well hello everyone it’s a delight for me to be here and to see all of you here
me to be here and to see all of you here
me to be here and to see all of you here and I think this is going to be a very
and I think this is going to be a very
and I think this is going to be a very interesting and pleasurable evening
interesting and pleasurable evening
interesting and pleasurable evening certainly will be for us so I want to
certainly will be for us so I want to
certainly will be for us so I want to start by telling you a little bit about
start by telling you a little bit about
start by telling you a little bit about Mars a head shot of Mars taken by the
Mars a head shot of Mars taken by the
Mars a head shot of Mars taken by the Hubble and showing in I think really
Hubble and showing in I think really
Hubble and showing in I think really wonderful detail what the place kind of
wonderful detail what the place kind of
wonderful detail what the place kind of looks like in the modern era when the
looks like in the modern era when the
looks like in the modern era when the Mariner flybys went past Mars they found
Mariner flybys went past Mars they found
Mariner flybys went past Mars they found some things that were really interesting
some things that were really interesting
some things that were really interesting deep canyons and so on that increased
deep canyons and so on that increased
deep canyons and so on that increased interest in sending a real sophisticated
interest in sending a real sophisticated
interest in sending a real sophisticated mission there and that resulted in the
mission there and that resulted in the
mission there and that resulted in the Vikings spaceships and before taking off
Vikings spaceships and before taking off
Vikings spaceships and before taking off you may recall Carl Sagan whose
you may recall Carl Sagan whose
you may recall Carl Sagan whose wonderful and incredibly talented person
wonderful and incredibly talented person
wonderful and incredibly talented person nonetheless wanted cameras on Viking to
nonetheless wanted cameras on Viking to
nonetheless wanted cameras on Viking to see the animals there was a great
see the animals there was a great
see the animals there was a great expectation that there was going to be
expectation that there was going to be
expectation that there was going to be not only life but like weird life big
not only life but like weird life big
not only life but like weird life big life you know
life you know
life you know cool life so when they arrived and they
cool life so when they arrived and they
cool life so when they arrived and they saw a lot of rocks what it was kind of
saw a lot of rocks what it was kind of
saw a lot of rocks what it was kind of disappointing and there was a big debate
disappointing and there was a big debate
disappointing and there was a big debate about whether or not there was any
about whether or not there was any
about whether or not there was any discovery of microbial life something
discovery of microbial life something
discovery of microbial life something that NASA itself has said no one of the
that NASA itself has said no one of the
that NASA itself has said no one of the PI’s says yes it all ended in both
PI’s says yes it all ended in both
PI’s says yes it all ended in both confusion and disappointment for the
confusion and disappointment for the
confusion and disappointment for the most part as a result Mars funding and
most part as a result Mars funding and
most part as a result Mars funding and Mars exploration took a serious dip and
Mars exploration took a serious dip and
Mars exploration took a serious dip and it wasn’t until 1997 that the next
it wasn’t until 1997 that the next
it wasn’t until 1997 that the next Lander came on to Mars by the way just
Lander came on to Mars by the way just
Lander came on to Mars by the way just an aside there have been six successful
an aside there have been six successful
an aside there have been six successful landings on Mars and without being
landings on Mars and without being
landings on Mars and without being nationalistic about this they’re all
nationalistic about this they’re all
nationalistic about this they’re all done by NASA it’s like what we do really
done by NASA it’s like what we do really
done by NASA it’s like what we do really really well putting that aside
putting that aside so in 97 the
putting that aside so in 97 the Sojourner arrives and then soon after
Sojourner arrives and then soon after
Sojourner arrives and then soon after the Spirit and Opportunity the two
the Spirit and Opportunity the two
the Spirit and Opportunity the two little plucky Rovers that could arrive
little plucky Rovers that could arrive
little plucky Rovers that could arrive and they just do all kinds of things
and they just do all kinds of things
and they just do all kinds of things however they did not have capabilities
however they did not have capabilities
however they did not have capabilities to do anything like what curiosity can
to do anything like what curiosity can
to do anything like what curiosity can do but before we get into curiosity I
do but before we get into curiosity I
do but before we get into curiosity I want to tell you a little bit about what
want to tell you a little bit about what
want to tell you a little bit about what they were what NASA and other and
they were what NASA and other and
they were what NASA and other and scientists were generally looking for
scientists were generally looking for
scientists were generally looking for which was remember the mantra of follow
