Mars at a Glance (Issue #16)

Post author By James
Post date May 17, 2013

by: Nicole Willett

The Mars Society is dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. As such the Education Task Force is charged with educating the public with everything about Mars. A general overview is the best way to introduce the Red Planet. That leaves a sense of curiosity and room for further inquiry into the subject.

The following is a brief overview of the planet Mars.

General Information:

The planet Mars was named after the God of War from Greek/Roman mythology.
It is the 4th planet from the Sun, also known as the Red Planet.
Mars has what is known as a superior orbit – meaning it orbits the Sun outside of the orbit of Earth.
Orbit Order: Sun—Mercury—Venus—Earth—Mars—Jupiter— Saturn— Uranus—Neptune
Mars orbits the Sun at an average distance of 1.5 Astronomical Units (1 AU is the distance from the Sun to the Earth).
Mars is regarded as the 2nd most hospitable planet for the appearance of life, after Earth.
Mars is about half the size of Earth.

A year on Mars is 687 Earth days.
A day on Mars is 24 hours and 37 minutes.
The axial tilt on Mars is 24^o, which gives Mars seasons similar to those on Earth.
Mars’ surface gravity is 1/3 of Earths.
The temperatures on the Martian surface range from -87^oC to 20^oC.

Mars has 2 satellites (moons) named Phobos and Deimos:

The moons are oddly shaped and look like potatoes!
They are much smaller than Earth’s moon.
Phobos and Deimos orbit Mars very quickly and are much closer to Mars than the Moon is to the Earth.
The satellites are visible through some larger telescopes on Earth.

Some major geographical features on Mars:

Valles Marineris – A 3,000 mile long “Grand Canyon” that looks like a giant crack on the surface of Mars.
Olympus Mons – The largest volcano on Mars and in the solar system, it is 3 times as high as Mt. Everest and the size of Texas!
Mars has thousands of craters covering its surface, and they range in age from billions of years old to others that are much more recent.

Water and weather on Mars:

Telescopic observations from Earth have seen what appear to be channels on Mars for many years.
Many orbiting spacecraft have taken images of dry river channels on the Martian surface.
The landers and rovers on Mars have taken measurements, soil samples and images that have led to an overwhelming amount of data that suggests water existed on the surface of Mars, is there now in frozen form and occasionally briefly runs across the surface when the conditions are just right.

Mars has a North and South Pole that are covered in ice caps. The ice caps grow and recede through the seasons and are made of H₂O and CO_2.

Mars has Earth-like weather systems, including clouds, wind, dust storms and it even snows on Mars!

Major U.S. spacecraft to have visited Mars:

Mariner 4 – 1964 launch, flyby mission, July 1965, took the very first close-up images of Mars
Viking 1 Lander – reached the surface July 20, 1976
Viking 2 Lander – reached the surface Sept 3, 1976
Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner Rover (2-part spacecraft) – reached the surface July 4, 1997, first rover deployed on another planet
Spirit Rover – reached the surface Jan 4, 2004
Opportunity Rover – reached the surface Jan 25, 2004-Still operating on the surface of Mars
Phoenix Lander - reached the surface May 25, 2008
Curiosity Rover - reached the surface Aug 5/6, 2012-Still operating on the surface of Mars

The spacecraft listed above have carried many scientific instruments including spectrometers, rock abrasion tools, many types of cameras, chemistry labs, a drill and even a laser. The discoveries they have made are varied, such as the discovery of the first meteorite on another planet, that water existed on the surface of Mars and in the soil, the inside of the rocks on Mars are grey (not red!), and that there are simple organic molecules inside the rocks on Mars. These are just a tiny sample of what has been discovered on the Red Planet in recent years.

The Mars Society is dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of Mars. Part of this goal includes promoting educational outreach with STEM subjects. Many scientists believe that the Red Planet can be terraformed (made Earth-like) over the next few centuries, providing humanity with a second home. In order for the human race to accomplish these goals, we must educate ourselves and each other. Please join us in helping to reach our objective.

