curiosity-ca stem summit 2012

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

CSLNet California STEM SummitOctober 15-16, 2012

David SeidelDeputy Education DirectorNASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

The data/information contained herein has been reviewed and approved for release by JPL Export Administration on the basis that this document contains no export-controlled information.

Launch Year

MRO

Mars Express(ESA)

Odyssey

MER

20132011

Phoenix

Mars Science Lab

2000 to Present

MAVEN

MER

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

It just LOOKS like Arizona…

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Earth MarsDiameter 1 53 %

Volume 1 15 %

Gravity 1 38 %

Day/Sol 24 hours 24 hours 40 minutes

Year 1 1.88 (687 days)

Tilt 23 ½ degrees 25 degrees

Moons 1 2

Surface Temperature 57° F -81° F

Atmospheric Pressure 1013 millibars 7.5 millibars

Sunlight 1370 w/m2 (100%)

590 w/m2 (43%)

Atmosphere 77% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen

95.32% Carbon Dioxide0.13% Oxygen

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

DESTINATION NEW HOMEGale Crater

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

NEW HOMEGale Crater

NASAJPL-Caltech/ASU/UA

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

25 kg 175 kg 900 kg

Spirit andOpportunity

2004

Sojourner1997

Curiosity2012

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyMSL Gets a Name: “Curiosity”

• Clara Ma, a sixth grader from Kansas, wrote the winning essay. An excerpt:

• “Curiosity is an eternal flame that burns in everyone’s mind. It makes me get out of bed in the morning and wonder what surprises life will throw at me that day.”

2009

Launch - 2011

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

“7 Minutes of Terror”http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.php?id=1090

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

“Eyes on the Solar System”http:/eyes.nasa.gov/

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

“Mars Curiosity Descent – Ultra HD 30fps”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esj5juUzhpU

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

“Heat Shield, Meet Mars”http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.php?id=1119

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

• Mastcam: Mast Camera• ChemCam: Chemistry and Camera• RAD: Radiation Assessment Detector• CheMin: Chemistry and Mineralogy• SAM: Sample Analysis at Mars• DAN: Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons• MARDI: Mars Descent Imager• MAHLI: Mars Hand Lens Imager• APXS: Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer• REMS: Rover Environmental Monitoring Station• The brush, drill, sieves and scoop are tools on the rover's

robotic arm.

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technologyhttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/participate

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyReflections on Space Exploration and STEM

Education:

• It is difficult to integrate the rapid pace of scientific discovery into the classroom.

• Today’s teachers have grown up in the post-Apollo/post-Watergate era characterized by both nostalgia and cynicism.

• E-LA and math are important but they are not simply skills.• For the last decade students have essentially been reading about nothing, so…• They have not been reading for pleasure, so…

• They have not been reading science fiction, so…• How do we expand their horizons beyond the horizon?

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

The Angry Red PlanetBrought to you in Cinemagic

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Thanks

mars.jpl.nasa.gov

David.M.Seidel@jpl.nasa.gov

Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology