Karl F. Herzfeld, 1892-1978

 

 

Department of Physics

The Catholic University of America

presents the 28^th

Karl Herzfeld Memorial Lecture

 

 

 

Mars Exploration:

Scientific discoveries from the 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the 2007 Phoenix Mars Lander

 

Dr. Ramon P. De Paula

Program Executive, Science Mission Directorate

NASA HQ

Washington, DC

 

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has now been orbiting Mars for over 2 years and has returned some astonishing scientific results from a comprehensive suite of remote sensing instruments. In particular, MRO’s highresolution pictures were critical in the selection of the landing site for the Phoenix Mars Lander spacecraft which landed on Mars on May 25, 2008. Landing on top of an ice sheet, this mission, for the first time, proved the actual existence of water ice on the surface of Mars.

 

This presentation will discuss some of NASA’s latest scientific discoveries about

Mars, starting with a short overview of the current operating Mars Missions of this

decade, discussing some of the most important scientific results obtained so far

by our exploring robots and spacecrafts, and continuing with some of the plans

for the next decade.

 

Friday, March 20, 2009 at 4:00 PM

in the Karl Herzfeld Auditorium of Hannan Hall - Room 108

Reception immediately following lecture

Parking and other information: (202) 319-5315 or http://physics.cua.edu