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The Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 1 IN THIS ISSUE Fall 2012 - Volume 4, Issue 2

Publisher Mars The Hard Way ...... 3 The Mars Society Headquarters “Three Percent for the Future” Campaign to Save Mars Exploration...... 4 11111 W. 8th Ave., Unit A Lakewood, CO 80215 USA Mars: Present & Future Q&A with NASA’s Michael A. Meyer www.MarsSociety.org Matt Camara...... 5 President...... Robert Zubrin Mars Society Expands Educational Outreach...... 6 Executive Director ...... Susan Holden Martin Media & PR Director...... Michael Stoltz Next in Line – NASA’s InSight Jason Rhian...... 7 Social Media Consultant....Fern Decena Webmaster...... James Burk “White Mars” on Earth...... 8 Chief Archivist...... Frank Crossman Education Coordinator...... Nicole Willett URC Director...... Kevin Sloan More than a Fresh Coat of Paint - Upgrading MDRS...... 9 FMARS Mission Director ...... Joseph Palaia MDRS Co-Mission Director Moving Musk (Observatory) Peter Detterline...... 10 ...... Shannon Rupert MDRS Co-Mission Director There and Back Again – An Orbiter’s Tale Jason Rhian...... 11 ...... Susan Holden Martin Legal Consultant ...... Declan O’Donnell, Esq. Receives Mars Pioneer Award...... 12 The Mars Quarterly

My Journey to the Mars Society Convention Nicole Willett...... 13 Editor-in-Chief...... Michael Stoltz Art Director...... Keith Keplinger Highlights from 2012 Mars Society Convention...... 14 Staff Writers...... Jason Rhian Matt Camara Editorial Team/Copy-Proof ...... Jocelyn Thomson, Esq. Larissa Douglass, Kenneth Katz Debbie Foch, Edie Tepper Daniel Beliveau, Susan Holden Martin On the Cover - MSL self poitrait - NASA-JPL-Caltech-MSSS A Note to Readers The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of The Mars Quarterly, or The Mars Society. Authors may have business relationships with the companies or FROM THE FLIGHT DECK agencies they discuss. Reproduction The Mars Quarterly is published I want to welcome you all to the fall landing of NASA’s rover on quarterly by The Mars Society, 2012 issue of The Mars Quarterly the Red Planet in August and ongoing Lakewood, , USA. Volume 4, (TMQ), the flagship publication of the decision-making by NASA, the Obama Issue 2, © 2012, The Mars Society. Nothing herein contained may be Mars Society, the world’s largest administration and Congress regarding reproduced or transmitted in any form group dedicated to the future of America’s . or by any means, electronic or the human exploration and settlement Please continue to follow the news mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage of the Red Planet. closely and advocate with friends, and retrieval system, without written This is the first issue of The Mars journalists, members of Congress, permission of The Mars Society. Quarterly that I am managing as anyone you can in support of a strong Advertisers send email to tmq-editor@ editor-in-chief. I was glad to be and sustainable program to help move marssociety.org. Address letters, appointed to this role by Susan us in the direction of a humans-to- general inquiries, or send member Holden Martin, who served brilliantly Mars mission in the near future. dues or charitable donations to The Mars Society, 11111 West 8th Avenue, for many years as head of TMQ and is Unit A, Lakewood, CO 80215, USA. now leading our organization as Thank you, and On to Mars! Please include your full name, executive director. address, and daytime phone number. The Mars Society is a registered 501(c) This issue comes at a critical time in Michael Stoltz 3 non-profit organization. the , following the Editor-in-Chief

