’s in a large crater the jezero
Delta it’s in a large crater the jezero crater so this is the jezero crater
crater so this is the jezero crater
crater so this is the jezero crater Delta and you can see the channel
Delta and you can see the channel
Delta and you can see the channel heading down here and thence playing out
heading down here and thence playing out
heading down here and thence playing out into this bird’s foot group sediments
into this bird’s foot group sediments
into this bird’s foot group sediments that have clay minerals there’s another
that have clay minerals there’s another
that have clay minerals there’s another type of environment this sort of dry
type of environment this sort of dry
type of environment this sort of dry lake environment so this is a crater and
lake environment so this is a crater and
lake environment so this is a crater and data is a little fuzzier we don’t have
data is a little fuzzier we don’t have
data is a little fuzzier we don’t have complete coverage of this one yet but so
complete coverage of this one yet but so
complete coverage of this one yet but so it’s also a basin I’m pointing out a
it’s also a basin I’m pointing out a
it’s also a basin I’m pointing out a channel heading into it and you can see
channel heading into it and you can see
channel heading into it and you can see that at the so I’m mapping the minerals
that at the so I’m mapping the minerals
that at the so I’m mapping the minerals and you can see there’s been a bathtub
and you can see there’s been a bathtub
and you can see there’s been a bathtub ring of salts and clay minerals that
ring of salts and clay minerals that
ring of salts and clay minerals that have been left behind is the water that
have been left behind is the water that
have been left behind is the water that was once in this crater evaporated
was once in this crater evaporated
was once in this crater evaporated similar to what you’d get in in desert
similar to what you’d get in in desert
similar to what you’d get in in desert environments and finally you may you may
environments and finally you may you may
environments and finally you may you may have seen pictures like this before this
have seen pictures like this before this
have seen pictures like this before this is from the Meridiani site where the
is from the Meridiani site where the
is from the Meridiani site where the opportunity rover landed in 2004 and as
opportunity rover landed in 2004 and as
opportunity rover landed in 2004 and as we look in that rock record that’s
we look in that rock record that’s
we look in that rock record that’s stratigraphy at small-scale now from the
stratigraphy at small-scale now from the
stratigraphy at small-scale now from the ground we’re able to look at a scale of
ground we’re able to look at a scale of
ground we’re able to look at a scale of centimeters and you can see that in the
centimeters and you can see that in the
centimeters and you can see that in the rock record these little ripple marks
rock record these little ripple marks
rock record these little ripple marks particularly on the on the upper
particularly on the on the upper
particularly on the on the upper right-hand side of this image so there
right-hand side of this image so there
right-hand side of this image so there is evidence of flowing water here at
is evidence of flowing water here at
is evidence of flowing water here at this location acid ground waters coming
this location acid ground waters coming
this location acid ground waters coming in shallow pools formed flowing water
in shallow pools formed flowing water
in shallow pools formed flowing water but then evaporation and deposition of
but then evaporation and deposition of
but then evaporation and deposition of salt so were these environment these are
salt so were these environment these are
salt so were these environment these are all environments with water but were
all environments with water but were
all environments with water but were these environments of our habitats for
these environments of our habitats for
these environments of our habitats for life so to understand this question it
life so to understand this question it
life so to understand this question it actually requires going back to our own
actually requires going back to our own
actually requires going back to our own planet
planet
planet set of amazing discoveries over the last
set of amazing discoveries over the last
set of amazing discoveries over the last few decades has been about life in
few decades has been about life in
few decades has been about life in extreme environments so that is those
extreme environments so that is those
extreme environments so that is those places on earth that are inhospitable
places on earth that are inhospitable
places on earth that are inhospitable but nevertheless there are organisms
but nevertheless there are organisms
but nevertheless there are organisms that have evolved to take advantage of
that have evolved to take advantage of
that have evolved to take advantage of these situations this is an acid saline
these situations this is an acid saline
these situations this is an acid saline lake in Australia its pH is about 3.5
lake in Australia its pH is about 3.5
lake in Australia its pH is about 3.5 nevertheless in the salt crusts and the
nevertheless in the salt crusts and the
nevertheless in the salt crusts and the iron oxides on the surface we see
iron oxides on the surface we see
iron oxides on the surface we see microbial life was there with the
microbial life was there with the
microbial life was there with the colleague Sarah Johnson from Harvard
colleague Sarah Johnson from Harvard
colleague Sarah Johnson from Harvard sampling microbial life and we also take
sampling microbial life and we also take
sampling microbial life and we also take samples of the mineralogy
samples of the mineralogy
samples of the mineralogy so to understand exactly okay how would
so to understand exactly okay how would
