|
|
Projects: Red Rover Goes to Mars
We Make It Happen! Red Rover Goes to Mars
by Bruce Betts
The following article is reprinted from the November/December 2003 issue
of The
Planetary Report. We Make It Happen! is a regular feature of The
Planetary Report, written by Planetary Society
Director of Projects Bruce Betts. Through it, we keep our members updated
on our projects—what we are doing together to make space exploration
happen. The Planetary Society, with its members—and because
of its members—does a lot of amazing things. These include our many
SETI ventures, Mars exploration projects like Red Rover Goes to Mars
and the Mars Microphone, extra-solar planet activities, near-Earth object
programs, and, of course, our groundbreaking solar sail mission.
The time has finally come. More than five years in the making—coming
back from a 2001 mission cancellation, overcoming hurdle after hurdle—the
culmination of The Planetary Society’s Red Rover Goes to Mars project
is upon us. I’ve given an overview of this project before (see the May/June
2003 issue of The Planetary Report). Today, I’m giving a special update:
the announcement of our 16 extraordinary Red
Rover Goes to Mars Student Astronauts,
who will be inside mission operations at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
in Pasadena, California, participating with the Mars Exploration Rover teams.
The Project
Red Rover Goes to Mars is a project that really shows off the Society’s
unique position in space exploration. It is the first educational experiment
on board a NASA planetary mission, and it is an official part of the Mars
Exploration Rover mission. Originally, the project was an official part of
NASA’s planned 2001 lander, which was canceled in the wake of the Mars
Polar Lander and Mars Climate Orbiter failures. Then, it was reborn as part
of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, which consists of two golf cart–sized
rovers that will act as robotic geologists on the surface of Mars starting
in early January 2004. All through its saga, Red Rover Goes to Mars has been
faithfully supported by the LEGO Company and by our members.
Red Rover Goes to Mars consists of many aspects, including a mini-DVD assembly
carrying the names of four million Earthlings (including all Planetary Society
members) who wanted to send their names to Mars. The DVD marks only the second
privately funded spacecraft hardware to fly on a NASA planetary mission, the
first being The Planetary Society’s Mars Microphone, which flew on the
failed Mars Polar Lander. Red Rover Goes to Mars also includes our Astrobot
Diaries: online journals from our Astrobots on board the Mars Exploration
spacecraft. Our developing network of Mars Stations allows anyone with an
Internet connection to drive LEGO rovers online. (Go to redrovergoestomars.org
to learn more about these activities.)
Here I focus on the selection of our Student Astronauts: 16 students from
12 countries and 5 continents who have earned their opportunities to participate
in mission operations at JPL. This is not just a program about 16 extraordinary
kids—although as you’ll see, they all are really amazing in their
own right. The Student Astronauts will act as surrogates for the public in
planetary mission operations, just as real astronauts act as surrogates for
the rest of humanity in the human exploration of space. They are the first
members of the general public selected through an open international competition
not just to observe but actually to participate in a planetary mission’s
operations. Their job is to communicate their experiences to the world. Let’s
learn more about them and how they were selected, shall we?
The Contest
From October 2002 to March 2003, hundreds of children around the world put
themselves in the shoes of the Mars Exploration Rover mission scientists.
Their task: to plan how they would explore the Viking 1 landing site with
the powerful suite of instruments aboard the Mars Exploration Rovers. The
applicants for The Planetary Society’s Student Astronaut program studied
the rovers’ specs, examined the mission goals, investigated the Viking
1 images, and finally wrote 1,500-word essays justifying their plans for two
days of the Mars Exploration Rover mission.
Twenty-three National Centers around the world helped with the initial evaluation
of the essays, generating a list of 63 finalists from 15 countries. The Planetary
Society interviewed 40 of these finalists, finally selecting 16 students on
the basis of the quality of their essays, their oral communication skills,
and their ability to project their enthusiasm for space exploration. The Student
Astronauts hail from 12 countries on 5 continents and range in age from 14
to 17. They are undergoing intensive training conducted over the Internet
about geology, remote sensing, past Mars missions, and the Mars Exploration
Rovers in order to prepare them for their work at JPL.