The Mars Quarterly 2 Volume 4, Issue 2 Mars The Hard Way

Robert Zubrin SpaceNews, 12.03.12

In recent weeks, from thousands of times the candidate eight parts: a) land a large rover to NASA has put rocks, than a sample return mission. collect and cache samples; b) dispatch forth two However, that said, if members of the a Mars ascent vehicle to Mars and remarkable new scientific community really believe perform a surface rendezvous with the plans for its that a robotic Mars sample return is so rover or its cache; c) fly the Mars proposed next valuable that it is worth sacrificing all ascent vehicle to Mars orbit to major initiatives. the other kinds of science they could rendezvous with a solar electric Both bear careful do with their cash, then it is imperative propulsion spacecraft; d) fly the solar examination. that NASA develop the most efficient electric propulsion spacecraft back to As the centerpiece for its future Mars sample return plan, to allow the near-Earth interplanetary space; e) human program, NASA sample to be obtained as quickly as build a LaGrange point space station; proposes to build another space f) fly astronauts to the LaGrange point station, this one located not in low space station; g) dispatch astronauts Earth orbit but at the L2 Lagrange from a LaGrange point space station point just above the far side of the to take the sample from the solar Moon. This plan is indeed remarkable electric propulsion spacecraft and in as much as an L2 space station return to the LaGrange point space would serve no useful purpose station; h) conduct extended studies whatsoever. We don’t need an L2 of the sample in the LaGrange point space station to go back to the Moon. space station. We don’t need an L2 space station to The kindest thing that can be said go to near-Earth . We don’t about this quintuple rendezvous plan need an L2 space station to go to is that it is probably the unplanned Mars. We don’t need an L2 space product of the pathology of station for anything. bureaucracy, rather than the willful The other initiative is a new plan for madness of any individual. For a fifth Mars sample return, which is now held of its cost, NASA could fly five simple to be the primary mission of the direct sample return missions, each of robotic . which would have (at least) five times This plan is remarkable for its possible and with the least possible its chance of mission success. So it’s unprecedented and utterly expenditure of funds that could be hard to imagine any sane person unnecessary complexity. used for other types of Mars inventing it on purpose. It may well be asked whether a exploration missions. Clearly, though, the group that sample return is the best way to Unfortunately, however, rather than drifted into it was attempting to make pursue the robotic scientific propose the most cost-effective plan the Mars sample return mission exploration of Mars, within the budget for a Mars sample return mission, provide an apparent excuse for the of the Mars exploration program run NASA has now set forth the most existence for an assortment of other by NASA’s planetary exploration convoluted, riskiest, costliest approach NASA hobbyhorses. For example, we directorate. That is an issue over ever conceived. The Curiosity mission note that it makes use of the LaGrange which reasonable people may and do just demonstrated a system that can point space station. But this does not differ. It is certainly possible to soft land 900 kilograms on the help the Mars sample return mission, propose alternative robotic mission surface. With a 900-kilogram payload, which could much more simply just sets consisting of assortments of it is possible to land a complete two- return the samples to Earth, where far orbiters, rovers, aircraft, surface stage Mars ascent vehicle capable of better lab facilities are available than networks, etc., that might produce a flying a capsule with a 1-kilogram could ever be installed at L2. Rather, greater science return than the Mars sample directly back to Earth, as well by invoking the L2 station as a critical sample return mission, much sooner, as a class element of the mission plan, NASA is especially in view of the fact that vehicle to gather the samples for it. inserting a toll both blocking the way human explorers could return But instead of proposing such a to the accomplishment of the sample hundreds of times the amount of straightforward plan, NASA has now return, while radically increasing samples, selected far more wisely, baselined a mission conducted in mission and program cost, schedule

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 3 and risk and decreasing science and minimize the return of its return. The same can be said for missions. If the space program is to requiring the use of electric survive, it needs to really deliver the propulsion, a technology program that goods. Now, more than ever, if we was inserted into the human Mars actually want to get a sample from mission critical path based on an Mars, we need to employ a plan that unsupportable claim by a well-placed does that in the simplest, cheapest, advocate that it could speed up fastest and most direct fashion interplanetary transits, and that now possible. Under no circumstances needs some alternative rationale. should the mission be made into a This planning methodology is Christmas tree on which to hang all equivalent to that of a shopaholic the ornaments in the bureaucracy’s couple who ask an architect to design narcissistic wish box of useless and their dream house but insist that he costly multi-decade delays. And the include in his design as critical same can be said of the human Mars components every whimsical piece of exploration mission as well. If we want random junk they have ever bought in to go to Mars, we need to go to Mars, the past and piled up in their back not to L2. yard, in order to make those purchases appear rational after the Bergeron Illustration: Joe fact. By capitulating to this kind of NASA is facing an oncoming fiscal Dr. Robert Zubrin is Founder and thinking, the NASA leadership has tsunami. There could never be a President of the Mars Society, author transformed Mars sample return from worse time for the agency to seek to of “” and President a mission into a “vision.” inflate the cost, stretch the schedule of Pioneer Astronautics.

“Three Percent for the Future” Campaign to Save Mars Exploration

America is rightly thrilled by the the people’s representatives must take to explain to them the challenges recent success of the Curiosity this matter in hand. facing Mars exploration and to call landing on Mars and its In an effort to reverse upon them to act to save the program. ongoing discoveries. Yet even this dire situation, the The Mars Society’s demand is as the administration is taking Mars Society launched a simple and justifiable: That NASA’s a bow for this great nation-wide campaign in Mars exploration program should be achievement, they are placed on a solid financial moving to kill the program footing of no less than three that created it. percent of the space agency’s The figures speak for overall budget. themselves. This year's NASA Mars exploration budget is $587 million. The Editorial note: The recent administration is proposing to NASA announcement to build cut that to $360.8 million in and send to Mars a second MSL- fiscal year 2013, $227.7 million type rover in 2020 is a step in in 2014 and $188.7 million in the right direction, but much 2015, a level that would more needs to be done. effectively put the nation out A sample return mission, of the Mars exploration while important scientifically, business. NASA could actually serve as an These cuts need to be reversed. September 2012 calling upon its impediment to human exploration. A NASA’s budget is the responsibility of chapters and members, as well as the Martian sample return is best done as Congress. If America is to continue to general public, to arrange meetings part of a human mission to the Red be a nation of explorers and pioneers, with their senators and representatives Planet.

