DOCSLIB.ORG

By Kimm Fesenmaier

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
By Kimm Fesenmaier BY Kimm FESENmaier Mission to Mars Close to midnight on Black Friday, 2011, John Grotzinger was standing in the swampy darkness at Cape Canaveral, snapping photos of an Atlas V rocket, when a car pulled up behind him. “Oh boy,” he thought. “This is it . I’m getting arrested.” it wouldn’t have been your typical the illuminated rocket and steel- these people have worked on what’s arrest: Grotzinger leads the team ing himself to be hauled off to jail. inside it, and that this rocket is going of scientists that had prepared the He wasn’t. The man who drove up to deliver their dreams to the surface precious payload atop that rocket— behind him that night turned out to of another planet . To see it up this the Mars science Laboratory (MsL), be one of the engineers from the Jet close in the dark of night is a reminder the most capable robotic mission Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) who had of the miracle of engineering, and that ever sent to the Red Planet. Earlier been at Cape Canaveral doing final we should never take this for granted.” that november day, a colleague had checkouts of MsL’s car-sized Mars When the rocket blasted off the mentioned to Grotzinger that his rover, Curiosity. In fact, with his escort next morning—sending MsL on badge should allow him to get and photography privileges, the engi- its 352-million-mile trip to Mars— a close-up look at the Atlas V. neer was able to take Grotzinger right Grotzinger was cheering with the And so, after a series of uncertain up to the base of the rocket. science team in the bleachers at the turns and a bit of off-roading on the Grotzinger was awestruck. “you Banana Creek viewing area. The launch beach, Grotzinger found himself in get up close and see this enormous marked the end of the first phase of the the dark, just outside the fenced-off thing that you know is going to leave mission for Grotzinger, nine principal launch pad, taking in the beauty of earth,” he says, “and you know all investigators, and their team of about 300 scientists from around the world. That team had worked with engineers to design, build, test, and integrate the suite of 10 scientific instruments that make Curiosity a fully automated, roving geological laboratory capable of collecting and analyzing samples on the surface of Mars. Now the clock is ticking down as they prep for the next phase, when they will begin receiv- ing images and measurements from Curiosity and using that data to seek evidence of a Martian environment Due to Curiosity’s size and mass, a new sky-crane touchdown system will lower the rover to the Martian surface. Once Curiosity touches down, the bridle will be cut and the descent stage will fly away. SUMMER 2012 ENGINEERING & SCIENCE 13 that could have once supported bounce landing like theirs is out of the fied the chemical signatures of clays microbial life. question. This time around, stages and sulfate minerals, which are formed that phase will begin on August 5 will jettison, an enormous parachute through interaction with water, in the of this year when—if all goes well— resplendent in orange and white (in lower parts of the mountain. On Earth, MsL will blaze through the Martian Caltech’s honor) will unfurl, and eight these minerals are often found with— atmosphere, traveling at a speed retrorockets will fire.t hen, in a dramatic and help protect—organic compounds. final act, MsL’s descent stage, posi- All this makes the mountain a promising tioned above the rover, will behave like place to begin investigating the planet’s a sky crane, lowering Curiosity on long past habitability. tethers to the surface of the planet. “We don’t know what the story is going to be at Gale Crater, but we’ve got WE LCOME TO GALE CRATER a wonderfully simple exploration model,” That action-packed entrance should Grotzinger says, “We’ll just start at the leave the rover poised on all six wheels bottom of the mountain, interrogate the inside Gale Crater, an ancient impact layers and make the crater just south of the Martian equator. measurements, and see roughly the size of the Los Angeles what the planet’s trying Basin—at 154 kilometers (96 miles) in to tell us. I don’t think diameter—the crater is the kind of place we can lose.” geologists would head to on Earth to Ideal though the search for evidence of past life. They location may be, it took hope to find organic compounds, the the scientific commu- carbon-containing chemicals consid- nity about five years to ered necessary for life. so finding the settle on Gale Crater of some 13,200 miles per hour. in crater on Mars, at a safe elevation with as MSL’s landing site. less time than it takes to boil a pot moderate environmental conditions, “the amazing thing is of water—a nail-biting period known made it a natural choice for the mission. that, thanks to MSL’s as the “six minutes of terror”—the The floor of Gale Crater is at a low landing system, we spacecraft will go through a series elevation relative to its surroundings, scientists got to con- of maneuvers to put on the brakes which means that if water once flowed sider—for the first time and touch down. this will be no across Mars, Gale might have been a ever—the absolute best small feat: at nearly 2,000 pounds, location in which groundwater col- places on Mars,” says Curiosity weighs more than five times lected and perhaps even emerged as Grotzinger. “the whole as much as the previously launched an ancient lake. But the main attraction time we were debating, Mars exploration rovers (Mers) at Gale is a mountain that rises five I had seasoned veter- spirit and opportunity, so an air-bag kilometers (three miles) from the crater ans telling me, ‘John, floor.t he science team has dubbed don’t get your hopes this geological feature Mount Sharp up, because in the end Above: Curiosity’s landing plan puts it within Gale in honor of the late robert P. sharp (Bs engineering constraints Crater, an impact feature on Mars that’s more ’34, Ms ’35), the beloved former chair will probably kill all of than 3 billion years old. The layered mountain at of Caltech’s then Division of Geological these choices. Be prepared to accept its center, dubbed Mount Sharp by the science sciences, who built the institute’s pro- whatever’s left on the table.’ But we team, is a major scientific focus for the mission. gram in planetary sciences. Scientists didn’t have to settle. In the end, we Right: These are replicas of the wheels on hope to use Curiosity and its scien- chose the site that was actually the Sojourner (center), the first rover on Mars; the tific instruments to read the history of science team’s favorite, and the Mars Exploration Rovers (left); and Curiosity (right). Mars by characterizing Mount sharp’s engineers could support it.” Curiosity’s wheels are approximately 20 inches strata—beginning with its oldest layers (50 centimeters) in diameter while Sojourner’s were at the bottom and inching up to those SAM I AM closer to 5 inches (13 centimeters). deposited more recently. Previous Curiosity is uniquely equipped to select, orbital missions have already identi- sample, and analyze rock and soil 14 ENGINEERING & SCIENCE SUMMER 2012 targets once it arrives on Mars. Indeed, Once Curiosity drills into a rock or wipe away traces of organics because JPL deputy project scientist Ashwin scoops some soil to harvest a sample, it is also an oxidant. So even if life had Vasavada (PhD ’98) describes the rover its six-foot robotic arm will go through once thrived on Mars, scientists would as “a Mars scientist’s dream machine.” a series of tai-chi-like maneuvers to be hard pressed to find traces of it.i n its onboard tool kit includes not only process and deliver the materials to fact, on earth—a planet that teems with devices that are the equivalent of the the rover’s belly, where they can be life—the record of life in the form of hand lens and drill geologists rely upon analyzed by two advanced onboard organic matter is rarely preserved over in the field, but also the spectrometers laboratories. one, called CheMin, will geologic time. and other analytical instruments they use X-ray diffraction to identify minerals Not to fear, though: MSL’s success might use in the lab to identify the in the sample. the other, called sAM does not hinge on finding organic chemical elements, minerals, and gases (for sample Analysis at Mars), is a suite matter. simply by driving up the mound in their samples. The rover sports sev- of three analytical instruments—two in Gale Crater, taking samples, and eral cameras that will allow it to observe spectrometers and a gas chromato- reading the layered record it encoun- its surroundings in high definition and graph—that can check for large organic ters, Curiosity will improve our under- molecules and other important chemi- standing of the evolution of Mars. And cal elements, measure isotope ratios if it can reach a spot about a quarter to look for signs of past planetary of a mile (about 400 meters) up Mount changes, and determine concentrations sharp, it should find a break point that of gases in both surface samples and may mark a geologic transition between the Martian atmosphere.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Water on Mars Vanished. This Might Be Where It Went
    The water on Mars vanished. This might be where it went. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/the-water-on-mars-vanished-this-might-be-where- it-went-/articleshow/81599751.cms NYT News Service | Mar 20, 2021, 10:32 IST Mars was once wet, with an ocean’s worth of water on its surface. Today, most of Mars is as dry as a desert except for ice deposits in its polar regions. Where did the rest of the water go? Some of it disappeared into space. Water molecules, pummeled by particles of solar wind, broke apart into hydrogen and oxygen atoms, and those, especially the lighter hydrogen atoms, sped out of the atmosphere, lost to outer space. A tall outcropping of rock, with layered deposits of sediments in the distance, marking a remnant of an ancient, long-vanished river delta in Jezero Crater, are pictured in this undated image taken by NASA's Mars rover Perseverance. (Reuters) But most of the water, a new study concludes, went down, sucked into the red planet’s rocks. And there it remains, trapped within minerals and salts. Indeed, as much as 99% of the water that once flowed on Mars could still be there, the researchers estimated in a paper published this week in the journal Science. Data from the past two decades of robotic missions to Mars, including NASA ’s Curiosity rover and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, showed a wide distribution of what geologists call hydrated minerals. “It became very, very clear that it was common and not rare to find evidence of water alteration,” said Bethany Ehlmann, a professor of planetary science at the California Institute of Technology and one of the authors of the paper.