The Student Astronauts will come to Pasadena in pairs, each pair spending
between one and two weeks working on the mission. While at JPL, the Student
Astronauts will have a number of duties, including:
- processing and posting
images of the DVD
assembly, which includes an image of an Astrobot and secret codes to be
decoded by the public as another fun part of Red Rover Goes to Mars.
- processing
daily images of the panoramic camera calibration target, which also functions
as an educational sundial. Normal sundials don’t
move. This one does, so the students will run software to add the appropriate
hour markings. They will post the processed images and captions on the
Internet.
- participating in the missions’ science planning meetings as part
of the magnet team, monitoring the condition of the magnets.
- posting daily
online journals about their experiences in mission operations, acting
as the world’s eyes and ears inside mission operations.
Abigail Fraeman, Age 16, USA
“The chance to work with scientists as they gain new pictures and data
from Mars would be absolutely incredible,” Abigail says. She hopes to
earn degrees in astronomy or planetary sciences and eventually to become an
astronaut. In addition to astronomy and space, Abigail enjoys acting, public
speaking, playing violin, and fencing. “I like fencing because it is
a ‘thinking’ sport that depends upon both mental and athletic
ability.”
Camillia Zedan, Age 16,
United Kingdom
“Being a Yorkshire lass, I’ve always enjoyed mystery; whether it’s
the untamed foggy moors, or the black beauty of the great majesty above us,” says
Camillia. She hopes to become an astrophysicist in order to satisfy her “thirst
for clarity about the endless possibilities out there.” She enjoys reading,
has published poetry, likes to play the piano and guitar, and loves “having
a laugh with my family and friends.”
Cheng-Tao Chung, Age 13, Taiwan
“I like to assemble and disassemble things in order to understand how
they function.” Cheng-Tao [shown here at Universal Studios] is a budding
scientist who undertook the study of English in order to “connect with
the world.” He’s looking forward to “the chance to get together
with other fellow Student Astronauts participating in meetings, working in
a team, and
exchanging ideas.” He also enjoys tae kwon do and
actively serves his community.
Courtney Dressing, Age 15, USA
“My career goal is to become an astronaut.” Courtney hopes one
day to be standing on the surface of Mars, but eye problems may prevent her
from qualifying. She doesn’t perceive this as an impediment. “I
can work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory! I can’t think of anything
more amazing than exploring space and other planets.” She plays flute
and piano, enjoys fencing, and studies Russian so that she can “communicate
with cosmonauts in their native language.”
Janice DeBerg, Age 14, USA
Janice and her family live and work on a pig farm surrounded by bean and
corn fields. She enjoys bringing her love of space to her friends. “I
am president of my freshman class and am involved in choir, marching
band, volleyball, basketball, and track. The highlight of my summer is to
represent my county at the State Fair working the exhibits and
talent show.” She hopes to study medicine and become an emergency room
doctor.
Dàvid Turczi, Age 15,
Hungary
Dàvid has been inspired by books about the Apollo missions and Star
Trek movies. “In the dream-world of science fiction (in which I’m
still sunk), I started to see reality and my potential part in it.” He
is “looking forward to the adventure and the new point of view among
the leading scientists of Martian exploration studying Mars directly.” His
other great love is music; he has studied guitar for seven years.
Rafael Morozowski, Age 16, Brazil
Rafael looks forward to the Student Astronaut program as “a place to
live science and use my knowledge in something real, learning science with
the very professionals that
idealized and invented the whole project.” He enjoys drawing, going
to the gym, listening to music, and going to the movies. He hopes one day
to work in music or movie production, or possibly architecture.
Nomathemba Kontyo, Age 15, South Africa
“I love everything about space and share the same love for the ocean,” Nomathemba
says. “I am a female and live in an impoverished community. Being part
of the Mars Exploration Rover mission would show that women could achieve anything
they put their minds to.” She hopes that her experience will benefit her community and hopes one
day to open a computer school in Cape Town. She belongs to her school’s
astronomy club, plays soccer and chess, and enjoys music and singing.