The Mars Quarterly 4 Volume 4, Issue 2 Mars: Present & Future

Q&A with NASA’s Michael A. Meyer Interviewed by Matt Camara

With the Curiosity rover expected to roll ...I'm in awe of where we are in terms into the deepest of Mars exploration right now. The best recesses of the Gale crater soon enough, part of this, for me is that I get to The Mars Quarterly participate, I get to see Mars… caught up with NASA's Mars Exploration and what are you the sample return mission right now. Program lead scientist guys finding? Dr. Michael A. Meyer in Meyer: Right now TMQ: Is cooperation with another early October for an we're coming to the space-faring nation an option? interview about himself, Gale Crater and the Meyer: That's an internal debate what the Red Planet's (rocky) shelf we're on within NASA. Certainly we're in favor explorers plan to do is showing more of (cooperating with the European next and what, if signs of water than Space Agency) but the Europeans anything, the future NASA we expected. might be a little gun shy about another holds for collaborative efforts between TMQ: Than you expected? What do collaboration with us. We still work the U.S. and Europeans. you mean? with them but it's nothing compared to An oceanographer by training, Meyer: In the lowest part of the what they're doing with Russia. Meyer previously worked as NASA's crater itself it looks like there's an senior scientist for astrobiology and alluvial wall and then a high thermal TMQ: How do you feel about the program scientist for the Mars intertia. There's a suspicion that this public's response to what you guys Odyssey mission in 2001, according to would have been a flowing riverbed, are doing on Mars? his official biography. He holds a but we're not there yet. So to find Meyer: That's an interesting doctorate in oceanography from Texas evidence of water as high up as we question. Of course I'm a little biased A&M University, College Station and are is a surprise. when it comes to answering it. I take has conducted extensive research on the view that this is one of the great microorganisms living in extreme TMQ: I'd read the temperature was things the United States is doing. The environments. a bit of a surprise too, is that true? U.S. is doing really fantastic things. I Meyer: Yes, it is little warmer than think it's gotten a lot of people excited. TMQ: How does an oceanographer we thought. This could be great news. end up not only working on, but TMQ: Any examples of how? leading a program to explore Mars? TMQ: Could be or is? Meyer: Well, I've gotten tons of Meyer: It just happened. My first job Meyer: Well, maybe what we're messages from people across the as a post-doc was researching deserts. seeing is the rock absorbing more country. The Curiosity landing broke I said, wait a minute, I'm an sunlight. We already knew there were records in terms of viewership. I think oceanographer, I don't get it … (But parts of Mars where the temperature we're seeing a change in how we can over time) I've learned that life is a goes above freezing. approach (the public). planetary phenomenon. You get a very global view of how life works on the TMQ: Eventually we might find a TMQ: Closing thoughts? planet (by studying its extreme more definitive answer though? Meyer: Just that I'm in awe of where environments). Meyer: Yes, we'll be using Curiosity we are in terms of Mars exploration for another two years or more. As right now. The best part of this, for me TMQ: How does that carry over into long as we don't drive it off a cliff (this is that I get to participate, I get to see astrobiology? research) will continue for some time. Mars… Mars has water in ways that Meyer: Well, astrobiology is the TMQ: Speaking of further research, we see as having made it livable for study of life in extreme environments what's next for Mars exploration some time. Coming from an writ large, and Mars, right now, is the considering the sample return mission oceanography background to this, I'm practical place to apply that research. is mired in funding issues? kind of in awe. TMQ: So where is Curiosity now Meyer: Yes, there's no funding for

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 5 Mars Society Expands Educational Outreach

