1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:02,169 welcome and thank you for standing by 2 00:00:05,749 --> 00:00:04,410 today's call is being recorded 3 00:00:08,570 --> 00:00:05,759 if you have any objections you may 4 00:00:09,890 --> 00:00:08,580 disconnect at this time participants are 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:09,900 in a listen-only mode until the 6 00:00:13,759 --> 00:00:11,610 question-and-answer portion of today's 7 00:00:16,129 --> 00:00:13,769 conference at that time you may press 8 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:16,139 star 1 on your phone to ask a question I 9 00:00:20,689 --> 00:00:17,730 would now like to turn the conference 10 00:00:24,349 --> 00:00:20,699 over to your host gray Hana luma thank 11 00:00:25,460 --> 00:00:24,359 you you may begin thank you well hello 12 00:00:27,170 --> 00:00:25,470 everyone and welcome to our 13 00:00:29,540 --> 00:00:27,180 teleconference about the newest named 14 00:00:30,769 --> 00:00:29,550 member of NASA's science fleet we've 15 00:00:32,359 --> 00:00:30,779 just announced the name of the Mars 16 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:32,369 rover that will launch this summer and 17 00:00:36,470 --> 00:00:34,410 today we're celebrating that Rover named 18 00:00:37,310 --> 00:00:36,480 perseverance and the young man who came 19 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:37,320 up with that name 20 00:00:41,810 --> 00:00:39,690 with us today to answer questions about 21 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:41,820 the rover and the naming are dr. Thomas 22 00:00:46,220 --> 00:00:43,530 sir Lucan head of NASA's science Mission 23 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:46,230 Directorate dr. Laurie glaze head of 24 00:00:51,350 --> 00:00:49,050 NASA's Planetary Science Division matt 25 00:00:52,939 --> 00:00:51,360 wallace perseverance mission deputy 26 00:00:56,270 --> 00:00:52,949 project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion 27 00:00:57,740 --> 00:00:56,280 Laboratory and Alex Mather winner of the 28 00:00:59,510 --> 00:00:57,750 rover naming contest here at Lake 29 00:01:02,270 --> 00:00:59,520 Braddock secondary school in Burke 30 00:01:04,219 --> 00:01:02,280 Virginia before we get to questions a 31 00:01:06,469 --> 00:01:04,229 few quick housekeeping things be sure to 32 00:01:09,740 --> 00:01:06,479 press star 1 to get into question queue 33 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:09,750 we'll get to as many as we can and there 34 00:01:13,820 --> 00:01:11,490 will be a replay of this call available 35 00:01:17,030 --> 00:01:13,830 for one month from today the replay 36 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:17,040 number is eight eight eight four three 37 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:20,130 three two two zero five 38 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:21,960 I'll repeat that at the end of the call 39 00:01:25,940 --> 00:01:24,450 in case you didn't get that so without 40 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:25,950 further ado let me turn it over to 41 00:01:29,210 --> 00:01:27,570 Thomas to buchan and Laurie glaze for a 42 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:29,220 couple of quick comments before we get 43 00:01:34,929 --> 00:01:32,310 started thanks so much great and I just 44 00:01:37,910 --> 00:01:34,939 really I'm so excited to be part of this 45 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:37,920 but what I lost about this event today 46 00:01:43,490 --> 00:01:39,890 and I what I love about the entire 47 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:43,500 naming is that what comes together is 48 00:01:49,190 --> 00:01:45,890 the generation of achievers who are 49 00:01:50,810 --> 00:01:49,200 doing the amazing work that actually 50 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:50,820 built that roller and the next 51 00:01:56,450 --> 00:01:53,040 generation that in many ways will 52 00:01:59,569 --> 00:01:56,460 benefit from it and at the confluence of 53 