so to understand exactly okay how would we recognize this environment if we see
we recognize this environment if we see
we recognize this environment if we see it on Mars that backpack I’m wearing has
it on Mars that backpack I’m wearing has
it on Mars that backpack I’m wearing has a spectrometer that’s similar to those
a spectrometer that’s similar to those
a spectrometer that’s similar to those that are flying in orbit collects
that are flying in orbit collects
that are flying in orbit collects hyperspectral information on the
hyperspectral information on the
hyperspectral information on the mineralogy of the rocks we also go to
mineralogy of the rocks we also go to
mineralogy of the rocks we also go to other types of extreme environments this
other types of extreme environments this
other types of extreme environments this is the Askia volcano in Iceland that
is the Askia volcano in Iceland that
is the Askia volcano in Iceland that caldera Lake within and we did some
caldera Lake within and we did some
caldera Lake within and we did some works here again sampling the rock
works here again sampling the rock
works here again sampling the rock record sampling the mineralogy trying to
record sampling the mineralogy trying to
record sampling the mineralogy trying to understand what it is that lives there
understand what it is that lives there
understand what it is that lives there how it’s sustained but also how it is
how it’s sustained but also how it is
how it’s sustained but also how it is recorded so how we were able to
recorded so how we were able to
recorded so how we were able to recognize environments like this on Mars
recognize environments like this on Mars
recognize environments like this on Mars so now we’ve learned something from
so now we’ve learned something from
so now we’ve learned something from Earth we’ve learned that everywhere on
Earth we’ve learned that everywhere on
Earth we’ve learned that everywhere on earth where there is water there’s life
earth where there is water there’s life
earth where there is water there’s life ekang out of existence so now were these
ekang out of existence so now were these
ekang out of existence so now were these Mars environments that we see habitats
Mars environments that we see habitats
Mars environments that we see habitats for life to do that we have to head back
for life to do that we have to head back
for life to do that we have to head back to the our other world and we do this
to the our other world and we do this
to the our other world and we do this with Rovers on the surface so how many
with Rovers on the surface so how many
with Rovers on the surface so how many of you were watching in August as this
of you were watching in August as this
of you were watching in August as this Rover headed to the surface was anyone
Rover headed to the surface was anyone
Rover headed to the surface was anyone watching that web feed it was pretty
watching that web feed it was pretty
watching that web feed it was pretty exciting stuff right and in an amazing
exciting stuff right and in an amazing
exciting stuff right and in an amazing success right we’re able to deliver a
success right we’re able to deliver a
success right we’re able to deliver a Rover to the surface of another planet
Rover to the surface of another planet
Rover to the surface of another planet well we’ve been busy in the intervening
well we’ve been busy in the intervening
well we’ve been busy in the intervening eight eight and a half months exploring
eight eight and a half months exploring
eight eight and a half months exploring the surface you can see in the in the
the surface you can see in the in the
the surface you can see in the in the lower corner of this image here you can
lower corner of this image here you can
lower corner of this image here you can see two drill holes from our exploration
see two drill holes from our exploration
see two drill holes from our exploration first time we’ve drilled about five
first time we’ve drilled about five
first time we’ve drilled about five centimeters down into the surface of
centimeters down into the surface of
centimeters down into the surface of another planet here so we have been
another planet here so we have been
another planet here so we have been exploring with a suite of instruments we
exploring with a suite of instruments we
exploring with a suite of instruments we were investigating the rocks right in
were investigating the rocks right in
were investigating the rocks right in front of us you can see sort of
front of us you can see sort of
front of us you can see sort of different sedimentary rock units full of
different sedimentary rock units full of
different sedimentary rock units full of clays in an ancient riverbed and perhaps
clays in an ancient riverbed and perhaps
clays in an ancient riverbed and perhaps ancient lake in
ancient lake in
ancient lake in a large crater Gale Crater so we’ve been
a large crater Gale Crater so we’ve been
a large crater Gale Crater so we’ve been studying very carefully now at high
studying very carefully now at high
studying very carefully now at high highs with the high-resolution images
highs with the high-resolution images
highs with the high-resolution images with mineralogy with chemistry we’re
with mineralogy with chemistry we’re
with mineralogy with chemistry we’re hunting for organic molecules that might
hunting for organic molecules that might
hunting for organic molecules that might be with the recorders of microbes that
be with the recorders of microbes that
be with the recorders of microbes that lived within these sediments and so
lived within these sediments and so
lived within these sediments and so we’ve finished up our explorations and
we’ve finished up our explorations and
we’ve finished up our explorations and we’re now getting driving and what’s
we’re now getting driving and what’s
we’re now getting driving and what’s what’s the destination well of course