Maciej Hermanowicz, Age 16, Poland
“Exploring the unknown is a wonderful adventure and a huge new experience
and I simply cannot wait to taste it. In 20 years’ time I will certainly
be a scientist.” He participates in astronomy clubs and national contests
in science and other subjects. “As for my hobbies, they are quite various.
I love music and dancing; my favorite music is classical, jazz, and rock ’n’ roll.
I am a real bookworm as well and I write my own poems and stories.” Maciej’s
younger brother Daniel [at right] was one of the Red Rover Goes to Mars Student
Navigators who operated a prototype planetary rover at JPL in 2002.
Kristyn Rodzinyak, Age 16, Canada, currently living in the USA
“A career in the sciences has always been a dream. One day I want to
be traveling and doing research on the effects of space on the body.” Kristyn
is an active kid, enjoying rock climbing, skiing, hiking, camping, playing
soccer, and dancing, especially ballet. She’s also recently been accepted
into the violin section of a Youth Symphony Orchestra. “It is so much
fun to have the opportunity to share music.”
Saatvik Agarwal, Age 14, India
“In the future, I hope to be working at NASA as an astronaut,” says
Saatvik [shown here at the Kennedy Space Center]. He enjoys school, but “the
current year is really hard because in this year for the first time we are
tested at a national level.” He has “regularly represented my school
in quizzes, scientific exhibitions, and lectures.” He enjoys reading,
watching TV,
listening to music, and, particularly, using computers. “I don’t
think I can live without one! I do animation, edit family photos, make websites,
and last but not least, play!”
Tomás Kogan, Age 13, Spain
“I have always been interested in everything related with space, and
investigating the evidence for life on other planets
is one of the most
interesting aspects.
I hope one day to be an aeronautic engineer, working in a company designing
aeroplanes or vehicles for space travel.” He enjoys playing tennis,
soccer, and basketball; going to the movies; hanging out with his friends;
and playing with his dog, Luna. He rows and sails whenever he gets back to
Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was born.
Wei Lin Tan, Age 14, Singapore
“I’ve loved Mars from the start. I’ve always looked forward
to practical science and astronomy, because in Singapore, with limited land
resources, there aren’t many opportunities for students to do anything
practical.” Wei Lin sees herself as a “typical kid” who enjoys “surfing
the net, playing video games, swimming, and reading. I’m also a Star
Wars fan.” She hopes to work either at NASA or in the movies as a director
or special effects animator.
Shih-Han Chen, Age 16, Taiwan, living in the United Kingdom
“I have always had a dream of becoming an astronaut. I would like to
use my knowledge about science to solve the greatest mystery of space science,
is Earth the only planet containing life?” Shih-Han has spent his life
shuttling back and forth between Taiwan and England. He enjoys performing on
the electronic organ and also enjoys sports, particularly football, because
of the teamwork involved: “Sometimes the victory or defeat only lies
between whether the team cooperates as a whole.”
Vignan Pattamatta, Age 14, India
“I was brought up in a scientific environment, as my parents are scientists,” Vignan
says, and he aspires to be a project scientist on a NASA mission. He enjoys
reading, traveling, and promoting space science through leadership and public
speaking. “I greatly look forward to seeing how scientists work in mission
operations. When I come back to India, I shall start a band of aspiring scientists
who will, someday, really control a spacecraft and land on Mars!”
Susini de Silva, Age 17, Sri Lanka
“I’ve had a love for space science since I was small. I have a
sort of craze to learn more about space, the universe, and extraterrestrial
life. I even have a small hope to work with NASA someday.” She enjoys
writing poetry and stories, swimming, and playing with her dogs. She also loves
music because “it makes me cool down when I go mad about something.” Susini
[shown here behind a model space suit at Malaysia’s National Science
Center] isn’t sure what profession she’s aiming for, but she’s “interested
to become someone like an engineer or a pilot.”
What’s Next?
The Student Astronauts will start arriving in Pasadena shortly before the
landing of the first Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, on January 3 (January
4 in some locations), 2004. They will participate at JPL with Spirit and with
its sister craft, Opportunity (set to land January 24/25), through January
and February. Look for their reports here
and at our website, planetary.org.
|
|
[ what is this? ]