which was remember the mantra of follow
which was remember the mantra of follow the water well initially that was like
the water well initially that was like
the water well initially that was like looking for little gullies and and
looking for little gullies and and
looking for little gullies and and looking for you know maybe little
looking for you know maybe little
looking for you know maybe little streams of spouts that were coming out
streams of spouts that were coming out
streams of spouts that were coming out in some way or signs that there had once
in some way or signs that there had once
in some way or signs that there had once been large catastrophic floods and so on
been large catastrophic floods and so on
been large catastrophic floods and so on but when first the Mars orbiter camera
but when first the Mars orbiter camera
but when first the Mars orbiter camera went up and then later high-rise and
went up and then later high-rise and
went up and then later high-rise and others they began seeing images like
others they began seeing images like
others they began seeing images like these which sure looks like a delta to
these which sure looks like a delta to
these which sure looks like a delta to me doesn’t it you know it’s like that
me doesn’t it you know it’s like that
me doesn’t it you know it’s like that could be the Amazon that could be the
could be the Amazon that could be the
could be the Amazon that could be the Potomac dried out badly dried out bad
Potomac dried out badly dried out bad
Potomac dried out badly dried out bad drought and the whole notion of follow
drought and the whole notion of follow
drought and the whole notion of follow the water took on a very different
the water took on a very different
the water took on a very different meaning because it was clear that there
meaning because it was clear that there
meaning because it was clear that there were signs many many signs that there
were signs many many signs that there
were signs many many signs that there was significant water that had run on
was significant water that had run on
was significant water that had run on the surface and all of the climate
the surface and all of the climate
the surface and all of the climate modeling said that wasn’t possible but
modeling said that wasn’t possible but
modeling said that wasn’t possible but yet it was the case also this picture
yet it was the case also this picture
yet it was the case also this picture which is not a Jackson Pollock but
which is not a Jackson Pollock but
which is not a Jackson Pollock but rather an an image of North Dallas which
rather an an image of North Dallas which
rather an an image of North Dallas which is one of the oldest sections of Mars
is one of the oldest sections of Mars
is one of the oldest sections of Mars and after it became clear that there
and after it became clear that there
and after it became clear that there were signs of water then they began
were signs of water then they began
were signs of water then they began looking for minerals there are classes
looking for minerals there are classes
looking for minerals there are classes of minerals that are formed only in
of minerals that are formed only in
of minerals that are formed only in water phyllosilicates which are clays
water phyllosilicates which are clays
water phyllosilicates which are clays sulfates some others and they began
sulfates some others and they began
sulfates some others and they began finding those so they had this orbital
finding those so they had this orbital
finding those so they had this orbital information
information
information now it was the time to do something
now it was the time to do something
now it was the time to do something called ground-truthing which is
called ground-truthing which is
called ground-truthing which is curiosity send curiosity to the ground
curiosity send curiosity to the ground
curiosity send curiosity to the ground and let’s see what happens
and let’s see what happens
and let’s see what happens this is the heatshield leaving you may
this is the heatshield leaving you may
this is the heatshield leaving you may recall that curiosity and its seven
recall that curiosity and its seven
recall that curiosity and its seven minutes of Terror will you hit the
minutes of Terror will you hit the
minutes of Terror will you hit the atmosphere at 32,000 miles an hour had
atmosphere at 32,000 miles an hour had
atmosphere at 32,000 miles an hour had seven minutes
seven minutes
seven minutes stop 2-0 here’s the sequence going down
stop 2-0 here’s the sequence going down
stop 2-0 here’s the sequence going down the black is indeed black sand alongside
the black is indeed black sand alongside
the black is indeed black sand alongside of Mount sharp which is the big mountain
of Mount sharp which is the big mountain
of Mount sharp which is the big mountain in the middle of the crater here the
in the middle of the crater here the
in the middle of the crater here the thrusters are going there about to lay
thrusters are going there about to lay
thrusters are going there about to lay on at this point it’s it’s largely the
on at this point it’s it’s largely the
on at this point it’s it’s largely the rover itself and the descent device and
rover itself and the descent device and
rover itself and the descent device and then first picture ever of an actual
then first picture ever of an actual
then first picture ever of an actual landing look at it that’s the that’s the
landing look at it that’s the that’s the
landing look at it that’s the that’s the tire right there that’s a tire of
tire right there that’s a tire of
tire right there that’s a tire of curiosity about to land and it did it
curiosity about to land and it did it
curiosity about to land and it did it became clear quite quite soon that this
became clear quite quite soon that this
became clear quite quite soon that this was that they landed in a place that was
was that they landed in a place that was
was that they landed in a place that was very different than other landing sites
very different than other landing sites
very different than other landing sites previously they found pebbles that were
previously they found pebbles that were
previously they found pebbles that were very interesting because they seemed to
very interesting because they seemed to
very interesting because they seemed to suggest the presence of water at some
suggest the presence of water at some
suggest the presence of water at some point they found other conglomerate
point they found other conglomerate
point they found other conglomerate rocks that that did the same and then
rocks that that did the same and then
rocks that that did the same and then also they were there was the proximity
also they were there was the proximity
also they were there was the proximity to what appeared to be a fossil stream
to what appeared to be a fossil stream
to what appeared to be a fossil stream all of which are kind of beyond cool
all of which are kind of beyond cool
all of which are kind of beyond cool from the perspective of people
from the perspective of people
from the perspective of people interested in Mars uh so and and the
interested in Mars uh so and and the
interested in Mars uh so and and the original plan was to go directly to
original plan was to go directly to
original plan was to go directly to Mount sharp which is this huge mountain
Mount sharp which is this huge mountain
Mount sharp which is this huge mountain in the middle a through mile high
in the middle a through mile high
in the middle a through mile high mountain in the middle of the crater but
mountain in the middle of the crater but
mountain in the middle of the crater but they decided against that and decided
they decided against that and decided
they decided against that and decided instead to take a detour to what turned
instead to take a detour to what turned
instead to take a detour to what turned out to be named Yellowknife Bay now look
out to be named Yellowknife Bay now look
out to be named Yellowknife Bay now look at this what does that look like a
at this what does that look like a
at this what does that look like a dried-up lake right what do you think it
dried-up lake right what do you think it
dried-up lake right what do you think it was a dried-up lake you know that’s kind
was a dried-up lake you know that’s kind
was a dried-up lake you know that’s kind of the conclusion that they came to
of the conclusion that they came to
of the conclusion that they came to probably nothing like this has ever been
probably nothing like this has ever been
probably nothing like this has ever been seen on Mars before or any other planet
seen on Mars before or any other planet
seen on Mars before or any other planet outside of the earth and it is an
outside of the earth and it is an
outside of the earth and it is an enormous breakthrough to your upper left
enormous breakthrough to your upper left
enormous breakthrough to your upper left is Mount sharp and that is
is Mount sharp and that is
is Mount sharp and that is where they didn’t go but they will they
where they didn’t go but they will they
where they didn’t go but they will they will go yeah because that’s what the
will go yeah because that’s what the
will go yeah because that’s what the program says you’re supposed to go to
program says you’re supposed to go to
program says you’re supposed to go to all right now the red planet right you
all right now the red planet right you
all right now the red planet right you know Mars the red planet every story
know Mars the red planet every story
know Mars the red planet every story except for mine say the Red Planet I say
except for mine say the Red Planet I say
except for mine say the Red Planet I say no it’s not red it has Rouge on it this
no it’s not red it has Rouge on it this
no it’s not red it has Rouge on it this this shows a rock that was run over by
this shows a rock that was run over by
this shows a rock that was run over by the rover and look what color it is
the rover and look what color it is
the rover and look what color it is inside blueish grey and it turns out
inside blueish grey and it turns out
inside blueish grey and it turns out that most of Mars is colors other than
that most of Mars is colors other than
that most of Mars is colors other than red that’s just an iron oxide dust that
red that’s just an iron oxide dust that
red that’s just an iron oxide dust that kind of covers things so the Red Planet
kind of covers things so the Red Planet
kind of covers things so the Red Planet I don’t think so the blue green planet
I don’t think so the blue green planet
I don’t think so the blue green planet maybe Curiosity has an array of
maybe Curiosity has an array of
maybe Curiosity has an array of instruments that are unlike anything
instruments that are unlike anything
instruments that are unlike anything that’s gone before this was obviously
that’s gone before this was obviously
that’s gone before this was obviously taken before they took off this is the
taken before they took off this is the
taken before they took off this is the arm set a seven feet long with a turret
arm set a seven feet long with a turret
arm set a seven feet long with a turret that has drilling equipment on it that
that has drilling equipment on it that
that has drilling equipment on it that has a camera on it that has a number of
has a camera on it that has a number of
has a camera on it that has a number of other instruments on it again nothing
other instruments on it again nothing
other instruments on it again nothing like this has ever gone to Mars really
like this has ever gone to Mars really
like this has ever gone to Mars really really hard you know to make this work
really hard you know to make this work
really hard you know to make this work very heavy this is the first drill right
very heavy this is the first drill right
very heavy this is the first drill right in the middle you see the thing go down
in the middle you see the thing go down
in the middle you see the thing go down it’s drilling a hole that’s about half
it’s drilling a hole that’s about half
it’s drilling a hole that’s about half an inch wide if I remember correctly
an inch wide if I remember correctly
an inch wide if I remember correctly about two inches deep and what they
about two inches deep and what they
about two inches deep and what they found it was something that made clear
found it was something that made clear
found it was something that made clear that the redness just covered over a
that the redness just covered over a
that the redness just covered over a level of potentially interesting
level of potentially interesting
level of potentially interesting habitable potentially habitable
habitable potentially habitable
habitable potentially habitable environments that we didn’t know about
environments that we didn’t know about
environments that we didn’t know about before all right
before all right
before all right how does curiosity get around it’s
how does curiosity get around it’s
how does curiosity get around it’s interesting this is called driving blind
interesting this is called driving blind
interesting this is called driving blind where what’s blind is not the people at
where what’s blind is not the people at
where what’s blind is not the people at JPL who are driving this but rather the
JPL who are driving this but rather the
JPL who are driving this but rather the rover which has its own autonomous
rover which has its own autonomous
rover which has its own autonomous abilities but here it is driving based
abilities but here it is driving based
abilities but here it is driving based on a program that was sent up to it
on a program that was sent up to it
on a program that was sent up to it Rover drivers are well known to be among
Rover drivers are well known to be among
Rover drivers are well known to be among the coolest people on earth but in fact
the coolest people on earth but in fact
the coolest people on earth but in fact they don’t drive I mean they make
they don’t drive I mean they make
they don’t drive I mean they make programs right you know they’re not at
programs right you know they’re not at
programs right you know they’re not at the wheel but it’s it is nonetheless a
the wheel but it’s it is nonetheless a
the wheel but it’s it is nonetheless a remarkable and
remarkable and
remarkable and very very difficult job and with a lot
very very difficult job and with a lot
very very difficult job and with a lot of pressure it turns out that after a
of pressure it turns out that after a
of pressure it turns out that after a year and a half or so some serious holes
year and a half or so some serious holes
year and a half or so some serious holes came up in the wheels various punctures
came up in the wheels various punctures
came up in the wheels various punctures and rips this came from going over sharp
and rips this came from going over sharp
and rips this came from going over sharp rocks that were embedded into a
rocks that were embedded into a
rocks that were embedded into a sandstone as opposed to being in
sandstone as opposed to being in
sandstone as opposed to being in something that would be like sand where
something that would be like sand where
something that would be like sand where there wouldn’t be as much force and this
there wouldn’t be as much force and this
there wouldn’t be as much force and this you know serious problem they really did
you know serious problem they really did
you know serious problem they really did a lot of work figuring out how to deal
a lot of work figuring out how to deal
a lot of work figuring out how to deal with it and they determined that it
with it and they determined that it
with it and they determined that it would not ultimately affect the mission
would not ultimately affect the mission
would not ultimately affect the mission that it would not shorten the mission in
that it would not shorten the mission in
that it would not shorten the mission in any way because they could drive
any way because they could drive
any way because they could drive backwards and that’s what they do now
backwards and that’s what they do now
backwards and that’s what they do now they drive backwards
they drive backwards
they drive backwards unfortunately the autonomous part which
unfortunately the autonomous part which
unfortunately the autonomous part which is what makes them go really far cannot
is what makes them go really far cannot
is what makes them go really far cannot go backwards and so they have to stop
go backwards and so they have to stop
go backwards and so they have to stop going backwards then turn around and
going backwards then turn around and
going backwards then turn around and then do the autonomous part forward
then do the autonomous part forward