    [Show full text]
  • Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration1
    June 24, 2012 Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration1 ‐ Report of a Workshop at LPI, June 12‐14, 2012 – Stephen Mackwell2 (LPI) Michael Amato (NASA Goddard), Bobby Braun (Georgia Institute of Technology), Steve Clifford (LPI), John Connolly (NASA Johnson), Marcello Coradini (ESA), Bethany Ehlmann (Caltech), Vicky Hamilton (SwRI), John Karcz (NASA Ames), Chris McKay (NASA Ames), Michael Meyer (NASA HQ), Brian Mulac (NASA Marshall), Doug Stetson (SSECG), Dale Thomas (NASA Marshall), and Jorge Vago (ESA) Executive Summary Recent deep cuts in the budget for Mars exploration at NASA necessitate a reconsideration of the Mars robotic exploration program within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), especially in light of overlapping requirements with future planning for human missions to the Mars environment. As part of that reconsideration, a workshop on “Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration” was held at the USRA Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, TX, on June 12‐14, 2012. Details of the meeting, including abstracts, video recordings of all sessions, and plenary presentations, can be found at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/marsconcepts2012/. Participation in the workshop included scientists, engineers, and graduate students from academia, NASA Centers, Federal Laboratories, industry, and international partner organizations. Attendance was limited to 185 participants in order to facilitate open discussion of the critical issues for Mars exploration in the coming decades. As 390 abstracts were submitted by individuals interested in participating in the workshop, the Workshop Planning Team carefully selected a subset of the abstracts for presentation based on their appropriateness to the workshop goals, and ensuring that a broad diverse suite of concepts and ideas was presented.
    [Show full text]
  • Bethany L. Ehlmann California Institute of Technology 1200 E. California Blvd. MC 150-21 Pasadena, CA 91125 USA Ehlmann@Caltech
    Bethany L. Ehlmann California Institute of Technology [email protected] 1200 E. California Blvd. Caltech office: +1 626.395.6720 MC 150-21 JPL office: +1 818.354.2027 Pasadena, CA 91125 USA Fax: +1 626.568.0935 EDUCATION Ph.D., 2010; Sc. M., 2008, Brown University, Geological Sciences (advisor, J. Mustard) M.Sc. by research, 2007, University of Oxford, Geography (Geomorphology; advisor, H. Viles) M.Sc. with distinction, 2005, Univ. of Oxford, Environ. Change & Management (advisor, J. Boardman) A.B. summa cum laude, 2004, Washington University in St. Louis (advisor, R. Arvidson) Majors: Earth & Planetary Sciences, Environmental Studies; Minor: Mathematics International Baccalaureate Diploma, Rickards High School, Tallahassee, Florida, 2000 Additional Training: Nordic/NASA Summer School: Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe, Iceland, 2009 Vatican Observatory Summer School in Astronomy &Astrophysics, Castel Gandolfo, Italy, 2005 Rainforest to Reef Program: Marine Geology, Coastal Sedimentology, James Cook Univ., Australia, 2004 School for International Training, Development and Conservation Program, Panamá, Sept-Dec 2002 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Professor of Planetary Science, Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Assistant Professor 2011-2017, Professor 2017-present; Associate Director, Keck Institute for Space Studies 2018-present Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 2011-2020 Lunar Trailblazer, Principal Investigator, 2019-present MaMISS
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Glaciers in Halting Syrtis Major Lava Flows to Preserve and Divert a Fluvial System
    ROLE OF GLACIERS IN HALTING SYRTIS MAJOR LAVA FLOWS TO PRESERVE AND DIVERT A FLUVIAL SYSTEM A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Geology in The Department of Geology and Geophysics by Connor Michael Matherne B.S., Louisiana State University, 2017 December 2019 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to J.R. Skok and Jack Mustard for conceiving the initial ideas behind this project and to Suniti Karunatillake and J.R. Skok for their guidance. Additionally, thank you to my committee members Darrell Henry and Peter Doran for aid in understanding the complex volcanic and climate history for this location. This work has benefited from reviews and discussions with Tim Goudge, Steven Ruff, Jim Head, and Bethany Ehlmann. We thank Caleb Fassett for providing the CTX DEM processing of the outlet fan and Tim Goudge for providing the basin Depression CTX DEM. All data and observations used in this study are publically available from the NASA PDS. Derived products such as produced CTX DEMs can be attained through processing or contacting the primary author. Connor Matherne was supported by the Frank’s Chair funds, W.L. Calvert Memorial Scholarship, NASA-EPSCoR funded LASpace Graduate Student Research Assistantship grant, and Louisiana Board of Regents Research Award Program grant LEQSF-EPS(2017)-RAP-22 awarded to Karunatillake. J.R. Skok was supported with the MDAP award NNX14AR93G. Suniti Karunatillake’s work was supported by NASA- MDAP grant 80NSSC18K1375. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Petrology on Mars†K