As part the Mars Biology (with a help encourage Mars educational Society’s effort to concentration in programming, including design of expand its astronomy and classroom-based curriculum, educational outreach astrobiology) from recommended reading for students, program, the Armstrong Atlantic suggested links for educators and a organization State University in new bi-weekly blog called “Red Planet announced in Savannah. Pen.” September 2012 the In addition, Nicole is “We are very excited to have Nicole appointment of an experienced on board as our educational outreach Nicole Willett as the volunteer for public representative. Her work is vital to the group’s new educational awareness overall mission of the Mars Society - Education in the areas of to teach the current and next Coordinator. Nicole astronomy and Mars generation of students about the will work to build research in her local importance of a future on the Red relations with teachers, students and community and has been involved in Planet,” said Mars Society Executive the general public and help volunteer work with Dr. James Nieow Director Susan Holden Martin. communicate the Mars Society’s goal of Valdosta State University and Dr. of expanded Mars exploration and a Chris McKay of NASA Ames Research humans-to-Mars mission in the Center. coming decade. As part of her work as Education Nicole is a veteran Astronomy and Coordinator, Nicole and the Mars Environmental Science teacher at a Society’s Internet staff, led by James secondary school in Savannah, Burk, have created a new Education Georgia. She received her degree in page on the organization’s web site to http://education.marssociety.org/

News Brief

Date & Location of 2013 International Convention Announced

The Mars Society is pleased to announce that the 16th Annual International Mars Society Convention will be held next year on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder from August 15-18, 2013. UC Bolder

Details regarding the special four day conference, including speaker list, schedule and registration information, will be published online early next year.

The 2012 convention in Pasadena set a new record for number of attendees. Let's make next year's event a great success too.

Please join us!

The Mars Quarterly 6 Volume 4, Issue 2 Next in Line - NASA’s InSight

Jason Rhian

NASA is preparing its next mission objective is to understand the very May 2011. The other two included a to the dusty plains of Mars. The early history of the inner rocky mission floating on a methane-ethane mission has been dubbed “InSight” planets, including accretion, sea on Titan and a spacecraft traveling (Interior Exploration using Seismic differentiation and magma ocean with a comet as it journeys through Investigations, Geodesy and Heat history. To do this, we will constrain the solar system. Transport), and it is currently Editorial note: slated to launch in 2016. Commenting on NASA’s InSight’s primary objective approval of the InSight seeks to explain why Mars is mission, Mars the desiccated, flash-frozen Society President Dr. wasteland it is today. Robert Zubrin said: “This It has been hypothesized is a major victory for Mars that Mars was once like exploration. Not only is Earth. It is hoped that InSight InSight an excellent will unlock the mysteries of mission that will teach us the planet’s geological past much about the history and provide the answers to and internal structure of the Red Planet’s dramatic the Red Planet, it saves the transformation. The lander Mars exploration program. will also seek out clues to the A few months ago, we NASA formation of the terrestrial were presented with the planets. the interior structure (including crustal dismal spectacle of a NASA NASA, to date, has followed a thickness, mantle thickness and administrator justifying the strategy of “follow the water.” Unlike composition, core size, density and administration’s decision to cancel the most of its more-recent Martian state-liquid and/or solid- and interior 2016 and 2018 Mars exploration missions, InSight will take a different heat flow). For future missions it missions of the basis that ‘the Mars path, one that could be dubbed, would provide a better understanding program has been successful.’ Now “follow the stones.” To learn what of the early history, composition, and we have a mission for 2016, and it forces determined Mars’ fate, the thermal evolution of Mars. This could shouldn’t be too hard to figure out stationary lander will conduct a variety influence the most scientifically how to get an orbiter or rover for of experiments that involve interesting regions to investigate for 2018, thereby restoring to health the seismology, heat dissipation and key future missions.” ongoing program of every factors involved in planetary The InSight mission will use a lander launch that Administrator Goldin put formation. modeled on 2008’s Mars in place in 1994. That program has InSight will utilize a suite of scientific Lander which arrived on the Red taught us an immense amount about instruments to determine what has Planet in 2008 (which in turn was Mars, and developed a team whose shaped the rocky planets of the inner based on the ). A excellence was just demonstrated for solar system since their formation proven design allows the space allthe world to see in the landing of some four billion years ago. agency to reduce mission costs of Curiosity.” The experiments will gauge the size, planetary exploration. InSight is thickness, density and overall currently scheduled to launch atop a structure of Mars’ core, mantle and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket Jason Rhian is Editor of crust. It will also study how quickly in March of 2016. It will arrive at the AmericaSpace.com heat escapes from the Martian interior. Red Planet in September of that same This will serve to not just provide a year. window into how the Red Planet InSight is a cost-capped mission formed – but to all of the terrestrial with a fixed price of $425 million (not planets that also include Mercury, including the launch vehicle). The Venus and Earth. mission will be managed by NASA’s InSight’s Deputy Principal Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Investigator Sue Smrekar confirmed and was one of three Discovery this objective: “InSight’s primary mission options that were selected in

