Monthly Archives: March 2024

Bridging cultures to serve a greater goal is extremely hard. NASA has three dominant cultures, human spaceflight (HSF), engineering and science, which must be integrated to achieve the grand objective of returning humans to the moon and going on to Mars. In the moon to Mars (M2M) Architecture document, NASA clearly explains the purpose of these extraordinary efforts: to conduct world-class science, to establish a national posture that will affect humanitys future and to inspire current and future generations.

In my 50 year career, Ive seen the space world from many different vantage points: National Lab, startup venture, consultant, center director of NASA Ames, peer-reviewed journal editor and adjunct professor at Stanford. These experiences have exposed me to the strengths and weaknesses of all three cultures and given me some insights on how they must be blended to explore other worlds.

As the founder of NASAs Astrobiology Institute, I learned firsthand that getting disparate scientists, including geologists, astronomers and biologists to work together can be challenging. The very first requirement was developing a common language to bridge the chasms among minerals, parsecs and DNA, for example. Alongside a greater understanding of the other disciplines came an absolute need to be in the same room at the same time. Exchanging documents and papers is fine, but only after the various science groups, led by a highly respected scientist who values interdisciplinary work, have first reached a consensus. Science is a grassroots endeavor where all must be heard, a consensus reached after extended debate and then an ongoing reexamination as new data emerges. Such is true as well for developing M2M science objectives.

In 1999, two NASA Mars missions disappeared. As a result of these failures, I was asked to go to NASA HQs and fix the mess. Upon my arrival, I found that at least five different individuals claimed leadership of the existing Mars program. My first duty was to clarify that I would be in charge as the first-ever Mars Program Director. Todays program suffers a similar problem: Those of us observing Artemis and M2M cannot identify the overall leader. This must be remedied. Next, the distrust between organizations and cultures needed to be bridged. Leading scientists to work with engineers (and vice versa) to develop a flight project is a unique challenge requiring special management skills. The fundamental need is for each group to understand and respect the capabilities and contributions of the other. Scientists discover things, using the time-tested method of hypothesis generation, experimentation and data analysis; engineers build things using established procedures of physics, design, analysis and test. Getting scientists to create implementable requirements that will lead to new discoveries and engineers to develop a robust design that is cost effective is best achieved through an iterative approach that utilizes the best program leadership available. Im happy to say that the restructuring my team and I accomplished resulted in a 20-year architecture of successful Mars missions.

In 2003, I was asked to serve as the only NASA member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. For seven months, the board labored deep inside the Shuttle program to determine not only the technical reasons for the loss of crew and vehicle, but what organizational and cultural issues led to the tragedy. I learned that the HSF mindset tends to be top-down and hierarchical, accompanied by a strong personal dedication to the mission. This culture also brings along with it more than a bit of stubbornness. It was only after my live TV demonstration of the technical cause of the accident that all what ifs vanished and a consensus Return to Flight approach could be adopted.

In the end, while the scientific community can resemble a debating society, HSF seems more like the military with its chain of command. That said, the critical difference from scientific work is that in HSF, lives are at stake. Compared to robotic science missions, human crewed missions to the moon or Mars must include Human Health and Performance requirements, presenting an undeniable fundamental distinction between the two mindsets. The engineering culture supports both enterprises, although in somewhat different ways.

Serving on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board also taught me that once established, a culture changes only slowly, under- constant pressure and leadership from the top. Because science is formally stated as one of the three pillars for NASAs exploration architecture, achieving a unified, so-called One NASA approach for M2M will need a blending of science, engineering and unique HSF attributes. And that will take some time years, probably. Merely changing the name plaque on the door or a box on an organizational chart is not nearly sufficient.

