Category Archives: Mars Science Laboratory

astronomy, Curiosity, Mars, mars exploration rovers, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Science Laboratory

Humanity’s Fascination with Mars

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The Red Planet Beckons

This 360-degree panorama from NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity shows the rocky terrain surrounding it as of its 55th Martian day, or sol, of the mission (Oct. 1, 2012). The base of Mount Sharp can be seen at upper left. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

I’ve written a lot about Mars in recent years, and so have lots of other people, so I’m going to muse about a new book by one of those folks, and then talk of my own history of writing and teaching about the Red Planet.

Without a doubt, the planet remains one of the  most fascinating places (for me) in the solar system. Perhaps that is why I’m drawn to projects like Uwingu’s “Beam Me to Mars” messaging fundraiser for science education and research. As of this week, nearly two dozen companies and organizations have participated as supporters in this unique project, and many individuals have signed up to send a message to Mars on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of in situ Mars exploration — November 28, 2014. I’ve posted a message of hope and inspiration simply because I have grown up thinking about our neighbor planet since I was a child. If Mars intrigues you as much as it does me, or the idea of actually GOING to Mars catches your attention, check out the project. For a few dollars you can send a message to Mars AND help fund important science and education projects.

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Curiosity, Mars, Mars Science Laboratory

It Takes a Planet

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To Go to Mars

Last night’s/this morning’s successful landing of Curiosity into Gale Crater on Mars is a fabulous piece of work by teams of thousands of people around the world who labored to design, build, send, and deploy the spacecraft and all its many parts.  Some of those parts are in Curiosity, which will begin her second full Sol on Mars later today.  The rest of the parts are the delivery bits, some out in space around Mars, and others scattered in the same crater as the rover.  It wasn’t one person who did this; it was a nation, accompanied by hard working people in other countries.  And they all deserve a huge round of applause and continued support in their work.  What they do contributes much to our global village. More so, I dare say, than the political figures who seek to destroy any future we may have in space, or indeed, even in science education.

Think about this:  the total cost of the MSL/Curiosity mission to each American taxpayer is just about $7.00.  Period.  That’s less than a pizza. It’s the cost of a venti drink and a brownie at Starbucks.  People waste more than that on their data plans tweeting about what they had for breakfast or how much we should shut down government so that the rich don’t have to pay a fair share of taxes.

So, the next time somebody gets all pruney around the mouth about how much “space” costs, as if the money is being spent “up there”, remind them that for $7.00, we get to look at more of Mars.  We get the good feeling of seeing the exultation on the team’s faces as the mission landed. THAT alone was worth it for me.  And, the money got spent here on Earth, in salaries and R&D, which translates into people being able to afford groceries, homes, cars, phones, to pay their taxes, etc.

We grow as culture when we do good things like this.  It took people around this planet to achieve the exploration of another. That is NOT a bad thing at all. We should do more of it!

Today, we’ll see more images from Curiosity, plus an image of the spacecraft as it headed to the Martian surface, taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. So, keep your eye out for MORE Mars.