00:02:03,410 --> 00:01:59,579 those two things that next Artemus 54 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:03,420 generation and and amazing experts who 55 00:02:07,459 --> 00:02:04,170 are doing this 56 00:02:09,139 --> 00:02:07,469 it's that name perseverance for me what 57 00:02:10,580 --> 00:02:09,149 I love about it from us from an 58 00:02:13,010 --> 00:02:10,590 engineering point of view it's like 59 00:02:13,940 --> 00:02:13,020 having build space instruments that went 60 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:13,950 to planetary 61 00:02:18,890 --> 00:02:16,410 places and you know having known how 62 00:02:20,930 --> 00:02:18,900 hard that is it is exactly how I feel 63 00:02:22,850 --> 00:02:20,940 yes that's dr. yaste death pulls us out 64 00:02:26,510 --> 00:02:22,860 there but it's the perseverance that 65 00:02:28,220 --> 00:02:26,520 does not let us if there's no 66 00:02:30,590 --> 00:02:28,230 exploration without perseverance and I 67 00:02:32,390 --> 00:02:30,600 really agree with Alex Oren that is 68 00:02:34,580 --> 00:02:32,400 together with the other names that are 69 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:34,590 there the other thing that as a 70 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:36,450 scientist the way I think about it is an 71 00:02:42,620 --> 00:02:39,090 another a word which is astrobiology 72 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:42,630 it's just really a field that in many 73 00:02:48,350 --> 00:02:45,510 ways is a field that like few others is 74 00:02:52,039 --> 00:02:48,360 defined by what our work is at NASA and 75 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:52,049 it is descriptive for so many missions 76 00:02:58,490 --> 00:02:55,010 that were currently working on including 77 00:03:02,809 --> 00:02:58,500 perseverance or Mars 2020 and so so for 78 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:02,819 me that really finding life elsewhere 79 00:03:08,270 --> 00:03:05,010 it's just one of those things that of 80 00:03:10,759 --> 00:03:08,280 course we've puzzled over for many 81 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:10,769 generations I'm just so excited that 82 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:14,340 with Alex and his generation to be 83 00:03:21,470 --> 00:03:18,890 really opening up that exploration with 84 00:03:22,729 --> 00:03:21,480 perseverance bizarro dad will get there 85 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:22,739 early next year 86 00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:24,930 and I couldn't be more excited to be 87 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:27,120 part of that and get the energy of that 88 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:29,370 next generation of explorers that 89 00:03:33,830 --> 00:03:32,010 hopefully will of course join us and 90 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:33,840 actually make us even better than we are 91 00:03:40,370 --> 00:03:35,910 today and I want to turn it over to you 92 00:03:44,210 --> 00:03:40,380 Laurie great Thank You Thomas as Thomas 93 00:03:46,759 --> 00:03:44,220 says the perseverance Rover one of its 94 00:03:49,370 --> 00:03:46,769 main goals is does have to do with 95 00:03:50,870 --> 00:03:49,380 astrobiology which is understanding the 96 00:03:53,890 --> 00:03:50,880 types of environments that could have 97 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:53,900 possibly been places where life to form 98 00:04:00,349 --> 00:03:57,930 many many billions of years ago three 99 00:04:02,210 --> 00:04:00,359 and a half billion years ago on Mars and 100 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:02,220 the important part about the 101 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:04,650 perseverance Rover is that it's the 102 00:04:09,530 --> 00:04:06,930 first leg of the first round trip to 103 00:04:11,930 --> 00:04:09,540 Mars the perseverance Rover will be 104 00:04:13,550 --> 00:04:11,940 collecting samples that will be stored 105 00:04:15,559 --> 