    American Mineralogist, Volume 100, pages 2380–2395, 2015 INVITED CENTENNIAL ARTICLE REVIEW Petrology on Mars†k HARRY Y. MCSWEEN JR.1,* 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Planetary Geoscience Institute, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1410, U.S.A. ABSTRACT Petrologic investigations of martian rocks have been accomplished by mineralogical, geochemical, and textural analyses from Mars rov- ers (with geologic context provided by orbiters), and by laboratory analyses of martian meteorites. Igneous rocks are primarily lavas and volcaniclastic rocks of basaltic composition, and ultramafic cumulates; alkaline rocks are common in ancient terranes and tholeiitic rocks occur in younger terranes, suggesting global magmatic evolution. Relatively uncommon feldspathic rocks represent the ultimate fractionation prod- ucts, and granitic rocks are unknown. Sedimentary rocks are of both clastic (mudstone, sandstone, conglomerate, all containing significant igneous detritus) and chemical (evaporitic sulfate and less common carbonate) origin. High-silica sediments formed by hydrothermal activity. Sediments on Mars formed from different protoliths and were weathered under different environmental conditions from terrestrial sediments. Metamorphic rocks have only been inferred from orbital remote-sensing measurements. Metabasalt and serpentinite have mineral assemblages consistent with those predicted from low-pressure phase equilibria and likely formed in geothermal systems. Shock effects are com- mon in martian meteorites, and impact breccias are probably widespread in the planet’s crustal rocks. The martian rock cycle during early periods was similar in many respects to that of Earth. However, without plate tectonics Mars did not experience the thermal metamorphism and flux melting associated with subduction, nor deposition in subsided basins and rapid erosion resulting from tectonic uplift.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Mars As a Key to Understanding Planetary Habitability
    Early Mars as a Key to Understanding Planetary Habitability Bethany Ehlmann Professor of Planetary Science, Geological & Planetary Sciences Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology July 13, 2017 | Midterm Review Planetary Decadal Survey Outline: Early Mars as a Key to Understanding Planetary Habitability • What we have learned and what we can learn about early Mars [15 min] • Suggested exploration plans [5 min] • Questions/Discussion [10 min] Key Discoveries in Mars Science since 2010 *Publication date of last Mars references in V&V • Extent and diversity of potential ancient habitats (lakes, rivers, aquifers, hydrothermal systems, soil formation) • Mafic, Ultramafic, and Felsic igneous rocks • Modern liquid water • Recent Ice Ages and Episodicity of Climates above the Triple Point of Water • Modern active methane, likely with local sources • Modern active surface processes • Modern atmospheric loss rates See also MEPAG report to V&V Decadal Midterm (May 4, 2017): https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meeting/2017-07/MEPAG_Johnson_MTDS_v04.pdf Key Discoveries in Mars Science since 2010 *Publication date of last Mars references in V&V • Extent and diversity of potential ancient habitats (lakes, Ancient rivers, aquifers, hydrothermal systems, soil formation) • Mafic, Ultramafic, and Felsic igneous rocks • Modern liquid water • Recent Ice Ages and Episodicity of Climates above the Triple Point of Water [see also Byrne talk, next] • Modern active methane, likely with local sources • Modern active surface processes • Modern atmospheric loss rates [see Jakosky talk, next] Modern See also MEPAG report to V&V Decadal Midterm (May 4, 2017): https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/meeting/2017-07/MEPAG_Johnson_MTDS_v04.pdf Key Finding since V&V: Modern Mars is active (methane, geomorphology, ice, water) Bridges et al., 2011; 2012 Mass wasting of the N.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 117, March 2009