what’s the destination well of course
what’s the destination well of course it’s the mountain right so we’re headed
it’s the mountain right so we’re headed
it’s the mountain right so we’re headed now toward this mountain Mount sharp and
now toward this mountain Mount sharp and
now toward this mountain Mount sharp and we’re going to start over the coming
we’re going to start over the coming
we’re going to start over the coming months continue to follow our
months continue to follow our
months continue to follow our explorations because you know the
explorations because you know the
explorations because you know the landing is to some people the end of the
landing is to some people the end of the
landing is to some people the end of the story yeah NASA made it but for those of
story yeah NASA made it but for those of
story yeah NASA made it but for those of us scientists and those of us exploring
us scientists and those of us exploring
us scientists and those of us exploring Mars it’s really just the beginning of
Mars it’s really just the beginning of
Mars it’s really just the beginning of the story so over the next year we’re
the story so over the next year we’re
the story so over the next year we’re going to be climbing the layers at the
going to be climbing the layers at the
going to be climbing the layers at the base of this mountain there are
base of this mountain there are
base of this mountain there are important minerals there we can see from
important minerals there we can see from
important minerals there we can see from orbit these different rock units
orbit these different rock units
orbit these different rock units recording different types of
recording different types of
recording different types of environmental change so we’re going to
environmental change so we’re going to
environmental change so we’re going to be driving up them trying to figure out
be driving up them trying to figure out
be driving up them trying to figure out what is the history how do we piece
what is the history how do we piece
what is the history how do we piece together this detective story about what
together this detective story about what
together this detective story about what happened on Mars and how its water rich
happened on Mars and how its water rich
happened on Mars and how its water rich environments changed and ultimately
environments changed and ultimately
environments changed and ultimately disappeared I’ll just play here a little
disappeared I’ll just play here a little
disappeared I’ll just play here a little kind of movie that shows a bit how we
kind of movie that shows a bit how we
kind of movie that shows a bit how we operated this was the rover has an arm
operated this was the rover has an arm
operated this was the rover has an arm and a set of instruments on the arm that
and a set of instruments on the arm that
and a set of instruments on the arm that do things like scoop to deliver samples
do things like scoop to deliver samples
do things like scoop to deliver samples into the rover so this is our very first
into the rover so this is our very first
into the rover so this is our very first scooping activity we wanted to
scooping activity we wanted to
scooping activity we wanted to investigate this sand dune here
investigate this sand dune here
investigate this sand dune here first of all so you can see the arm goes
first of all so you can see the arm goes
first of all so you can see the arm goes gets placed in the rover track then
gets placed in the rover track then
gets placed in the rover track then there’s a scoop that’s deployed
there’s a scoop that’s deployed
there’s a scoop that’s deployed collector samples so beneath the Mars
collector samples so beneath the Mars
collector samples so beneath the Mars dust we see that there’s a unaltered
dust we see that there’s a unaltered
dust we see that there’s a unaltered materials beneath this rusty Mars
materials beneath this rusty Mars
materials beneath this rusty Mars surface we wanted to agitate the scoop
surface we wanted to agitate the scoop
surface we wanted to agitate the scoop to understand you know what’s the
to understand you know what’s the
to understand you know what’s the particle size these are things that a
particle size these are things that a
particle size these are things that a geologist would reach up and you know
geologist would reach up and you know
geologist would reach up and you know just go like this and then but this
just go like this and then but this
just go like this and then but this takes this is a matter of about a week
takes this is a matter of about a week
takes this is a matter of about a week on Mars step by step doing the same
on Mars step by step doing the same
on Mars step by step doing the same things that you would do as a geologist
things that you would do as a geologist
things that you would do as a geologist in the field and so we we took a look at
in the field and so we we took a look at
in the field and so we we took a look at the scoop took a look at what’s been
the scoop took a look at what’s been
the scoop took a look at what’s been there we also delivered another sample
there we also delivered another sample
there we also delivered another sample into the rover where the chemical
into the rover where the chemical
into the rover where the chemical instruments got churning to understand
instruments got churning to understand
instruments got churning to understand the mineralogy whether they’re organics
the mineralogy whether they’re organics
the mineralogy whether they’re organics what it was made out of and that’s the
what it was made out of and that’s the
what it was made out of and that’s the same thing that we did with the mature
same thing that we did with the mature
same thing that we did with the mature real from that drill hole in the in the
real from that drill hole in the in the
real from that drill hole in the in the sediments so we’re not able I just told