~On To Mars

Contact for inquiries or volunteer information: nicolew@marssociety.org

Also please visit our Main website: http://www.marssociety.org

[Images: The Mars Society, NASA, JPL, Exploremars.org]

2013 Mars Society STEM Education Event at the Boulder Convention (Issue #15)

Post author By James
Post date May 17, 2013

*Updated Aug. 9, 2013*

by: Nicole Willett

The Mars Society is convening its 16th Annual International Mars Society Convention at the University of Colorado at Boulder from August 15 – 18, 2013. The convention will include many key scientists and policy experts and also involve panel discussions on various Mars-related topics. Some of the speakers include Dr. Carol Stoker, NASA astrobiologist, Dr. David Brain of the University of Colorado/Boulder and MAVEN co-investigator, and Dr. Steven Squyres of Cornell University and principal investigator for NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity rovers as well as the recipient of the 2013 Mars Pioneer Award. For more information and registration details, please visit our web site. Also a list of confirmed speakers is now available online.

The Boulder convention runs from Thursday thru Sunday. On Saturday, August 17th our organization will be hosting a special program called the 2013 Mars Society STEM Education Event. There will be hands-on activities, guest speakers and special presentations. The purpose of this program is to inspire young children and students while simultaneously encouraging them to learn more about STEM subjects, investigate space sciences and delve into the issue of the human exploration and settlement of Mars.

**FREE Admission to the STEM Education Event for ages 0-18**

Dr. Robert Zubrin, President and Founder of the Mars Society, will address the guests of the event with a very special talk aimed at students. Dr. Zubrin is also President of Pioneer Astronautics, an aerospace R&D company located in Lakewood, Colorado. Formerly a Staff Engineer at Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver, he holds a Masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Washington. Viewed as a respected author and a renowned expert on Mars, Dr. Zubrin has testified in recent years before several U.S. government committees and in 2009 spoke in front of the Augustine Commission on the subject of the future of America’s human space flight program.

Also participating in the program will be Astronaut Abby, a 15-year-old student from Minnesota, who will talk about her journey and desire to become the first astronaut on Mars. Abby has always had a dream to be the first astronaut on the Red Planet. Her quest has taken her on quite a journey so far. Abby’s adventures include witnessing several space shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center, participating in space camp and visiting many space museums and education centers. Her accomplishments include being guided by various NASA, Canadian and ESA professionals including an ESA astronaut mentor. Abby has shared her enthusiasm and vision to thousands around the world. Recently, she has been given a rare invitation to the legendary Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, to personally witness the Soyuz TMA-09M, to the International Space Station. She was invited by Italian Astronaut Luca Parmitano, who has been active in her mentoring. For more information about her adventures , please visit her web site.

Chuck McMurray, Deputy Education Director for the Mars Society, will be launching the organization’s Youth Rover Challenge for middle and high schools. This challenge is a national competition targeted at middle school and high school students from grades 8-12. The program is designed to give younger students the chance to learn more about the engineering and design challenges required to build and operate a rover. The competitive events allow students to measure the capabilities of their rover designs, as well as the ability for the rover to execute surface exploration and other duties. Younger students will get a chance to test their skills and prepare for the university level competition, while building on skills needed for future STEM careers that support planetary exploration and Earth-based research in harsh Mars-like environments.

Other exciting guests will include Christopher Nie and the Mars Foundation. Christopher is from theUniversity of Colorado/Boulder’s Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (CUSEDS) chapter and will be on hand with many interactive activities, such as developing space related postcards, stomp rockets, Alka-seltzer rockets, Mars rock geology, space mining, and crater formation. The Mars Foundation will also be displaying how 3-D printing works. This presentation is important to future Marsonauts. 3-D printing may very well be used to “print” habitats utilizing the resources found on the surface of Mars.