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 7 ‘White Mars’on Earth

A new research project capable of analogue environment, but also hypoxia (including altitudes of up to greatly expanding mankind’s provide one of the most reliable space 3,200 meters) knowledge and understanding of Mars analog studies to date. The Mars Society and ‘White Mars’ analog studies and possible organizers, including British implications for a humans-to- doctor Alexander Kumar (a Mars mission was recent participant at the announced recently in the International Mars Society United Kingdom. The Convention in Pasadena), project, to be known as will partner in ‘White Mars’, will use a disseminating the details historic 2,000 mile trans- from the TAWT expedition, Antarctic winter expedition including ongoing progress as an outdoor laboratory to reports, important research test how extreme and remote related to space studies environments affect human and educational physiology, providing programming that will help important into the bring the Mars analog challenge of sending humans mission to educators and to the Red Planet. Alex Kumar students in the U.S. and The Standard Chartered Trans- The two year mission will focus on a around the world. Antarctic Winter Traverse (TAWT) is variety of analog research, including: Commenting on the new project, scheduled to take place between Prolonged periods of complete Mars Society President Dr. Robert December 2012 and March 2014. isolation (7-9 months in duration) Zubrin said, “The ‘White Mars’ Consisting of a six person international Experiencing altered day-night expedition is a bold move that will add crew, the expedition will carry out cycles (including 3-4 months of significantly to our understanding of human science testing across the complete darkness) how to deal with the challenges of southern continent during the harsh Exposure to extreme cold and human exploration of the Red winter months. TAWT would weather (in the coldest desert with Planet. The Mars Society is delighted represent not only the first research of extremely low humidity) to part of this terrific project.” its kind in using a polar trek as a Mars Encountering chronic hypobaric

News Brief

Trust Us! Mars Society Receives Guidestar Rating

The Mars Society is pleased to announce that the organization has earned a Guidestar Exchange Seal, demonstrating our strong commitment to non-profit transparency.

Guidestar is a comprehensive informational service specializing in reporting on U.S. non-profit companies and organizations.

http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/31-1585646/mars-society.aspx.

The Mars Quarterly 8 Volume 4, Issue 2 More than a Fresh Coat of Paint - Upgrading MDRS

The Mars Desert Research Station Observatory from the ridge behind the station and had not been used in the (MDRS) will begin its 12th season of Hab, where it has stood since it was past few years. The original system Mars analog research in the desert of first installed, down to a concrete pad has been removed, and a new team of southern Utah with some welcome on the plain behind the Hab. This volunteers, led by Jesse Clark, will be improvements move will allow working on creating a fully-functioning and innovative crews easier Martian greenhouse. This is fitting, as changes. A few Another innovative access to the one of the original goals was to of the upgrades change is the telescope and develop a program of growing food include a new smoother crops for the crews at MDRS. roof, septic modification of the operation of the Finally, the Mars Society would like system, furnace, Fisher GreenHab, dome. And while to thank the many volunteers who appliances, tile the observatory made these station upgrades possible. floor in the living originally a grey water may look the A very special thanks to Peter quarters, paint, recycling system, into a same, the dome Detterline and the astronomy team, computer is now fully John Barianca, Shannon Rupert , Judd hardware and functional greenhouse automated, and Reed, Jesse Clark, Steve Foss, and software and for growing crops and the electronics Daniel Valerio for their enormous gifts Internet upgrades. have been of time, resources and hard work as Most welcome conducting new types upgraded. part of the 2012 MDRS work crew. of all, certainly by of plant research. Another past crew innovative change members, is a is the modification completely remodeled bathroom and of the Fisher GreenHab, originally a shower room that includes a new sink, grey water recycling system, into a shower and cubbies on the wall. The functional greenhouse for growing cubbies will allow crew members to crops and conducting new types of store their toiletries in the bathroom, plant research. While much has been rather than carrying them back and learned over the years regarding the forth from their staterooms. water recycling with the original One major innovation this past system, it was not large enough to summer involved moving the Musk support growing operations at the

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 9 Moving Musk (Observatory)