    NNASA’sASA’s LunarLunar ScienceScience InstituteInstitute BeginsBegins WorkWork It has been 40 years since humans fi rst set foot upon the Moon, taking that historic “giant step” for mankind. Although interest in our nearest celestial neighbor has waned considerably, it has never disappeared completely and is now enjoying a remarkable resurgence. The Moon was born when our home planet encountered a rogue planet at its birth, and has since recorded the earliest history of the solar system (a record nearly obliterated on Earth). With four spacecraft orbiting the Moon in the past three years (from four separate nation groups) and a fi fth, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, due to arrive this spring, we are about to remake our understanding of this planetary body. To further contribute to the advancement of our knowledge, NASA recently created a Lunar Science Institute (NLSI) to revitalize the lunar science community and train a new generation of scientists. This spring, NASA has selected seven academic and research teams to form the initial core of the NLSI. This virtual institute is designed to support scientifi c research that supplements and extends existing NASA lunar science programs in coordination with U.S. space exploration policy. The new teams that augment NLSI were selected in a competitive evaluation process that began with the release of a cooperative agreement notice in June 2008. NASA received proposals from 33 research teams. L“We are extremely pleased with the response of the science community and the high quality of proposals received,” said David Morrison, the institute’s interim director at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.
    [Show full text]
  • Curiosity Mars Rover Heads Toward Active Dunes 17 November 2015
    Curiosity Mars rover heads toward active dunes 17 November 2015 As of Monday, Nov. 16, Curiosity has about 200 yards or meters remaining to drive before reaching "Dune 1." The rover is already monitoring the area's wind direction and speed each day and taking progressively closer images, as part of the dune research campaign. At the dune, it will use its scoop to collect samples for the rover's internal laboratory instruments, and it will use a wheel to scuff into the dune for comparison of the surface to This view from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's the interior. Curiosity Mars rover shows a dark sand dune in the middle distance. The rover's examination of dunes on the way toward higher layers of Mount Sharp will be the first in-place study of an active sand dune anywhere other than Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS On its way to higher layers of the mountain where it is investigating how Mars' environment changed billions of years ago, NASA's Curiosity Mars rover will take advantage of a chance to study some modern Martian activity at mobile sand dunes. In the next few days, the rover will get its first close- The dark band in the lower portion of this Martian scene up look at these dark dunes, called the "Bagnold is part of the "Bagnold Dunes" dune field lining the Dunes," which skirt the northwestern flank of northwestern edge of Mount Sharp, inside Gale Crater. Mount Sharp. No Mars rover has previously visited Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS a sand dune, as opposed to smaller sand ripples or drifts.
    [Show full text]
  • Overview Newsletter
    Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Newsletter Fall 2009 Issue 9 Overview IN THIS ISSUE... Greetings from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Wash- ington University! These are exciting times in the department, as the recent influx of new faculty members and their laboratory equipment are Overview rapidly filling up the new building that we began to occupy in 2004. For Colorado Plateau Trip the first time since at least 1991, we have four assistant professors in the Arvidson Steps Down department (Jeff Catalano, Fred Moynier, David Fike, and Phil Skemer). Wiens New Chairman Fred and Phil are profiled in this issue, and Jeff and David were profiled in the 2007 issue. All of the junior faculty are making excellent progress, Current Research as evidenced by the fact that all have already obtained NSF and/or NASA Virtual Reality Lab funding for their research. Further good news is that Jennifer Smith is no longer an assistant Mineral-Water professor, as she was promoted to associate professor with tenure this summer. Finally, we Interface have also been joined by lecturer Vali Memeti (also profiled inside), who is providing much- needed help in teaching several geology courses. Phoenix Mission As you can see, the department also has a new chairman. Ray Arvidson stepped down EPSc In Action last summer after 17 very successful years leading the department. I agreed to become the Department News new chair, and while it will be impossible to truly replace Ray, I am highly optimistic that we can continue our up- New Faculty ward trajectory in the years E & PS Faculty ahead.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Mars Environments Revealed Through Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Alteration Minerals