sediments so we’re not able I just told
sediments so we’re not able I just told you it takes a week right to just go
you it takes a week right to just go
you it takes a week right to just go right so we are not able to do
right so we are not able to do
right so we are not able to do everything that we want to on Mars so
everything that we want to on Mars so
everything that we want to on Mars so the other thing we rely on is is remote
the other thing we rely on is is remote
the other thing we rely on is is remote instruments so we have a camera that’s
instruments so we have a camera that’s
instruments so we have a camera that’s great that gets these spectacular
great that gets these spectacular
great that gets these spectacular pictures the other thing we now have is
pictures the other thing we now have is
pictures the other thing we now have is instruments that get chemistry and
instruments that get chemistry and
instruments that get chemistry and mineralogy from a distance so can do
mineralogy from a distance so can do
mineralogy from a distance so can do sort of the types of analyses similar to
sort of the types of analyses similar to
sort of the types of analyses similar to those we do in the lab so an instrument
those we do in the lab so an instrument
those we do in the lab so an instrument that’s new for Mars if this is this
that’s new for Mars if this is this
that’s new for Mars if this is this laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy are
laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy are
laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy are trekking phasers and stuff but instead
trekking phasers and stuff but instead
trekking phasers and stuff but instead what we do is we create this little this
what we do is we create this little this
what we do is we create this little this little hole I’m pointing it out to you
little hole I’m pointing it out to you
little hole I’m pointing it out to you here this little little hole in the
here this little little hole in the
here this little little hole in the rocket will disrupt it so this plasma
rocket will disrupt it so this plasma
rocket will disrupt it so this plasma that’s created it has these emission
that’s created it has these emission
that’s created it has these emission lines that come off and we can get the
lines that come off and we can get the
lines that come off and we can get the elemental composition of the rocks from
elemental composition of the rocks from
elemental composition of the rocks from a distance by by looking at spectral
a distance by by looking at spectral
a distance by by looking at spectral information such as this and so so
information such as this and so so
information such as this and so so that’s the point where we’re not acting
that’s the point where we’re not acting
that’s the point where we’re not acting quite like geologists into the field
quite like geologists into the field
quite like geologists into the field where we take our samples go into the
where we take our samples go into the
where we take our samples go into the lab then back to the field in the lab
lab then back to the field in the lab
lab then back to the field in the lab but that technology development is a
but that technology development is a
but that technology development is a huge part of our exploration and our
huge part of our exploration and our
huge part of our exploration and our ability to access the stories and the
ability to access the stories and the
ability to access the stories and the discoveries on other worlds so this is
discoveries on other worlds so this is
discoveries on other worlds so this is in the lab testing that that chemcam
in the lab testing that that chemcam
in the lab testing that that chemcam instrument that fires its laser out of
instrument that fires its laser out of
instrument that fires its laser out of that location in the mast all of this
that location in the mast all of this
that location in the mast all of this effort the studies on earth these
effort the studies on earth these
effort the studies on earth these studies on Mars I see them as sort of
studies on Mars I see them as sort of
studies on Mars I see them as sort of looking forward to the future we cannot
looking forward to the future we cannot
looking forward to the future we cannot presently visit these worlds that we
presently visit these worlds that we
presently visit these worlds that we would like we would like to I would love
would like we would like to I would love
would like we would like to I would love love to do geology on the surface of
love to do geology on the surface of
love to do geology on the surface of Mars but the technologies we develop the
Mars but the technologies we develop the
Mars but the technologies we develop the robots we send they are our proxies
robots we send they are our proxies
robots we send they are our proxies they are the explorers they are our eyes
they are the explorers they are our eyes
they are the explorers they are our eyes as explorers of these other planets so I
as explorers of these other planets so I
as explorers of these other planets so I think you know one day in the future the
think you know one day in the future the
think you know one day in the future the the shadow of this Rover on the surface
the shadow of this Rover on the surface
the shadow of this Rover on the surface may in fact be a human shadow as we go
may in fact be a human shadow as we go
may in fact be a human shadow as we go forward to try to unravel this story
forward to try to unravel this story
forward to try to unravel this story about what is it that sustained life
about what is it that sustained life
about what is it that sustained life what is it that sustains habitats and
what is it that sustains habitats and
what is it that sustains habitats and are we alone out
are we alone out
are we alone out in the universe so thank you
”
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