What can be done to facilitate and accelerate bridging the cultural divide? I think there must be a real dedication to a One NASA M2M program, starting by asking the top leadership (Administrator, Deputy Administrator and Associate Administrator) to embrace the principles of cross-organizational culture change, and then ensuring the next layer of NASA leadership is skilled in and committed to interdisciplinary and cross-organizational efforts. In that spirit, I recommend that NASA HQs immediately appoint a program scientist with authority and stature equal to the existing program management staff for Artemis and M2M.

Next, there needs to be a series of corresponding project scientists at lower levels who work shoulder to shoulder with the current Artemis and M2M project staff and engineers. Those scientists must be skilled in planetary science, astrobiology and Human Health and Performance disciplines, and must be able to communicate with the external communities.

Finally, I suggest an independent Standing Review Board populated by individuals outside of NASA that include senior scientists (with acknowledged achievements in the sciences described above), engineers, technologists, managers and leaders who can meet regularly to review the progress of Artemis and M2M. This group cannot be reactive but must be proactive in its pursuit of the One NASA goal of humanity exploring other worlds to meet the three pillars of science, national posture, and inspiration.

Returning humans to the moon and going on to Mars is a generational goal that may require new organizational structures, technologies and scientific creativity, but this is a challenge worthy of a great nation and America is up to the task!

G. Scott Hubbard has held key roles at NASA, including director of Ames Research Center, first Mars Program director, founder of NASAs Astrobiology Institute, and the agencys sole member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Hubbard, now retired, serves on committees for the National Academy, NASA, and others, holding eight NASA medals, including the Distinguished Service Medal.

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Bridging the cultural divide for moon to Mars - SpaceNews

In an exciting development, scientists have made significant strides in the ongoing quest to understand the potential for life on Mars. Recent research conducted by a team from Tohoku University suggests that organic materials discovered on the Martian surface may have originated from atmospheric formaldehyde.

This discovery is a monumental step forward in unraveling the mysteries surrounding the possibility of life on Mars in its distant past.

The research, which has been published in the journal Scientific Reports, delves into the early atmospheric conditions of Mars, examining the potential for these conditions to support the formation of biomolecules.

Biomolecules are organic compounds that are crucial for biological processes and are considered the building blocks of life. The findings provide fascinating insights, hinting at the possibility that Mars may have once been a cradle for life.

Mars, as we see it today, is a far cry from an environment that could support life. It is characterized by extreme cold and aridity. However, geological evidence points to a more inviting past.

Approximately 3.8 to 3.6 billion years ago, Mars likely boasted a temperate climate, thanks to the warming effects of gases such as hydrogen. This warmer climate could have supported liquid water, an essential ingredient for life as we understand it.

The research was focused on the potential formation of formaldehyde in the early Martian atmosphere. Formaldehyde is a simple organic compound that is pivotal in the synthesis of more complex biomolecules, such as amino acids and sugars. These molecules are foundational for the creation of proteins and RNA, which are essential for life.

To explore this possibility, the research team employed an advanced computer model to simulate the atmospheric composition of early Mars. They theorized that the atmosphere was rich in carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.

The simulations suggested that this ancient atmosphere could have continuously supplied formaldehyde, potentially leading to the creation of various organic compounds. This presents the tantalizing possibility that the organic materials found on Mars today may have atmospheric origins, particularly during the planets earliest geological periods.

Shungo Koyama, the lead author of the study, highlighted the significance of their findings, stating: Our research provides crucial insights into the chemical processes that may have occurred on ancient Mars, offering valuable clues to the possibility of past life on the planet.

The research not only sheds light on the chemical dynamics of ancient Mars but also expands our understanding of the planets ancient potential to support life.

Looking ahead, the team plans to further their research by analyzing geological data collected by NASAs Martian rovers. The goal is to deepen our understanding of the organic materials present in Mars early history.

By comparing the expected carbon isotopes of ancient formaldehyde with data from Martian samples, they aim to gain insights into the processes that influenced the planets organic chemistry.

The study marks a significant milestone in our quest to understand the history of Mars and its capacity to support life. It opens up new avenues for exploration and research, bringing us one step closer to solving the enigma of life beyond Earth.