then do the autonomous part forward which is part of the reason why it’s
which is part of the reason why it’s
which is part of the reason why it’s taken a long time to get to Mount sharp
taken a long time to get to Mount sharp
taken a long time to get to Mount sharp but in any case there you go very
but in any case there you go very
but in any case there you go very briefly
briefly
briefly October 19th there is a comet that is
October 19th there is a comet that is
October 19th there is a comet that is going to go past Mars initially they
going to go past Mars initially they
going to go past Mars initially they thought that it was going to hit Mars or
thought that it was going to hit Mars or
thought that it was going to hit Mars or it could hit Mars which considering the
it could hit Mars which considering the
it could hit Mars which considering the billions of dollars that NASA has on
billions of dollars that NASA has on
billions of dollars that NASA has on Mars and around Mars you know needless
Mars and around Mars you know needless
Mars and around Mars you know needless to say was not a happy thought but it
to say was not a happy thought but it
to say was not a happy thought but it they now believe it will go to the side
they now believe it will go to the side
they now believe it will go to the side enough that it won’t be a serious danger
enough that it won’t be a serious danger
enough that it won’t be a serious danger though you can never tell exactly what
though you can never tell exactly what
though you can never tell exactly what happens the dust particles themselves
happens the dust particles themselves
happens the dust particles themselves although there are just dust particles
although there are just dust particles
although there are just dust particles are moving at something like 153
are moving at something like 153
are moving at something like 153 thousand miles an hour an hour which
thousand miles an hour an hour which
thousand miles an hour an hour which makes them basically bullets so they
makes them basically bullets so they
makes them basically bullets so they could go through to anything in any case
could go through to anything in any case
could go through to anything in any case this is going to be passing by Mars and
this is going to be passing by Mars and
this is going to be passing by Mars and it’s it to me it was really an
it’s it to me it was really an
it’s it to me it was really an interesting reflection on where we where
interesting reflection on where we where
interesting reflection on where we where we are as as people there are we’re now
we are as as people there are we’re now
we are as as people there are we’re now a space faring civilization we something
a space faring civilization we something
a space faring civilization we something can come close to Mars and it matters to
can come close to Mars and it matters to
can come close to Mars and it matters to us and we can learn in enormous amount
us and we can learn in enormous amount
us and we can learn in enormous amount from that this this comment will come
from that this this comment will come
from that this this comment will come closer to Mars than any comet has come
closer to Mars than any comet has come
closer to Mars than any comet has come to earth in recorded history
to earth in recorded history
to earth in recorded history so and and that is but we can really get
so and and that is but we can really get
so and and that is but we can really get a lot out of it because of having the
a lot out of it because of having the
a lot out of it because of having the assets that we have there now and let me
assets that we have there now and let me
assets that we have there now and let me just end with this image from the camera
just end with this image from the camera
just end with this image from the camera that my colleague here
that my colleague here
that my colleague here Ken edge it is the pi/4 you know those
Ken edge it is the pi/4 you know those
Ken edge it is the pi/4 you know those are little grains of sand those are
are little grains of sand those are
are little grains of sand those are little grains of dust in terms of Mars
little grains of dust in terms of Mars
little grains of dust in terms of Mars up close I mean they’re getting really
up close I mean they’re getting really
up close I mean they’re getting really really up close and not just in terms of
really up close and not just in terms of
really up close and not just in terms of the images in terms of the geochemistry
the images in terms of the geochemistry
the images in terms of the geochemistry in terms of the geology in terms of
in terms of the geology in terms of
in terms of the geology in terms of understanding weather and all kinds of
understanding weather and all kinds of
understanding weather and all kinds of and radiation and the like and and
and radiation and the like and and
and radiation and the like and and that’s what I think is the the great
that’s what I think is the the great
that’s what I think is the the great message that comes from the curiosity
message that comes from the curiosity
message that comes from the curiosity mission so far which is that they’re
mission so far which is that they’re
mission so far which is that they’re learning an enormous amount because they
learning an enormous amount because they
learning an enormous amount because they have new tools and they’re right they’re
have new tools and they’re right they’re
have new tools and they’re right they’re really seeing stuff
”
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