Peter Detterline

It was late afternoon on Day 12 at properly rotate the dome to the point rotation function that can be operated the Mars Desert Research Station that it was disconnected. These either manually or remotely by (MDRS) in the Utah desert when the things should not have been computer. Two new wall panels with wind storm hit. I looked on as the happening. I went to MDRS to cubby holes provide additional space right corner of the lower shutter began investigate. in the facility. There is, of course, the to visibly shake. Suddenly, a huge It wasn’t the mount. It had been new mount: It is advanced, highly gust of wind rattled the entire building bolted into the concrete and properly accurate, easy to use and polar so fiercely I was certain it would come aligned in 2002. Therefore, it had to aligned. A new computer system is off its foundation. Apparently, so did be the concrete. That would explain dedicated to the observatory along one of my colleagues who the constant adjustments to the with a high resolution color CCD automatically grabbed a wall to telescope and dome. Sure enough, camera. There is even an additional stabilize the structure as if he could tests showed that the pad had been wide field telescope piggybacked onto hold it down with his sheer strength built on a rocky slope that was slowly the main instrument to provide more and force of will. shifting. versatility in viewing. “Don’t!” I said, “We need to see if it Six years later, thanks to a Dr. Robert Zubrin and Susan Holden can withstand this. It has to be able to substantial donation, the Musk Martin were instrumental to this hold up on its own.” And indeed, in Observatory underwent a major refit success as they dealt with everything its new location, the Musk to make it functional again. By the from dome issues to late shipments to Observatory shutters survived that time we arrived in July 2012, a new customs documents. A great debt of 50-60mph wind storm. concrete pad had already been poured thanks is owed to the refit crew My crew and I had just spent 15 and was set on the carefully chosen consisting of John Barainca, Gary days moving the observatory from a location on the greenhouse side of the Becker, Ginger Fiore and Judd Reed. top the rocky ridge overlooking MDRS Hab. Our job was to disassemble the I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as down to the flat plains of analog Mars. observatory and reconstruct it at the much at MDRS as I did this summer It was an absolutely necessary task, new site. while we solved multiple problems but to fully understand why, we need I had the privilege of working with a and gazed in wonder at the night sky. to go back to 2006. dedicated and skilled crew. We all left It would not be possible to sufficiently Back then, crew astronomers were our watches at home and put in some thank Elon Musk for his original having problems at the observatory. very long hours. It paid off - the end donation which first brought me to The mount needed constant result is amazing. Let me take you on Mars. And to the anonymous donor readjustment to achieve and maintain a tour. whose generous contribution made polar alignment. The dome motor The observatory is now fitted with a this incredible refit possible, we offer was malfunctioning and would not new electric shutter system and dome our unending gratitude.

The Mars Quarterly 10 Volume 4, Issue 2 There and Back Again - An Orbiter’s Tale

Jason Rhian

When NASA’s Curiosity entered into the “seven minutes of terror” that comprised the most dangerous phase of its mission, much emphasis was placed on the fact that Entry-Descent and Landing or “EDL” lasted for seven minutes, while it took 14 minutes for Over the first 40 sols on Mars, Curiosity is averaging return of more than 450 Megabits of data every the signals from the rover to reach Earth. Little attention however, was paid to the complex system employed by NASA to communicate with

Curiosity. NASA Curiosity relies on several different information to controllers back on MRO is far more powerful with the elements to transmit the stunning Earth, MRO has been crucial in the ability to send data hurtling back to imagery and vital data that comprise selection of landing sites. Earth at 2048K bits per second. It is the updates Curiosity transmits back “Curiosity will typically relay data able to accomplish this thanks in large to Earth twice a day. through each orbiter twice per sol, part to more powerful radios, NASA currently has two spacecraft once in the Martian afternoon advanced compression schemes and in orbit around the Red Planet, Mars (between 3 and 4 p.m. PM) and again other more-modern equipment. Odyssey and the Mars early in the Martian morning (between NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The 3 and 4 a.m.). Over the first 40 sols on is the primary source of data space agency also has a backup, the Mars, Curiosity is averaging return of collection for Curiosity and ’s Mars more than 450 Megabits of data every Opportunity. DSN’s massive dish Express Orbiter. sol,” said Chad Edwards the chief antennas collect the 2GB worth of data Later in Curiosity’s planned life, telecommunications engineer for the that streams from Mars. They also NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Mars exploration program. transmit the roughly 250MB of EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft will With the trio of orbiting instructions that are forwarded to the assist Curiosity in transmitting the above Mars, NASA has redundant rovers operating on the Martian rover’s findings back to the home abundant relay services in place that surface. The DSN employs antennas in world when it is launched in late 2013. pick up the signals that Curiosity (as California, Spain and Australia to The time when this spacecraft will be well as the Mars Exploration Rover accomplish this task. able to assist the plutonium-powered Opportunity) transmits up from the rover in its mission to find . is limited to just one year, with The small fleet of rovers and Jason Rhian is Editor of possible extensions. satellites are some 13.5 million miles AmericaSpace.com Odyssey was the first of NASA’s two away from Earth. Odyssey utilizes orbiting spacecraft to arrive at Mars, older, but still highly-reliable slipping into orbit above the Red technology enabling it to transmit data Planet in 2001. Five years later MRO at either 128K or 256K bits per second. and its high resolution imaging The smaller number is approximately equipment began its mission. While twice the speed of an Internet dialup Odyssey has been used to relay connection.

