1) I want to be a NASA scientist. Where and how do I start?
If you want to work for
NASA,
learn as much about science as you can, and find an aspect you’re
passionate about. Check out colleges that offer degrees in the field
you’re interested in, and see if they offer internships with NASA
or NASA scientists. A great way to get involved is to do what I did and
participate in an outreach program through a local school. I got
involved as a sophomore in High School, but there are also programs for
younger and older students. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory offers
internships with many of the current missions. You can check out these
programs at
JPL’s
student resources site.
2) I know that there are many obstacles on the surface of Mars, but why
do the rovers go so slowly?
One reason the rovers drive slowly is because there is a time gap
between when a rover driver tells it to drive and it actually drives.
So, in the morning a driver will send the rover a
“sequence,” or drive plan, which contains all the moves the
rover is to do for the day. It is very different from commanding a
remote control car or using a flight simulator. These are examples of
real-time vehicle control, where the driver knows immediately what
happens when he moves the joystick. On Mars, the driver only gets to
talk to the vehicle twice a day, so he relies heavily on the
rover’s onboard
navigation system, which makes sure the vehicle stays safe while
carrying out its sequence.
The rovers also have to be very careful not to damage their instruments.
If the rover were to scrape its instrument arm on a large rock, it could
destroy any of four very important instruments mounted there. Because
each instrument compliments the others, losing just one would be costly.
Another reason to drive carefully has to do with getting the rover into
a situation that it couldn’t get out of. The rovers are very
capable “off-road” vehicles, but even the best ATV can get
stuck. On earth, you can jump out and request the help of friends to
free the vehicle, but on Mars, the rovers are completely on their own.
3) How long would it take to travel to Mars if traveling at the speed of
light?
Light takes on average 12 minutes to travel from Earth to Mars.
Depending where the planets are in their orbits, your travel time at the
speed of light can be anywhere from 3 minutes to about 22.
4) How much oxygen is on Mars? Is there any at all?
There is no atmospheric oxygen, as the martian atmosphere is mostly
carbon dioxide (95.3%), nitrogen (2.7%), and argon (1.6%). Oxygen does
exist on the surface, however, bound in oxidized minerals (giving the
planet its rusty red color).
5) How does the Mars Rover move if there is no oxygen on Mars?
Unlike humans, the Mars Rovers do not need oxygen to survive. This is
why they are so well suited for exploration on Mars. Just like a human,
the rovers need energy. We get our energy from the food we eat, but the
Mars rovers get it from the sun. This is where the rovers have the
advantage: they don’t need to breathe! The rover uses solar panels
to convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity, which it
then uses to power its onboard computers and motors. If there is extra
energy, the rovers store it in their batteries for use the next day.
6) How fast does Mars spin?
A Martian day (called a sol) is 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds
long.
7) Why is a Martian day called a sol?
“Sol” is a Roman word that means Sun God. The martian solar
day has had the name sol since the
Viking lander days in
the 1970s.
8) Does Mars have ice? If so, what kind of ice?
Yes. Mars has layers of water ice and dust at its north and south poles.
The deposits can be up to several kilometers thick, and are covered with
a layer of ice. In the martian winter, carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere condenses and forms a layer of frost at the polar caps.
9) Why do we need to collect rocks from the surface of Mars?
Right now, the best way to analyze a rock is to bring it back to a
laboratory on Earth. The technology on the Rover is very good at testing
rocks, but is still not as good as what we can do here.
Future
missions to Mars may include a spacecraft that will return samples
of martian rock and soil to Earth. By
studying rocks from
Mars, scientists can learn a lot about the geologic history of the
planet.
10) What are the names of some really cold places on Mars?
The entire planet is cold, with an average temperature of -64
degrees F (-53 degrees C). The polar regions are the
coldest places on Mars though, getting as cold as -199 degrees
F (-128 degrees C) in the winter.