00:04:13,560 on the surface of Mars until we can go 106 00:04:17,569 --> 00:04:15,569 back and collect those and bring them 107 00:04:19,789 --> 00:04:17,579 back to earth to answer these really 108 00:04:21,860 --> 00:04:19,799 important questions about was that 109 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:21,870 environment a place that that life could 110 00:04:27,110 --> 00:04:23,849 have taken hold or was there in fact 111 00:04:27,690 --> 00:04:27,120 even some some remnants or fossil 112 00:04:30,090 --> 00:04:27,700 evidence 113 00:04:32,430 --> 00:04:30,100 that of some early life that that might 114 00:04:36,750 --> 00:04:32,440 still be preserved in the surface of 115 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:36,760 Mars but today is as a really exciting 116 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:39,370 day where we got to spend a lot of time 117 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:41,490 here at Lake Braddock secondary school 118 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:44,110 and I was one of the ones that was 119 00:04:47,490 --> 00:04:45,370 really lucky enough to be on the 120 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:47,500 interview panel of defiance the nine 121 00:04:52,350 --> 00:04:49,210 finalists and got to talk with Alex 122 00:04:53,970 --> 00:04:52,360 virtually and today I got to meet him in 123 00:04:57,570 --> 00:04:53,980 person and meet many of his classmates 124 00:04:59,100 --> 00:04:57,580 here at the secondary school again all 125 00:05:02,340 --> 00:04:59,110 of these students here are part of that 126 00:05:04,170 --> 00:05:02,350 Artemis generation as NASA with all of 127 00:05:06,060 --> 00:05:04,180 our international and commercial 128 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:06,070 partners we're we're all going back to 129 00:05:11,220 --> 00:05:08,530 the moon with eyes to getting to Mars 130 00:05:15,470 --> 00:05:11,230 with humans in the future and as a 131 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:15,480 planetary scientist we're developing and 132 00:05:20,490 --> 00:05:18,130 operating many robotic missions 133 00:05:23,810 --> 00:05:20,500 throughout the solar system leading the 134 00:05:26,730 --> 00:05:23,820 way for future human exploration and 135 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:26,740 it's all of that work that we do now 136 00:05:30,230 --> 00:05:28,690 that will help us help the artists 137 00:05:32,790 --> 00:05:30,240 monogamous generation in the future 138 00:05:35,450 --> 00:05:32,800 figure out where we're going to go next 139 00:05:37,650 --> 00:05:35,460 what those next destinations will be 140 00:05:40,890 --> 00:05:37,660 with that I'm going to hand it over to 141 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:40,900 Matt to say a few words about the 142 00:05:49,250 --> 00:05:46,090 perseverance thanks for yeah the 143 00:05:51,450 --> 00:05:49,260 spacecraft is essentially all the 144 00:05:54,030 --> 00:05:51,460 components are now down at Kennedy Space 145 00:05:56,340 --> 00:05:54,040 Center we're going to spend the next few 146 00:05:59,820 --> 00:05:56,350 weeks doing the final assembly and 147 00:06:02,130 --> 00:05:59,830 testing on the individual vehicles and 148 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:02,140 then we'll start stacking up this 149 00:06:08,220 --> 00:06:05,890 spacecraft that'll take a couple months 150 00:06:11,790 --> 00:06:08,230 and then we'll be ready to integrate it 151 00:06:15,300 --> 00:06:11,800 on to the launch vehicle and get it out 152 00:06:17,490 --> 00:06:15,310 to the pad for our July 17th opening of 153 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:17,500 the launch window so things are going 154 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:20,970 well on on the mission on the project 155 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:23,530 and we're super excited to have a name 156 00:06:30,630 --> 00:06:26,890 the team was participating in all of the 157 00:06:33,390 --> 00:06:30,640 activities today