As discussed above, Mars, often referred to as the Red Planet, captivates our imagination and scientific curiosity. This celestial body, the fourth planet from the Sun, stands out in our solar system with its distinct reddish appearance, a result of iron oxide or rust on its surface. Mars offers a fascinating glimpse into another world, with its unique geography, climate, and potential for past water.

Mars features a diverse landscape, including the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, and the deepest, longest canyon, Valles Marineris.

These monumental geological features dwarf their Earthly counterparts, showcasing the planets dynamic history. Mars polar ice caps, composed of water and carbon dioxide ice, wax and wane with the seasons, hinting at complex climatic patterns.

The climate of Mars, though colder and more arid than Earths, varies significantly across its surface and throughout the Martian year. Temperatures can swing from a maximum of 20C (68F) near the equator during summer to a minimum of -125C (-193F) at the poles during winter.

The Martian atmosphere, thin and composed mostly of carbon dioxide, plays a crucial role in these temperature variations and the planets weather patterns, including dust storms that can engulf the entire planet.

Evidence suggests that Mars once harbored liquid water on its surface, raising the possibility of life. Scientists have discovered signs of ancient riverbeds, lakes, and what appear to be shorelines.

These findings fuel ongoing research and missions, such as the study from Tohoku University discussed above, aiming to uncover whether life once existed on Mars or, perhaps, still lies dormant beneath its surface.

Mars has been the target of numerous missions, from flybys and orbiters to rovers that traverse its terrain. These missions, undertaken by various space agencies around the world, seek to unravel the mysteries of Mars, studying its atmosphere, surface, and potential for supporting human life in the future.

The prospect of human missions to Mars and the establishment of permanent bases looms on the horizon, marking the next steps in our exploration of the Red Planet.

In summary, Mars remains a key focus of scientific inquiry and exploration, holding answers to questions about the potential for life beyond Earth, the history of our solar system, and the possibilities for future human colonization.

As technology advances and our understanding deepens, Mars beckons us to continue our journey of discovery, pushing the boundaries of what we know about the universe and our place within it.

The full study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Mars was once a cradle for life, according to scientists - Earth.com

Just about every day we here on Earth get a breathtaking picture of Marss terrain sent back by a rover. But, the view from space can be pretty amazing, too. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) just sent back a thought-provoking picture of Curiosity as it makes its way up a steep ridge on Mount Sharp.

The rover is a tiny black dot in the center of the image, which gives a good feeling for what MROs HiRISE camera accomplished. For scale, the rover is about the size of a dinner table, sitting in a region of alternating dark and light bands of material on the Red Planet.

The Curiosity rover is exploring an ancient ridge on the side of Mount Sharp, which is the peak of a crater on Mars. Its sitting on the side of a feature called Gediz Vallis Ridge, and the terrains and materials preserve a record of what things were like when water last flowed there. That happened about three billion years ago. The force of the flow brought significant amounts of rocks and debris through the region. They piled up to form the ridge. So, much of what you see here is the desiccated remains of that flooding.

Debris flows are pretty common here on Earth, particularly in the aftermath of floods, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other actions. We can see them wherever material floods through a region or down a slope. In a flood-based flow, the speed of the water combines with gravity and the degree of slope to send material rushing across the surface. A debris flow can also be a dry landslide, and those can occur pretty much anywhere on Earth where the conditions are right. Another type of debris flow comes from volcanic activity. That occurs when material erupts from a volcano, or when earthquakes combined with an eruption collapse material into the side of the mountain. That results in whats called a lahar. Folks in North America might recall the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980; it resulted in several lahars that buried parts of the surrounding terrain.

Now that scientists see similar-seeming regions on Mars, they want to know several things. How did they form? Were they created by the same processes that make them on Earth? And, how long ago did they begin to form? Curiosity and Perseverance and other rovers and landers have been sent to Mars to help answer those questions.

Did any of these actions happen on Mars? The evidence is pretty strong, which is why Gediz Vallis itself is a major exploration goal for the rover. Its a canyon that stretches across 9 kilometers of the Martian surface and is carved about 140 meters deep. Gediz was likely carved by so-called fluvial activity (meaning flowing action) in the beginning. Later floods deposited a variety of fine-grained sands and rocks. Over time, winds have blown a lot of that material away, leaving behind protected pockets of materials left behind by the flooding. The size of the rocks tells something about the speed of the flows that deposited all the material. Geological studies of those rocks will reveal their mineral compositions, including their exposure to water over time.

The Gediz Vallis ridge resulted from the action of water pushing rocks and dirt around to build it up over time. Planetary scientists now need to figure out the sequence of events that created it. The clues lie in the scattered rocks in the region and the surrounding terrain. Mount Sharp itself (formally known as Aeolis Mons), is about 5 kilometers high and is, essentially, a stack of layered sedimentary rocks. As Curiosity makes its way up the mountain, it explores younger and younger materials.

To put all this on a larger scale, Mount Sharp is the central peak of Gale Crater. It formed some 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago from an impact. As time went by, water flooded the crater several times. It flowed out and eventually disappeared as Marss climate changed it to the dusty desert we see today.

Winds also played a role in filling the crater with dust and sand deposits. This so-called aeolian activity also helped carve out Mount Sharp. This history of wind- and water-based deposition and erosion made Gale Crater a very attractive place to explore. Thats why Curiosity was sent there and continues its journey up Mount Sharp.

HiRISE Spots Curiosity Driving Toward Upper Gediz Vallis Curiosity Views Gediz Vallis Ridge The Gediz Vallis Inverted Channel: Evidence for Late-state Flow in Gale Crater, Mars?

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Curiosity Rover is Climbing Through Dramatic Striped Terrain on Mars - Universe Today

This image of the "Mineral King" drill hole was taken by Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4108. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL. Download image

Earth planning date: Friday, March 1, 2024

The "Mineral King" drill hole did not quite reach the target depth that we typically desire to ensure that we have enough sample in the drill stem to deliver to our internal CheMin and SAM instruments. However, based on the information we did have (see details in the Sol 4110 blog), we proceeded with delivery to CheMin, and got the good news yesterday that CheMin received enough sample to complete an X-ray diffraction analysis. We officially have our 40th successful drill hole! Based on the preliminary CheMin results, the SAM team are planning a power-hungry, Evolveded Gas Analysis (EGA) of the "Mineral King" sample. This will provide further information on the composiotion and mineralogy.

Despite the power restrictions, the geology and atmospheric science teams made good use of the remaining time and power available to plan a slew of observations in this 2-sol weekend plan. To complement the previous APXS and ChemCam analyses of the "Mineral King" target prior to drilling, and the CheMin and SAM analyses, ChemCam will fire its laser at the wall of the drill hole to look for chemical variations with depth. The resulting laser pits will be captured with a Mastcam image, which will also help us plan MAHLI and APXS deployments on the powdered sample surrounding the drill hole next week. ChemCam will also analyze the "Nameless Pyramid" target on the same block, another example of the dark rock that we drilled into. We are also acquiring additional Mastcam imaging to extend coverage around the "Mineral King" drill block.

We are not focusing all our activities in the vicinity of our drill hole though. ChemCam will also utilize its remote imaging capabilities to look at the layering in the "Texoli" butte and the chaotic structure within the nearby Gediz Vallis deposit. We have been imaging the Texoli butte from different vantage points along our traverse to better understand the nature of the layering and sedimentary structures that can help us interpret the geological history of this section of Mount Sharp. The Gediz Vallis deposit has also been of interest for some time now, and our current position, very close to a section of the ridge material, provides the perfect opportunity to try and understand the processes that formed this late-stage deposit.