    Early Mars Environments Revealed Through Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Alteration Minerals By Bethany List Ehlmann A.B., Washington University in St. Louis, 2004 M.Sc., University of Oxford, 2005 MSc. (by research), University of Oxford, 2007 Sc.M., Brown University, 2008 A dissertation Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Program in Geological Sciences at Brown University Providence, Rhode Island May 2010 i © Copyright 2010 Bethany L. Ehlmann ii Curriculum Vitae Bethany L. Ehlmann Dept. of Geological Sciences [email protected] Box 1846, Brown University (office) +1 401.863.3485 (mobile) +1 401.263.1690 Providence, RI 02906 USA EDUCATION Ph.D. Brown University, Planetary Sciences, anticipated May 2010 Advisor: Prof. John Mustard Sc. M., Brown University, Geological Sciences, 2008 Advisor: Prof. John Mustard M.Sc. by research, University of Oxford, Geography (Geomorphology), 2007 Advisor: Prof. Heather Viles M.Sc. with distinction, University of Oxford, Environmental Change & Management, 2005 Advisor: Dr. John Boardman A.B. summa cum laude, Washington University in St. Louis, 2004 Majors: Earth & Planetary Sciences, Environmental Studies; Minor: Mathematics Advisor: Prof. Raymond Arvidson International Baccalaureate Diploma, Rickards H.S., Tallahassee, Florida, 2000 Additional Training: Nordic/NASA Summer School: Water, Ice and the Origin of Life in the Universe, Iceland, July 2009 Vatican Observatory Summer School in Astronomy &Astrophysics, Castel Gandolfo, Italy,
    [Show full text]
  • Mars Scientists Push for 'Mega-Mission'
    NEWS IN FOCUS that we must insure against the future.” BREXIT'S HIGH STAKES Oxford and Berlin will both benefit from the Many UK universities stand to lose tens of millions of euros in research funding from EU framework partnership, says Steffen Krach, state secretary programmes. These are the top ve UK universities in terms of income from the Horizon 2020 programme. for higher education and research in the Berlin University of Oxford Number of projects 427 state government. “Obviously, future access to EU funding for joint research is part of the University of Cambridge 450 motivation for Oxford to set up shop here, and quite legitimately so,” he says. “But we can also University College London 408 SOURCE: EUROPEAN COMMISSION learn a lot from Oxford and their success in Imperial College London 317 scouting international talent. Science in Berlin will doubtless benefit in terms of research out- University of Edinburgh 265 put and reputation from lively exchange with 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 one of the best universities in the world.” Funding (€ million) ACADEMIC ALLIANCES A host of other similar partnerships are at recipients of grants from the European proposals and made €10,000–30,000 available various stages of development. Institutions Research Council must spend at least 50% of in seed grants, with the intention of raising involved include the University of Warwick their time at a host institute in the EU or asso- additional third-party funding. Any faculty and Northumbria University in Newcastle, ciated country. So, continental outposts could members of the five institutes can apply.
    [Show full text]
  • Status Report on the Activities of the Panel on Mars National Academies' Decadal Survey on Planetary Science and Astrobiology
    Status Report on the Activities of the Panel on Mars National Academies' Decadal Survey on Planetary Science and Astrobiology Chair: Vicky Hamilton, SwRI Vice Chair: Bethany Ehlmann, Caltech NOTE ADDED BY JPL WEBMASTER: This content MEPAG VM11 has not been approved or adopted by NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology. This document is being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions 27 January 2021 expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology Overview • Purpose of the Decadal Survey • Statement of Task • Differences in report style from “Vision and Voyages…” (2013-2022) • Survey process & schedule • Panel on Mars membership • Past meeting presentation topics • Future meeting dates What is a Decadal Survey? 1. Assesses the current status of an entire scientific discipline 2. Defines and prioritizes key scientific questions to be addressed in the next decade 3. Prioritizes the most important initiatives to address these questions 4. Conducted by the National Academies, independently of sponsoring agencies 2003-2012 5. NASA Authorization Acts of 2005 and 2008 require decadal surveys in each NASA science area 6. Surveys are required to provide independent cost and technical evaluations of recommended projects/missions Sponsoring agencies and Congress view surveys as the formal statement of 2013-2022 priority by the US space science community, and have repeatedly stated their intent to give highest priority to the missions identified
    [Show full text]