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 11 News Brief

Calling All Rovers!

Join Us at the 2013 URC in Utah Kevin Sloan Kevin

Calling all rovers! Registration has officially begun for the 2013 University Rover Challenge (URC). The seventh annual rendition of the international competition for college students is organized by the Mars Society and will be held May 30 - June 1, 2013 at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) near Hanksville, Utah.

Registration details are now online. This unique and renowned competition has hosted dozens of college teams since 2007 in a barren landscape that is an ideal analog of the planet Mars. The MDRS site is also home to human crews conducting mission simulations that test a broad range of Mars exploration topics. URC rovers are designed and built to one day assist astronauts on the Red Planet.

Elon Musk Receives Mars Pioneer Award

In August, the 15th Annual International Mars Society commercial vehicle to successfully attach to the Convention was held in Pasadena, California. The occasion International Space Station and return cargo to Earth. saw Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin present SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk with the first annual “Mars Pioneer Award.” Considered one of the world’s leading space pioneers and entrepreneurs, Mr. Musk received the award in recognition of his strong dedication to the goal of human exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. At SpaceX, Mr. Musk is the CEO and chief designer, overseeing development of rockets and spacecraft for missions to Earth orbit and ultimately to other planets. The SpaceX Falcon 1 was the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to reach orbit. In 2010, SpaceX became the first commercial company to recover a spacecraft successfully from Earth orbit, with its Dragon capsule. And this year, SpaceX´s Dragon became the first

The Mars Quarterly 12 Volume 4, Issue 2 My Journey to the Mars Society Convention

Nicole Willett

As a lifelong Mars enthusiast, I was was also happy to meet Bill Nye the Zubrin) about the proposed Mars thrilled when the opportunity arose to Science Guy, who offered greetings sample-return mission - and the volunteer at the 15th Annual from to all of us controversy surrounding that idea - International Mars Society Convention. at the Mars Society. and gently suggesting that J. Craig I am an astronomy teacher at Saturday began with a wonderful Venter was making amazing advances Benedictine Military School in talk by George Whitesides from Virgin in DNA sequencing technology and Savannah, Georgia. I have been Galactic, who spoke about the maybe we should just send a mini following Dr. Robert Zubrin’s work for advances his company is taking in DNA sequencer to Mars. Soon after I over a decade. Thus, it was a pleasure commercial . At got home, there was a news story to travel to the West Coast for such an midday, Dr. Lori Garver, the Deputy about that very idea. I like to think extraordinary event, which took place Administrator at NASA, spoke about that was a great coincidence. at the Pasadena Convention Center the importance of space exploration to Sunday evening started with a from August 3rd thru 5th, 2012. the future of humankind. We were wonderful talk by famed shuttle The convention was scheduled to also excited to hear Dr. Ashwin astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave, who coincide with the landing of NASA’s Vasavada of NASA/JPL speak about then joined Dr. Zubrin for a special , Curiosity, on the Curiosity rover. panel session titled, “Our Future in the Red Planet. I arrived at the At midday on Saturday, we were Space.” This panel was the lead-up to convention center on August 3rd and treated to a very motivational talk by the main event - the landing of NASA’s headed straight toward Volunteer Dr. Adam Steltzner, the EDL (entry MSL Curiosity rover. There was Coordinator Tom Szumilla from the descent and landing) lead engineer for standing room only in the convention Dallas Chapter of the Mars Society. the Curiosity rover. On Sunday, when hall and the anticipation was He introduced me to Executive we watched the landing’s live feed, overwhelming. All eyes were on the Director Susan Holden Martin, and there was a roar of applause when Dr. live feed from NASA/JPL that was up they immediately began my volunteer Steltzner came on the screen. Later in on the big screen as the time for entry, instruction. Events were moving the afternoon, Dr. Peter Diamandis descent and landing drew near. The quickly, and there were lots of new from the X-Prize Foundation gave an clock kept ticking, but it was as if time names and faces to learn. Once I inspirational talk about abundance and slowed down while everyone in the familiarized myself with my the future; the speech had such an room shared the wait, the worry and surroundings, new workload and the impact on me that I have shown it to the hope. Counting down… the other volunteers, the thrill of the event all of my students. ‘seven minutes of terror’ began with started to set in. Saturday evening culminated in an the announcement by the team at JPL There were dozens of speakers extraordinary event: A banquet was that Curiosity had entered the Martian scheduled, and they included many held to honor Elon Musk, the founder atmosphere. Next, JPL described amazing scientists and entrepreneurs and CEO of SpaceX, for his every preprogrammed maneuver and with a passion for all things Mars. I achievements involving commercial accomplishment during what seemed met many people I have admired for spaceflight and his desire to put to be the longest seven minutes any years, including Dr. Zubrin, NASA’s Dr. humans on Mars. Dr. Zubrin also of us could remember. Carol Stoker and retired astronauts Dr. presented him with the first Mars Finally, at approximately 10:31 p.m. and Dr. Story Musgrave. Pioneer Award. The banquet hall was PDT, confirmation of a successful Dr. Zubrin opened the Friday filled, and the excitement of being in landing was announced, and cheers morning plenaries with a talk entitled, the presence of a man who has no roared through the hall, along with “Humans to Mars in Our Time,” where fear of achievement was palpable. hugs and high-fives. Almost he demonstrated the unmistakable Everyone was anxiously anticipating immediately, the rover sent images passion for this quest, which has his acceptance speech, and Elon Musk that popped up on the big screen for always drawn me to follow his work. did not disappoint. His words were all to see, and a wave of relief went The speakers kept going, one after inspiring - and the energy was raised through the hall and around the world. another, and offered more and more to a new level. Finally, Dr. Zubrin made a few Mars-related information to feed the Sunday started off with a morning statements to close out the hungry audience. Some of Friday’s plenary session from Dr. Stoker, an convention. The thrill of sharing such other notable speakers were Dr. Jim astrobiologist from NASA. I was an event surely will be permanently Bell from the Planetary Society, Dr. particularly interested in her speech embedded in the memory of everyone Richard Cook from NASA/JPL and since my background is in involved with the Mars Society General Simon “Pete” Worden Director astrobiology. Then, I remember convention - I know it will be in mine. of the NASA Ames Research Center. I speaking with Dr. Stoker (and Dr.

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 13 Highlights from the 2012 Mars Society Convention

Dr. Carol Stoker, NASA Exhibit hall at convention

Dallas chapter t-shirt sale Mars panel discussion

Audience at plenary talk

The Mars Quarterly 14 Volume 4, Issue 2 Dr. Ashwin Vasavada, NASA

Peter Diamandis, X Prize Foundation

2012 Poster by Caitlin Folchman-Wagner

Dr. Adam Steltzner, JPL

Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrtator Convention volunteers

The Mars Quarterly www.MarsSociety.org 15 THE MARS SOCIETY is a OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP AND DONATION FORM 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit Contact Information organization with headquarters in Colorado, USA, committed to furthering the goal of the explor- Name ______ation and settlement of the Red Address ______Planet, via broad public outreach to instill the vision of pioneering City ______Mars, support of ever more aggressive government funded State/Province ______Zip ______Mars exploration programs around the world, and conducting Mars Country ______exploration on a private basis. Email ______THE MARS SOCIETY BOARD Contribution Information OF DIRECTORS: Robert Zubrin Please check the amount of your contribution. Declan O'Donnell All donations of $1000 or more pay your dues for life! Rt. Rev. James Heiser __ Visionary ...... $5000 __ Explorer ...... $2000 __ Benefactor ...... $1000 __ Enthusiast ...... $500 THE MARS SOCIETY STEERING COMMITTEE: __ Friend ...... $200 __ Donor ...... $100 Buzz Aldrin __ Other donation ...... $______April Andreas I’m donating $100 or more, please send an autographed copy of: Jonathan Clarke Patricia Czarnik __ The Case for Mars __ Entering Space Richard Heidmann __ Mars on Earth __ First Landing (a novel) Rt. Rev. James Heiser __ The Holy Land (satire) __ Jürgen Herholz Bruce Mackenzie __ On to __ On to Susan Holden Martin __ Mars Songs CD __ How to Live on Mars Anthony Muscatello Declan O’Donnell Membership Information Lucinda Offer Please add to or upgrade my membership as follows: Ian O’Neill (Please check the appropriate membership level) Joseph E. Palaia, IV __ Regular Membership: __ 1 year ...... $50 __ 3 years ... $100 Shannon M. Rupert Kevin F. Sloan __ Senior Membership: __ 1 year ...... $25 __ 3 years ..... $50 __ Student Membership: __ 1 year ...... $25 __ 3 years ..... $50 Sara Spector __ Family Membership: __ 1 year ..... $100 __ 3 years ... $200 Michael Stoltz Edward Barrington Stott Payment Information Chris Vancil Robert Zubrin Total Amount (Membership + Donation) ...... $ ______Personal Check or Credit Card __ Visa __ M/C __ Amex Credit Card # ______

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The Mars Quarterly 16 Volume 4, Issue 2