STEM Event Schedule:

10:00 Mars Foundation, Bruce MacKenzie Mars Settlement
10:30 Mars Foundation, Bruce MacKenzie & Seth Sinnemma 3-D printing for Mars
11:15 Victoria Jordan Weather Balloon project
12-1 Lunch Break
1:00 Chris Nie CUSEDS
1:30 Carol Kendall Red Planet: Read, Write, Explore!
2:00 Dr. Robert Zubrin
2:30 Chuck McMurray Youth Rover Challenge
3:00 Astronaut Abby Quest to Become the First Martian Astronaut

You may register for the event here.

We hope to see you all in Boulder on August 17th!

[Images: TMS, Astronaut Abby, hplusmagazine.com]

For program inquiries and information about volunteer opportunities, please contact nicolew@marssociety.org.

Curiosity Life on Mars Red Planet Pen

What is Life and Will Curiosity Find it on Mars? (Issue #14)

Post author By James
Post date May 17, 2013

by: Nicole Willett

The definition of what life is has eluded scientists for many generations…

This is partially due to the many extreme organisms that have been found that push the traditional boundaries outward in every direction. What is a virus? It can reproduce, but it is considered not to be life because it must have a host to reproduce. Does size matter? Can something be too small to be alive? There are bacteria that are smaller than viruses. Can something be too big to be alive? Recently, I have heard scientists debating whether the entire universe is a living organism. In order to come up with a definition we must describe what elements are needed for life as we know it to exist. We must also decide whether or not water is necessary and in what state. Can organisms live in soil with a high or low pH content? Are there energy gradients available for an organism to utilize the chemicals available for metabolism? What temperatures can life survive at?

All of these questions must be addressed before scientists come up with a true definition for life. A simple definition of life from dictionary.com states, “the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation toenvironment through changes originating internally.” This definition may work for laymen but when it comes to the plethora of extreme organisms we are finding now and with the search for organisms on Mars, we need a much more specific definition. As with all things in science, we have had a hard time getting everyone to agree on a true definition.

Some things to consider are the six required elements necessary for all life on Earth thus far. Biologists like to call it CHNOPS.

That acronym stands for is Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur. Interestingly, the Curiosity Rover’s SAM and CheMin instruments found CHNOPS in their latest sample of the rock called “John Klein” that was drilled recently. These results can all be found on NASA and JPL websites. Another interesting find is methane in the forms of chloromethane and dichloromethane. These are widely reported as “simple organics” in the press. These molecules were also found at the “Rocknest” site in an earlier soil sample taken by Curiosity. The discovery of organic molecules is the pièce de résistance that we have all been awaiting. Organics in general refer to something that was at one time alive or is alive now. We know from studying life forms on Earth that methane is a common organic molecule that is a waste product of bacteria and macro organisms. However, about 10% of methane on Earth is a result of geological activity. The rovers and orbiters have not detected any macro organisms, but scientists are diligently looking for evidence of an environment conducive to microorganisms.

Again the scientists caution that these results may be contaminants from Earth. But, this seems to be a pattern. Mars scientists are repeatedly confirming and reconfirming the presence of water on Mars. Also, they are stating and restating the potential habitability of Mars. Dr. John Grotzinger, project scientist for the Curiosity mission, went so far as to state, “”We have found a habitable environment. The water that was here was so benign and supportive of life that if a human had been on the planet back then, they could drink it.” Wow, that is quite a statement. Not only are NASA scientists stating that Mars was habitable they are stating that humans could have consumed the water that sat and flowed on the surface of the Red Planet. Think about the potential ramifications of that information.

As the scientists, go over and over the information from Mars, they continue to make amazing discoveries. Another significant find is the electrochemical gradient of the different molecules found inside of the John Klein rock. An electrochemical gradient is another important piece of the “life on Mars” puzzle because life forms use these gradients to move ions across membranes in order to perform many metabolic and other biological functions. Some of the molecules found in the rocks have different electric charges; some are more oxidized than others. This was cleverly illustrated at last week’s press conference. Dr. Grotzinger held up a battery to demonstrate the way rock eating microbes utilize the energy gradients formed by molecules, such as sulfates and sulfides, to their advantage in their metabolic processes. This finding has extraordinary implications if everything that has been reported remains true.

