For those who missed the tele-conference, here are the highlights:
Possible findings of fossil life/bacteria on the surface of Mars in the future.
Mission proposals: Exploring methane on Mars, return samples of Mars, Europa orbiting mission finding liquid, exploring Titan (probe landing on
Titan), return samples from a comet. Just some out of 28.
Questions and answers:
Q1: Regarding Stephen Hawking's recent statement - Should Earth should be broadcasting signals? What's NASA's policy?
A: Yes, we surely should...
Q2: Question about some report about liquid water on Mars from some (news)paper?
A: Haven't seen it, no idea.
Q3: Question about (upcoming) sample missions on Mars?
A: Breaking into three parts will lower costs.
Q4: Question about found Meditterian deposits?
A: Sample of bunch of different organisms: bacteria, photoplankton, microscopic organisms. About 6 million years old. Belongs to Naviqula, similiar to
ones living now. Maybe we'll find something later on.
Q5: Discovery of water on a asteroid announced today?
A: Haven't see the newspaper mentioned. If object has water, it's worth studying. We should go where the data leads us. The continuing discovery of
icy asteroids is always interesting.
Q6: Importance of sole states? Which spacecraft were/are used?
A: Important in regards to water, Mars is an ideal place for studying this. Opportunity probe - magnesium and calcium sole states.
Q7: Mars sample return mission - will upcoming missions have any other objectives as well or just return samples?
A: Exclusive just to that goal, probably.
Q8: New initiative in the human space program - how is it related with everything you do?
A: Getting humans deep in the solar system, details of rockets getting to Mars don't affect our work really, we keep going on.
Q9: Shaping strategy in the near term? How about the long term, new technologies, using lasers, microscopy?
A: Learning more about the data that came back and that will come back later on, habitality on Mars, possible life on Mars, photographs, info on
mineralogy. Discussion on Life Detection Technologies. Life is about pattern, will be looking for patterns using new technologies. Studying ancient
microscopical fossils on Earth and then those on Mars.
Q10: Another question about micro-fossils...
A: Something about findings of gypsum in 1922.
Q11: Again some fossils question (omg, are those journalists dumb?)...
A: Again something Opportunity and a report in Science from 2004.
Q12: Question about NASA's budget and suggested projects. Will there be money for them?
A: Sure, NASA projects have been always well supported. That will continue for a decade (just a decade?) or many decades in the future.
Q13: Summarize the research team in Arizona?
A: blah blah blah (presenting the team)
Q14: Detection of fossils in the Meditterian and it's importance, more clearly please?
A: Salt states of gypsum on Mars..the age doesn't really matter..how much spread it is on Earth..looking at gypsum on Mars..really excellent place to
find ancient life.
*Operator, you may close us up. You may disconnect at this time*
Some of those who asked the questions: AP, Discovery Channel, Science Sentinel...
So, there you go, that's it....nothing "OMG"...But still, not a complete waste of time
[edit on 28/4/10 by Cybernet]