Mapping Mars: The Site
Selection
Challenges for the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)
An Interview with NASA Principal Scientist, Dr.
Matt Golombek
If
you were watching CNN during the landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers
(MER) in January, you might have seen anchorman Miles O'Brien joined by
NASA Principal Scientist, Dr.Matt Golombek.Dr.Golombek led site
selection
team of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.Dr.
Golombek was responsible for choosing the two landing sites of each
rover
and has been selected as the science team chief for long term planning
during surface mission operations of the rovers.In the following audio
interview, Dr.Golombek explains the process of using remotely sensed
data
to map the landing sites.
Dr.
Golombek was also the chief scientist for the Mars Pathfinder Mission,
which successfully landed the Sojourner rover on Mars on July 4, 1997.
As Project Scientist, Dr.Golombek chose the landing site for the
spacecraft
and was responsible for the overall scientific content of the mission.Dr.
Golombek's research focuses on Mars geology in general and the
prediction
of surface characteristics at a lander scale from orbital remotely
sensed
data.In his career, he has worked on a variety topics related to the
structural
geology and tectonics to the Earth, terrestrial planets and outer
planet
satellites.Dr.Golombek has published over 80 Papers in Scientific
Journals
and 230 abstracts.He is a graduate of Rutgers University where he
received
his BA.He also holds a masters and PH.D.from the university of
Massachusetts.
We hope you will enjoy this exclusive broadcast
interview
with Dr.Golombek by fellow Rutgers Geology alumnus, Editor Joe
Francica.Click on the icon below to listen (For broadband users, the
download may take 60-90 seconds):
Other resources on mapping mars and the Mars Exploration Rover mission:
Dr.Matt Golombek's Biography
http://zipcodemars.jpl.nasa.gov/bio-contribution.cfm?bid=238&cid=222&pid=223
Golombek Presentation on MER
landing sites
http://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/mer/March_2002_presentations/Golombek/Golombek_MER_Ellipse_Changes.pdf
Mars Rover Animation
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/animation.html
The Challenges of Getting to
Mars
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/challenges.html
Mars Digital Map
http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/moc_atlas/
Global Views of Mars
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/global/
Spirit & Opportunity Information (Information and Images
Courtesy of JPL/NASA)
Spirit Mission
Launch vehicle: | Delta II 7925 |
Launch: | June 10, 2003, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. |
Earth-Mars distance at launch: | 103 million kilometers (64 million miles) |
Mars landing: | Jan.4, 2004, at about 2:30 p.m. local Mars time (signal received at Earth 8:35 p.m.PST Jan.3) |
Landing site: | Gusev Crater, possible former lake in giant impact crater |
Earth-Mars distance on landing day: | 170.2 million kilometers (105.7 million miles) |
One-way speed-of-light time Mars-to-Earth on landing day: | 9.46 minutes |
Total distance traveled Earth to Mars (approximate): | 487 million kilometers (303 million miles) |
Near-surface atmospheric temperature at landing site: | -100 C (-148 F) to 0 C (32 F) |
Primary mission: | 90 Mars days, or "sols" (equivalent to 92 Earth days) |
Opportunity Mission
Launch vehicle: | Delta II 7925H (larger solid-fuel boosters than 7925) |
Launch: | July 7, 2003, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. |
Earth-Mars distance at launch: | 78 million kilometers (48 million miles) |
Mars landing: | Jan.25, 2004, at about 115 p.m. local Mars time (signal received at Earth 905 p.m.PST Jan.24) |
Landing site: | Meridiani Planum, where mineral deposits suggest wet past |
Earth-Mars distance on landing day: | 198.7 million kilometers (123.5 million miles) |
One-way speed-of-light time Mars-to-Earth on landing day: | 11 minutes |
Total distance traveled Earth to Mars (approximate): | 456 million kilometers (283 million miles) |
Near-surface atmospheric temperature at landing site: | -100 C (-148 F) to 0 C (32 F) |
Primary mission: | 90 Mars days, or "sols" (equivalent to 92 Earth days) |