So, what is life and will Curiosity find it on Mars? Well, we know that there is no single definition that everyone agrees on. Keep in mind that the requirements for life as we know it are: water, a source of energy, and evidence of organics. The types of methane found are known as simple organics. However, we also know that there are definite signatures for life as we know it. NASA is finding more and more evidence with every scoop of soil analyzed by Curiosity’s onboard lab. If the day comes when there is a confirmation of life on Mars, it will change humanity forever. I am looking forward to that day.

[Images: NASA JPL, jonlieffmd.com, psrd.hawaii.edu]

Curiosity Life on Mars Red Planet Pen

Rock Eaters, Will Curiosity Find Them? (Issue #13)

Post author By James
Post date May 17, 2013

by: Nicole Willett

Last week NASA’s Curiosity rover made history by drilling into the first rock on another planet. The rock, named John Klein, had a hole drilled that was 0.63 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches deep. Surprisingly, the soil beneath the iron red surface was bright grey. The soil sample has been sent to the suite of instruments in the belly of the rover, including SAM and CheMin. These mini laboratories will analyze the soil content to find out its composition. Everyone is anxiously awaiting the results of these tests. Unfortunately, Curiosity went into “safe mode” several days ago due to a corrupt file on its main computer. (As this blog was being posted, NASA announced that the computer had returned to “active status”.) This will inevitably delay the results. However that does not stop people from speculating about what the science lab onboard the rover might discover.

Scientists are hoping to find more evidence of past water on Mars. What would be even more amazing is if Curiosity found evidence of an extreme organism or extremophile. Because Curiosity drilled into a rock, they may find evidence of an extreme organism known as a lithotroph, aka a “rock-eater”. Astrobiologists have been studying these extremophiles for many years and have discovered many amazing things about them. An extremophile is a general term for any organism that lives beyond what is commonly thought of as “normal” conditions.

Astrobiologists have looked at rocks from the most inhospitable places on Earth. They have found organisms living beneath rocks, between rocks and inside of rocks. There are several types of rock-eaters, and they have been given unusual names like autolithotrophs, hypoendoliths and cryptoendoliths. They are known collectively as lithotrophs. These organisms are truly rock-eaters. They actually digest the rock they live on or inside of. Lithotrophs have developed a unique way to metabolize the minerals in the rocks. These organisms have learned to survive in very extreme environments. If a lithotroph was found on the Red Planet, it would be a polyextremophile that is highly resistant to ultra-violet (UV) radiation, able to tolerate dry and desiccating conditions and tolerant to extremely cold temperatures. A polyextremophile is an organism that lives beyond the realm of what the general public sees as normal with several extreme adaptations for survival. Some live exposed to so much UV radiation that it kills almost every other organism in the vicinity. These are known as radio resistant organisms.

Other organisms referred to as xerophiles live in places that receive little to no rainfall for years or even decades. There are also organisms that live in extremely cold conditions. These are known as psychrophiles, or cryophiles. They can survive temperatures as low as -15^o C. On Earth, cryophiles live in salty or briny sea water. The salt and minerals in the water lower the freezing point. This is another interesting twist to the conditions scientists are seeking on or below the Martian surface. We know the mineral content of the soil in the many areas we have visited on Mars. They are similar in composition to the places on Earth that harbor many types of extremophiles.

It has been said by astrobiologists that if the Viking Lander would have landed in the Atacama Desert on Earth, it very likely would not have detected life. This is due to the types of organisms that have adapted to live there. They would not have been recognized by the sophisticated equipment on Viking. The Atacama Desert is frequently used as a Mars-Earth analog for astrobiology experiments.

The more we seek, the more we find. The more we find, the more questions we have. Curiosity is an interesting double entendre. Our rover is named Curiosity, and human curiosity is what drives us to explore in space and on Mars. As Professor Brian Cox once said, “I don’t need answers to everything; I want to have answers to find.”

[Images: discovery.com, nasa.gov, sciencephoto.com, humanandnatural.com]

Guest Blogs Red Planet Pen

Space Exploration Alliance Blitz (Issue #11)

Post author By James
Post date May 17, 2013

Guest Blog by Kerri Beauchesne

A Call to Action! Join the 2013 SEA Legislative Blitz

Sunday, February 24 – Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

The United States and the former Soviet Union began sending spacecraft to Mars in the 1960s. Although both nations experienced failures in the early days, success rates since have improved dramatically, resulting in a large store of information about Mars’ atmosphere, gravity, surface, chemical composition, and, most importantly, water. Today, Mars is a busy planet, hosting three active orbiters (Mars Odyssey, Mars Express and Mars Reconnaissance) and two operational rovers (Opportunity and Curiosity). Future NASA and joint missions include MAVEN, ExoMars and InSight.

Unfortunately, despite these successes, we have begun losing important ground. For example, in the 2009 Mars Exploration Joint Initiative, NASA was to collaborate with the European Space Agency on astro-biological research, delivering an orbiter, two landers, and a rover to Mars between 2016 and 2018. When the Obama administration announced its 2013 budget, however, the program was canceled and the funding redirected to bolster the dramatically over-budget James Webb Space Telescope. Since the U.S. withdrew from the joint initiative, the ESA has reorganized and is now working with the Russian Federal Space Agency on the project.

Although MAVEN is close enough to launch to be considered a done deal, funding for InSight could be in danger if NASA’s budget is cut too deeply this year. And with such shaky funding prospects for unmanned missions, the outlook for manned missions is bleak indeed.

The future of America’s space program depends largely on funding from Congress. But with concerns over the pending U.S. budget crisis, many members of Congress are reticent to allocate money for programs they deem frivolous or unlikely to produce a substantial return on investment. Also, the idea of manned missions to Mars doesn’t enjoy the same widespread public enthusiasm at this stage as the Moon race in the 1960s.

So what can we do to persuade members of Congress to support policies and funding favorable to space exploration? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Decision-makers on Capitol Hill need to know that their constituents do support a strong and sustainable space program. But they receive letters, emails, and online petitions by the thousands, on every imaginable topic. In-person, pre-scheduled meetings hold the greatest potential for making an impact on individual members of Congress.
Not every member of Congress is well-informed about the benefits of a robust space program. Go in armed with clear talking points that a layman can understand.
They need compelling reasons for supporting specific missions in space, beyond generalizations about America’s primacy and the future of the human race. Presenting them with ready-made, goal-driven, financially viable plans gives them something they can support immediately, with a minimum of staff-hours spent on research.

“I’m no expert. I strongly support space exploration, but I wouldn’t know what to say.”

Great news – you don’t have to! That’s the idea behind the SEA Legislative Blitz, an annual grassroots campaign in which members of thirteen

space advocacy groups, including the Mars Society, meet with members of Congress to educate them about space exploration and to advocate for specific endeavors. On Day One, organizers will spend time training participants. They will brief you on the members of Congress that you and your small group will meet, giving you talking points customized for that person and his or her constituents’ interests.[For more information, read this excellent article by Kelly Thomas, a then 17-year-old participant in the 2012 Legislative Blitz.]

“What if I want to go but can’t?”

Great news again – the SEA does this every year, so if you can’t participate next month, you can start making plans now for 2014. Butthis year is crucial, given the cuts that NASA has already endured. If you can’t make it to Capitol Hill this year, try something local: do a little research and make an appointment with your own member of Congress (or his or her aide) at the local office. Also, consider joining an advocacy group, like the Mars Society, and get involved with a local chapter.

It is our destiny to explore and settle space. We have made great strides since the 1960s, but our collective momentum and resolve have faltered. Please get involved today. Send a message to America’s leaders that we want to continue our great tradition of human exploration and discovery.

Kerri Beauchesne is a high school English teacher, a Ph.D. student (English) at the University of Texas (Arlington) and a newly appointed staff writer for the Mars Society.

[Images: Parabolicarc.com, Exploremars.org, Unigraz.at]