by: Nicole Willett I recently attended the online NASA/JPL Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) meeting that was held on July 23, 2013. The meeting’s purpose was to discuss the Mars 2020 rover and many other Mars exploration issues. Many people wonder why NASA keeps sending rovers to Mars without stating that they will unequivocally
Read MoreBy: Nicole Willett Imagine a shapeless infinite area of subatomic particles. All of the particles slowly started to be attracted to each other. Over millions of years clumps of particles formed and even coalesced into molecules and compounds. After millions more years the compounds formed into small objects, probably pebbles. After a billion years or
Read Moreby: Nicole Willett Becoming a space faring civilization is the goal of millions of Earthlings. If one pays attention to the universe around him, it is impossible to deny its ability to cause breathtaking humility. We long to explore, to expand, to go out and touch a piece of another planetary body. This longing is what
Read Moreby: Nicole Willett As a full time secondary Astronomy teacher and the Education Director for The Mars Society, I teach a theme-based curriculum. The theme is centered around Mars, putting humans on the Red Planet and the astrobiology of Mars. I would not recommend starting any curriculum with Mars. I always begin with a general overview
Read Moreby: Nicole Willett *****UPDATED 9/28/2013***** Several papers have been published regarding the findings of Curiosity’s first few month’s on the surface of Mars. The findings are of great importance with regard to water. The rover has confirmed an incredible two percent of the surface soil is composed of water. Scientists said if humans were to land
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