we’re on Mars so I’m going to go way back and to facilitate that I’ve
back and to facilitate that I’ve
back and to facilitate that I’ve provided you with my Wayback Machine
provided you with my Wayback Machine
provided you with my Wayback Machine blank slate because I want to take you
blank slate because I want to take you
blank slate because I want to take you so far back we don’t have a picture of
so far back we don’t have a picture of
so far back we don’t have a picture of that about 4.6 billion years ago when
that about 4.6 billion years ago when
that about 4.6 billion years ago when the universe was just a little more than
the universe was just a little more than
the universe was just a little more than half as old as it is now the solar
half as old as it is now the solar
half as old as it is now the solar system formed and it was a supreme act
system formed and it was a supreme act
system formed and it was a supreme act of violence the Sun was in the center
of violence the Sun was in the center
of violence the Sun was in the center big hunks of rock were made from little
big hunks of rock were made from little
big hunks of rock were made from little hunks of rock which were made from
hunks of rock which were made from
hunks of rock which were made from little tiny grains how everything came
little tiny grains how everything came
little tiny grains how everything came together was a function of the chemistry
together was a function of the chemistry
together was a function of the chemistry of the materials and the chemistry of
of the materials and the chemistry of
of the materials and the chemistry of the materials changed as a function of
the materials changed as a function of
the materials changed as a function of the relationships between all these
the relationships between all these
the relationships between all these little bits of stuff when the bits of
little bits of stuff when the bits of
little bits of stuff when the bits of stuff became bigger bits of stuff and we
stuff became bigger bits of stuff and we
stuff became bigger bits of stuff and we had big rocks and then the big rocks
had big rocks and then the big rocks
had big rocks and then the big rocks became really big rocks and they glommed
became really big rocks and they glommed
became really big rocks and they glommed into each other we started getting these
into each other we started getting these
into each other we started getting these proto planets and these big hunks of
proto planets and these big hunks of
proto planets and these big hunks of rock that we call planetesimals
rock that we call planetesimals
rock that we call planetesimals generated so much heat and pressure by
generated so much heat and pressure by
generated so much heat and pressure by the time you got sufficient mass that
the time you got sufficient mass that
the time you got sufficient mass that you got a lot of melting and
you got a lot of melting and
you got a lot of melting and recrystallization and before you knew it
recrystallization and before you knew it
recrystallization and before you knew it well not before you knew it it did take
well not before you knew it it did take
well not before you knew it it did take till 4.6 billion years ago we got
till 4.6 billion years ago we got
till 4.6 billion years ago we got something that was an amalgamated planet
something that was an amalgamated planet
something that was an amalgamated planet and that’s the infancy of the earth
and that’s the infancy of the earth
and that’s the infancy of the earth that’s the infancy of all the planets
that’s the infancy of all the planets
that’s the infancy of all the planets and depending upon where they sit with
and depending upon where they sit with
and depending upon where they sit with respect to their central star and where
respect to their central star and where
respect to their central star and where they sit with respect to each other
they sit with respect to each other
they sit with respect to each other they’re all a little bit different our
they’re all a little bit different our
they’re all a little bit different our closest neighbor is Mars so the reason
closest neighbor is Mars so the reason
closest neighbor is Mars so the reason we go to Mars is because we want to
we go to Mars is because we want to
we go to Mars is because we want to understand ourselves well what can we
understand ourselves well what can we
understand ourselves well what can we learn about ourselves on Mars that we
learn about ourselves on Mars that we
learn about ourselves on Mars that we can’t learn here during that 4.6 billion
can’t learn here during that 4.6 billion
can’t learn here during that 4.6 billion years of violence sometime
years of violence sometime
years of violence sometime we came to a period of enough quiescence
we came to a period of enough quiescence
we came to a period of enough quiescence so that we could begin to cool on the
so that we could begin to cool on the
so that we could begin to cool on the surface and as the planet began to
surface and as the planet began to
surface and as the planet began to off-gas it’s hot interior a little bit
off-gas it’s hot interior a little bit
off-gas it’s hot interior a little bit and create water and create atmosphere
and create water and create atmosphere
and create water and create atmosphere we began to mature as a planet somewhere
we began to mature as a planet somewhere
we began to mature as a planet somewhere between that 4.6 billion years and the
between that 4.6 billion years and the
between that 4.6 billion years and the 3.8 billion years to which we can go
3.8 billion years to which we can go
3.8 billion years to which we can go back we got life but we don’t know
back we got life but we don’t know
back we got life but we don’t know exactly when and we don’t know exactly
exactly when and we don’t know exactly
exactly when and we don’t know exactly how our planet is such a benefit to us
how our planet is such a benefit to us
how our planet is such a benefit to us in that its surface keeps reshaping
in that its surface keeps reshaping
in that its surface keeps reshaping itself the skin basically dives
itself the skin basically dives
itself the skin basically dives underneath itself and that’s good
underneath itself and that’s good
underneath itself and that’s good because that’s how we recycle our
because that’s how we recycle our
because that’s how we recycle our materials but it’s also bad because the
materials but it’s also bad because the
materials but it’s also bad because the evidence of our deep past gone Mars on
evidence of our deep past gone Mars on
evidence of our deep past gone Mars on the other hand hasn’t got all that
the other hand hasn’t got all that
the other hand hasn’t got all that activity on the surface around four
activity on the surface around four
activity on the surface around four billion years ago 4.1 to 3.9 it was a
billion years ago 4.1 to 3.9 it was a
billion years ago 4.1 to 3.9 it was a really bad day and I use the term
really bad day and I use the term
really bad day and I use the term loosely in our solar system another
loosely in our solar system another
loosely in our solar system another bunch of rogue planetesimals came
bunch of rogue planetesimals came
bunch of rogue planetesimals came crashing through the inner solar system
crashing through the inner solar system
crashing through the inner solar system slamming into the planets and you see
slamming into the planets and you see
slamming into the planets and you see the evidence today by all the craters on
the evidence today by all the craters on
the evidence today by all the craters on the moon on Mars and Mercury we can’t
the moon on Mars and Mercury we can’t
the moon on Mars and Mercury we can’t quite see through the atmosphere on
quite see through the atmosphere on
quite see through the atmosphere on Venus very well and we’ve got that pesky
Venus very well and we’ve got that pesky
Venus very well and we’ve got that pesky ocean covering on the earth so a lot of
ocean covering on the earth so a lot of
ocean covering on the earth so a lot of the evidence on Earth is is very cryptic
the evidence on Earth is is very cryptic
the evidence on Earth is is very cryptic but somehow during that time we
but somehow during that time we
but somehow during that time we recovered and we got this robust
recovered and we got this robust
recovered and we got this robust biosphere obviously we’re all here
biosphere obviously we’re all here
biosphere obviously we’re all here tonight reading the National Geographic
tonight reading the National Geographic
tonight reading the National Geographic right but not so on Mars Mars looks very
right but not so on Mars Mars looks very
right but not so on Mars Mars looks very different than Earth looks right now but
different than Earth looks right now but
different than Earth looks right now but in that window of time between 4.6
in that window of time between 4.6
in that window of time between 4.6 billion years and that team of bandit
billion years and that team of bandit
billion years and that team of bandit asteroids that came through it was a
asteroids that came through it was a
asteroids that came through it was a four hundred million year window if life
four hundred million year window if life
four hundred million year window if life formed here then could it have formed on
formed here then could it have formed on
formed here then could it have formed on Mars and if it did form on Mars
Mars and if it did form on Mars
Mars and if it did form on Mars where’d he go Mars we know had water on
where’d he go Mars we know had water on
where’d he go Mars we know had water on it the evidence is ample not just water
it the evidence is ample not just water
it the evidence is ample not just water flowing and shaping and weathering the
flowing and shaping and weathering the
flowing and shaping and weathering the surface of Mars but water standing in a
surface of Mars but water standing in a
surface of Mars but water standing in a still pool the evidence of which we
still pool the evidence of which we
still pool the evidence of which we found at Yellowknife Bay
found at Yellowknife Bay
found at Yellowknife Bay the chemistry of which was benign enough
the chemistry of which was benign enough
the chemistry of which was benign enough that it could have been habitable for
that it could have been habitable for
that it could have been habitable for life from a chemical point of view but
life from a chemical point of view but
life from a chemical point of view but somewhere between this and this
somewhere between this and this
somewhere between this and this conditions changed so the question is
conditions changed so the question is
conditions changed so the question is when did they change and what happened
when did they change and what happened
when did they change and what happened so we are standing here at this image at
so we are standing here at this image at
so we are standing here at this image at Yellowknife Bay it looks a lot like a
Yellowknife Bay it looks a lot like a
Yellowknife Bay it looks a lot like a dried lake bed and we came to the
dried lake bed and we came to the
dried lake bed and we came to the conclusion that that’s the best model
conclusion that that’s the best model
conclusion that that’s the best model for what that environment was like so
for what that environment was like so
for what that environment was like so now I’m going to ask you a question
now I’m going to ask you a question
now I’m going to ask you a question we’ve got the minerals we’ve got the
we’ve got the minerals we’ve got the
we’ve got the minerals we’ve got the water we did some chemical analyses and
water we did some chemical analyses and
water we did some chemical analyses and we determined we have the canonical six
we determined we have the canonical six
we determined we have the canonical six elements that we deemed to be requisite
elements that we deemed to be requisite
elements that we deemed to be requisite for life on Earth but what else what are
for life on Earth but what else what are
for life on Earth but what else what are we not seeing that tells us that an
we not seeing that tells us that an
we not seeing that tells us that an environment could be habitable or not
environment could be habitable or not
environment could be habitable or not it’s like when you go to buy a house
it’s like when you go to buy a house
it’s like when you go to buy a house what is that owner covering up that you
what is that owner covering up that you
what is that owner covering up that you don’t discover until you’ve signed for
don’t discover until you’ve signed for
don’t discover until you’ve signed for the mortgage but one clue is the
the mortgage but one clue is the
the mortgage but one clue is the atmosphere we’re trying to figure out
atmosphere we’re trying to figure out
atmosphere we’re trying to figure out when the atmosphere got so thin I told
when the atmosphere got so thin I told
when the atmosphere got so thin I told you about the rogue asteroids coming
you about the rogue asteroids coming
you about the rogue asteroids coming through unfortunately during the time of
through unfortunately during the time of
through unfortunately during the time of attack Mars lost its geo dynamo that is
attack Mars lost its geo dynamo that is
attack Mars lost its geo dynamo that is the convection of metallic stuff and the
the convection of metallic stuff and the
the convection of metallic stuff and the interior of the planet that generates a
interior of the planet that generates a
interior of the planet that generates a magnetic field like our own protective
magnetic field like our own protective
magnetic field like our own protective magnetic field which is really key for
magnetic field which is really key for
magnetic field which is really key for protecting an atmosphere and preventing
protecting an atmosphere and preventing
protecting an atmosphere and preventing it from being ionized away by the
it from being ionized away by the
it from being ionized away by the galactic cosmic rays and the solar
galactic cosmic rays and the solar
galactic cosmic rays and the solar energetic particles all of which can do
energetic particles all of which can do
energetic particles all of which can do your atmosphere dirt too you’re left
your atmosphere dirt too you’re left
your atmosphere dirt too you’re left with this thin little scum of air which
with this thin little scum of air which
with this thin little scum of air which is what Mars presently has so I ask you
is what Mars presently has so I ask you
is what Mars presently has so I ask you to think about this the chemistry was
to think about this the chemistry was
to think about this the chemistry was right
right
right the minerals were right was the
the minerals were right was the
the minerals were right was the atmosphere right we don’t know so that