A photometry experiment on the second sol will use Mastcam and Navcam images to view areas near the workspace. This is one of a number of such observations that are repeated at different times of day, with variable lighting conditions, while the rover is stationary here at the "Mineral King" drill site. The experiment helps us to gain a better understanding of the surface textures at small scales and their influence on the reflected sunlight.

Observations to monitor changes in atmospheric opacity and dust are also included. We are acquiring several Navcam observations (sky flats and line of sight observations, as well as dust devil, suprahorizon and zenith movies) and a Mastcam tau. The plan is not complete without the standard REMS, DAN and RAD activities.

We are looking forward to coming back next week, hopefully with the news that we had a successful SAM EGA analysis. Assuming success, we will empty the drill stem of any remaining sample, which then allows us to use the arm for contact science (MAHLI and APXS). I will be the APXS strategic planner next week, and I am eager to help plan the APXS observations of the powdered sample around the drill hole. These results will be used to further refine the CheMin and SAM determined mineralogy of "Mineral King."

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Sols 4114-4115: Bingo! It's Official Curiosity's 40th Successful Drill Hole on Mars! NASA Mars Exploration - NASA Mars Exploration

NASA's bold plan to get pristine samples of Mars to Earth for analysis is facing major challenges, according to a new report.

Design, cost and scheduling are all significant obstacles, an audit report of NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program by the agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) finds.

MSR aims to return Martian geological samples to Earth for scientific study. It involves landing on Mars to collect samples taken by the Perseverance rover and launching those samples to rendezvous with an orbiter, which will haul them to Earth.

Related:NASA's Mars Sample Return in jeopardy after US Senate questions budget

Perseverance is already on Mars, snagging and storing samples. But the program still needs to build a Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) and an Earth Return Orbiter (ERO), the latter being developed and funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). MSR is one of the most technically complex, operationally demanding and ambitious robotic science missions ever undertaken by NASA, according to the OIG report.

The report notes design, architecture and schedule issues with the Capture Containment and Return System (CCRS). These design issues resulted in adding about $200 million to the budget and one year of lost schedule.

One major area of concern is life-cycle cost estimates for MSR. There is concern that, due to the number and significance of cost increase indicators so far, the $7.4 billion estimate is "premature and may be insufficient," the report finds. Now, the complexity of the MSR mission could drive costs to between $8 billion to $11 billion, the OIG report notes, citing a September 2023 Independent Review Board (IRB) report. Notably, a July 2020 estimate listed costs of $2.5 to $3 billion.

These new figures indicate significant financial challenges and uncertainties in the MSR Program's life-cycle costs. Issues include inflation, supply chain problems and increases in funding requests for specific program components.

The report also highlights the need for enhanced coordination between NASA and ESA. The OIG report offers recommendations to address these challenges. These include ensuring a stable CCRS design, incorporating program complexity into cost and schedule estimates (rather than focusing only on external factors), and reassessing large mission pre-formulation guidance.

In a bigger-picture recommendation, the OIG report calls for NASA to "develop a corrective action plan that incorporates the lessons learned and recommendations from the Large Mission Study [completed in 2020] to improve the guidance and practices for pre-formulation of large missions."

NASA management concurred or partially concurred in its responses to the report.

The MSR program has recently come under political pressure for its ever-expanding cost estimates, adding to doubt over the continuation of the program. NASA is currently reassessing the overall MSR architecture and its budget. The results could be released later this month.

NASA is also operating under a continuing resolution that freezes spending at 2023 budgetary limits until the spending for the new fiscal year is agreed upon by Congress. This has seen NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the main player in MSR, to lay off workers, further impacting the program.

MSR is, however, considered a mission of major scientific significance by many planetary scientists. China, meanwhile, is working on its own mission, Tianwen-3, to collect samples from Mars, launching around the end of the decade.

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Will NASA be able to return Mars samples to Earth? New audit raises doubts - Space.com

The blade was broken and, still unforged, it's been found on Mars.

Space fans scouring the raw images from NASA'sPerseverancerover recently spotted the broken helicopter blade from Ingenuity lying on the sands of Mars. Ingenuity is permanently grounded as a result of the blade-snapping incident, a hard landing that occurred at the end of its Jan. 18 flight.

"Nestled in the vibrant red Martian sand, a lonely blade from NASA's Ingenuity helicopter lies about 15 meters [50 feet] from the aircraft's final resting place," the nonprofit Planetary Society wrote Tuesday (Feb. 27) on X, formerly Twitter.

Related: Ingenuity Mars helicopter snapped rotor blade during hard landing last month (video, photo)

Geovisual design student Simeon Schmau also processed the Perserverance imagery, captured by the rover's powerful SuperCam instrument, into a composite view that shows both the helicopter and its now distant blade. Schmau shared the results on X, visible below as well.

Ingenuity's flying days ended after 72 flights 67 more than the five originally planned for its technology-demonstrating mission. The 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) drone was the first vehicle ever to take flight on Mars after landing with Perseverance in February 2021, and kept going for nearly three years.

Perseverance imagery downloaded from Mars on Sunday (Feb. 25) showed the broken-off Ingenuity blade. But hidden in shadow in some of the raw imagery was the blade itself, barely visible in Martian dunes.

The helicopter, operating in Mars' Jezero Crater, demonstrated flight was not only possible but could be done regularly in the Red Planet's thin atmosphere.

After its initial five hops, Ingenuity shifted to a long extended mission in which it was scouting ahead for Perseverance, which is collecting samples for a possible eventual return to Earth (pending funding and technology development for the Mars sample return campaign, whose budget has been under discussion in Congress lately).

What finally downed Ingenuity was a sandy patch of terrain that did not have rocks or other navigation aids to help the helicopter to find its way. As Ingenuity came in for landing, the blade snapped as it hit the ground. But the helicopter, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), had already cemented its legacy as a spaceflight pioneer, agency officials said.

"The NASA JPL team didn't just demonstrate the technology," Tiffany Morgan, deputy director of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, said during a Jan. 31 webcast tribute to Ingenuity. "They demonstrated an approach that if we use in the future will really help us to explore other planets and be as awe-inspiring, as amazing, as Ingenuity has been."

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Perseverance rover spots Ingenuity helicopter's snapped-off rotor blade on Mars (photos) - Space.com

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Artist's concept of Mars Sample Return mission.

Credit: NASA

HOUSTONNASAs Planetary Science Division is hopeful it can craft a new operating plan for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission by July despite looming budget uncertainties, Division Director Lori Glaze says. We have been talking about this for many months now, since last June, Glaze told a March...

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NASA Eyes New Operating Plan For Mars Sample Return Mission - Aviation Week

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) Musician Bruno Mars is extending his residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM and announcing 12 new performance dates.

The 14-time GRAMMY winner is seven years into his residency at the venue. You can see the latest dates below.

Tickets are on sale now and start at $225. Mars recently opened a new cocktail lounge and jazz bar at the Bellagio. It's called The Pinky Ring.

Bruno Mars opens The Pinky Ring at the Bellagio

"I've been performing in Vegas for years and I've always wanted a place where I could throw glamorous parties when I'm in town, a place that felt like my personal penthouse suite, with live music and sensational cocktails," Mars said. "The Pinky Ring is that."

The venue is on the casino floor and located at the former Lily Bar & Lounge space.

The Pinky Ring officially opened to the public on Feb. 12 with The Hooligans as the resident house band for the first two weeks.

Other famous faces who have stopped by so far include Janelle Mone, Babyface, T-Pain, Gayle King, Jason and Lauren Kenedy, Kerrueche Tran, Wilmer Valderrama, Lucky Daye, and Lady Gaga.

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Bruno Mars adding 12 new Las Vegas performances, opens The Pinky Ring - KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas