"In the cases of Jupiter and other gas giants, how can we tell where the atmosphere ends and the solid surface begins?"
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Seminar Detail
The Mars Exploration Rovers unveil new horizons for astrobiology
Presenter: David Des Marais ()
February 23, 2004 12:00 AM Pacific
The Mars Exploration Rover mission (MER) investigates how water
has shaped the crustal composition, environmental history, and potential
habitability of Mars. The Gusev Crater and Terra Meridiani landing sites
were chosen because they offer hints that water has shaped their landscapes
and mineralogy. As robotic field geologists, the MER rovers will explore the
roles played by key agents such as water, volcanism, impacts, sunlight and
atmospheric dynamics. For example, water might have helped to form crusts
observed in the Gusev Crater regolith. The composition and fabrics of
bedrock at Terra Meridiani potentially reflect aqueous processes. However,
wind and volcanism have conspired to obscure any effects of water. Still,
by methodically exploring rocks and sediments, the MER rovers might be able
to determine whether the martian environment ever had the potential to
sustain life.Participation Instructions
http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/seminars/instructions.cfm
December 21, 2007
The Director’s Seminar series features talks from scientists who are invited by the NAI Director to present their research results to the community. A primary goal of the seminars is to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration across NAI teams and within the astrobiology community at large.
Team Overview Seminars describe the work of the fourteen NAI teams and NAI Central. They offer an opportunity to find out more about the science, E/PO and other activities being performed by the NAI teams and the NAI Central office.
The Forum for Astrobiology Research (FAR) provides an opportunity for graduate students to present their research results and to meet as a student community for networking and mutual support.
The University of Washington seminar series is hosted by the NAI Virtual Planetary Lab (VPL) team from the UW campus in Seattle.