atmosphere right we don’t know so that
atmosphere right we don’t know so that tells us two things
tells us two things
tells us two things you got to have all the right stuff
you got to have all the right stuff
you got to have all the right stuff together in the right place but you also
together in the right place but you also
together in the right place but you also have to have everything together at the
have to have everything together at the
have to have everything together at the right time so the evolution of the
right time so the evolution of the
right time so the evolution of the environment not just in space but in
environment not just in space but in
environment not just in space but in time is key to determining whether or
time is key to determining whether or
time is key to determining whether or not it’s a habitable one and so
not it’s a habitable one and so
not it’s a habitable one and so curiosity came to Gale Crater to look at
curiosity came to Gale Crater to look at
curiosity came to Gale Crater to look at a bunch of history hoping that one of
a bunch of history hoping that one of
a bunch of history hoping that one of those layers of rock might be the Dead
those layers of rock might be the Dead
those layers of rock might be the Dead Sea scroll equivalent on Mars that would
Sea scroll equivalent on Mars that would
Sea scroll equivalent on Mars that would tell us the secrets of the evolution of
tell us the secrets of the evolution of
tell us the secrets of the evolution of the Martian surface allow us to get a
the Martian surface allow us to get a
the Martian surface allow us to get a little glimpse into that window of
little glimpse into that window of
little glimpse into that window of history that might tell us Mars had or
history that might tell us Mars had or
history that might tell us Mars had or had not evolved life at least we can
had not evolved life at least we can
had not evolved life at least we can evaluate Mars from the perspective of
evaluate Mars from the perspective of
evaluate Mars from the perspective of the most tolerant and cosmopolitan life
the most tolerant and cosmopolitan life
the most tolerant and cosmopolitan life on Earth that would be the prokaryotic
on Earth that would be the prokaryotic
on Earth that would be the prokaryotic microbes and so we measured these rocks
microbes and so we measured these rocks
microbes and so we measured these rocks at Gale Crater in Yellowknife Bay and we
at Gale Crater in Yellowknife Bay and we
at Gale Crater in Yellowknife Bay and we determined that the past environment was
determined that the past environment was
determined that the past environment was probably hospitable for that type of
probably hospitable for that type of
probably hospitable for that type of Earth life check then we took a step
Earth life check then we took a step
Earth life check then we took a step further and we dated that rock now the
further and we dated that rock now the
further and we dated that rock now the problem is the error bars on an age date
problem is the error bars on an age date
problem is the error bars on an age date are huge so we don’t really know with
are huge so we don’t really know with
are huge so we don’t really know with precision the age but we do know when
precision the age but we do know when
precision the age but we do know when the rock was exposed and we are now
the rock was exposed and we are now
the rock was exposed and we are now proceeding to do likewise on other rocks
proceeding to do likewise on other rocks
proceeding to do likewise on other rocks on Mars so stay tuned for more of that
on Mars so stay tuned for more of that
on Mars so stay tuned for more of that but the point is you’ve got to know what
but the point is you’ve got to know what
but the point is you’ve got to know what you’ve got where you’ve got it and if
you’ve got where you’ve got it and if
you’ve got where you’ve got it and if it’s all together at the same time in
it’s all together at the same time in
it’s all together at the same time in order to make a judgement like is the
order to make a judgement like is the
order to make a judgement like is the environment habitable we can’t do this
environment habitable we can’t do this
environment habitable we can’t do this alone
alone
alone it takes the missions that came before
it takes the missions that came before
it takes the missions that came before us the Viking the Pathfinder Spirit and
us the Viking the Pathfinder Spirit and
us the Viking the Pathfinder Spirit and Opportunity and the orbital assets that
Opportunity and the orbital assets that
Opportunity and the orbital assets that are presently there to pick out the good
are presently there to pick out the good
are presently there to pick out the good spot and to guide us as we can pick up
spot and to guide us as we can pick up
spot and to guide us as we can pick up and go Viking was an amazing mission but
and go Viking was an amazing mission but
and go Viking was an amazing mission but it couldn’t get up and move to where the
it couldn’t get up and move to where the
it couldn’t get up and move to where the action is we could and that’s why we
action is we could and that’s why we
action is we could and that’s why we decided instead of going to mount Shaw
decided instead of going to mount Shaw
decided instead of going to mount Shaw first were all that history reading
first were all that history reading
first were all that history reading awaits and we’ll get there we decided we
awaits and we’ll get there we decided we
awaits and we’ll get there we decided we needed to take a look first at promising
needed to take a look first at promising
needed to take a look first at promising Rock even in the myths of the lore of
Rock even in the myths of the lore of
Rock even in the myths of the lore of the history awaiting us on Mount sharp
the history awaiting us on Mount sharp
the history awaiting us on Mount sharp and so we decided instead of going to
and so we decided instead of going to
and so we decided instead of going to Mount sharp to the left that we would go
Mount sharp to the left that we would go
Mount sharp to the left that we would go to the right and check out these
to the right and check out these
to the right and check out these interesting rocks these features these
interesting rocks these features these
interesting rocks these features these sedimentary structures that pretended a
sedimentary structures that pretended a
sedimentary structures that pretended a ripe sweet spot in history when we might
ripe sweet spot in history when we might
ripe sweet spot in history when we might have had a habitable environment and so
have had a habitable environment and so
have had a habitable environment and so we went to Yellowknife Bay and I’m not
we went to Yellowknife Bay and I’m not
we went to Yellowknife Bay and I’m not going to describe the features of the
going to describe the features of the
going to describe the features of the three different rock types but let me
three different rock types but let me
three different rock types but let me point out that that’s key you’re not
point out that that’s key you’re not
point out that that’s key you’re not just looking at one event in time you’re
just looking at one event in time you’re
just looking at one event in time you’re looking at a change in time we’re going
looking at a change in time we’re going
looking at a change in time we’re going across the horizon over the edge of the
across the horizon over the edge of the
across the horizon over the edge of the world and looking at three different
world and looking at three different
world and looking at three different eras when we drilled the hole there we
eras when we drilled the hole there we
eras when we drilled the hole there we showed that it was important to have a
showed that it was important to have a
showed that it was important to have a human make a decision not to just
human make a decision not to just
human make a decision not to just blindly make a plan and go there because
blindly make a plan and go there because
blindly make a plan and go there because of the sake of the plan but to respond
of the sake of the plan but to respond
of the sake of the plan but to respond to the science in real time go to where
to the science in real time go to where
to the science in real time go to where the action is go to where the science
the action is go to where the science
the action is go to where the science story is so we’re not at the dock
story is so we’re not at the dock
story is so we’re not at the dock waiting for our ship to come in when it
waiting for our ship to come in when it
waiting for our ship to come in when it flies into national airport so we
flies into national airport so we
flies into national airport so we continue to explore I love this selfie
continue to explore I love this selfie
continue to explore I love this selfie because I can’t tell you how amazing it
because I can’t tell you how amazing it
because I can’t tell you how amazing it is to get up every day log on to the
is to get up every day log on to the
is to get up every day log on to the latest from Mars occasionally catch a
latest from Mars occasionally catch a
latest from Mars occasionally catch a glimpse of our own selves and see stuff
glimpse of our own selves and see stuff
glimpse of our own selves and see stuff that I touched and made and it’s on Mars
so stay with us there’s more to go we’ve
so stay with us there’s more to go we’ve finished our prime mission we’ve been
finished our prime mission we’ve been
finished our prime mission we’ve been there for two years it’s a very exciting
there for two years it’s a very exciting
there for two years it’s a very exciting time and there are more exciting times
time and there are more exciting times
time and there are more exciting times ahead
”
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