at the event and and we 158 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:33,400 love Alex's selection of a name for our 159 00:06:39,930 --> 00:06:38,290 Rover all right thanks Matt we have been 160 00:06:41,070 --> 00:06:39,940 asking for questions on social media 161 00:06:42,719 --> 00:06:41,080 with hash tag ask 162 00:06:46,649 --> 00:06:42,729 so I'm gonna start with a couple of 163 00:06:48,659 --> 00:06:46,659 those obvious on Twitter asks what was 164 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:48,669 the biggest challenge faced by the team 165 00:06:55,170 --> 00:06:50,680 I think that's probably one for you Matt 166 00:06:57,270 --> 00:06:55,180 I mean the perseverance team well 167 00:06:59,969 --> 00:06:57,280 whenever you're putting the spacecraft 168 00:07:01,800 --> 00:06:59,979 together you're gonna run up against 169 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:01,810 some obstacles and some challenges 170 00:07:07,679 --> 00:07:05,889 they're just very complex vehicles you 171 00:07:10,230 --> 00:07:07,689 know we start started with the concept 172 00:07:13,439 --> 00:07:10,240 development on this almost 10 years ago 173 00:07:17,010 --> 00:07:13,449 and these missions come with a number of 174 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:17,020 particularly difficult aspects to them 175 00:07:21,149 --> 00:07:19,210 getting down on to the surface is one of 176 00:07:21,629 --> 00:07:21,159 them so we call entry descent and 177 00:07:24,260 --> 00:07:21,639 landing 178 00:07:28,860 --> 00:07:24,270 we call it the seven minutes of Terror 179 00:07:32,999 --> 00:07:28,870 and the systems that get us from from 180 00:07:35,070 --> 00:07:33,009 the approach to Mars all the way down to 181 00:07:38,519 --> 00:07:35,080 jezero crater which is our targeted 182 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:38,529 landing site our critical the space 183 00:07:42,749 --> 00:07:40,330 because that has to perform all those 184 00:07:44,610 --> 00:07:42,759 functions perfectly and it has to do it 185 00:07:46,909 --> 00:07:44,620 autonomously there's no interaction with 186 00:07:48,930 --> 00:07:46,919 the operators during that period of time 187 00:07:51,420 --> 00:07:48,940 that's always one of the biggest 188 00:07:54,629 --> 00:07:51,430 challenges for for a system like this 189 00:07:57,689 --> 00:07:54,639 and then I'll also mention that our our 190 00:08:02,490 --> 00:07:57,699 Mars rovers are a little unique in that 191 00:08:05,939 --> 00:08:02,500 they have a lot of mechanisms onboard 192 00:08:09,209 --> 00:08:05,949 and mechanisms are difficult things to 193 00:08:12,300 --> 00:08:09,219 develop because they have to operate in 194 00:08:15,450 --> 00:08:12,310 a very harsh Martian environment one 195 00:08:16,769 --> 00:08:15,460 that cycles from minus 180 degrees 196 00:08:18,469 --> 00:08:16,779 Fahrenheit all the way up to room 197 00:08:21,209 --> 00:08:18,479 temperature pretty much every single day 198 00:08:23,610 --> 00:08:21,219 they have to deal with very fine dust 199 00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:23,620 you know almost all compounder and you 200 00:08:27,510 --> 00:08:26,349 have to protect your mechanisms from 201 00:08:29,219 --> 00:08:27,520 those things and we have a lot of 202 00:08:30,990 --> 00:08:29,229 mechanisms on the vehicle not just 203 00:08:33,389 --> 00:08:31,000 mobility and mass but our sampling 204 00:08:36,209 --> 00:08:33,399 system and so those are always big big 205 00:08:40,019 --> 00:08:36,219 challenges so the team knows a lot about 206 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:40,029 perseverance and and those are a couple 207 00:08:45,590 --> 00:08:42,370 of the things we we worked our way 208 00:08:48,810 --> 00:08:45,600 through the last eight nine years 209 00:08:51,059 --> 00:08:48,820 okay thanks Matt alright operator we're 210 00:08:54,449 --> 00:08:51,069 ready for our next question from one of 211 00:08:55,170 --> 00:08:54,459 the online participants certainly 212 00:08:56,850 --> 00:08:55,180 another my 213 00:09:00,030 --> 00:08:56,860 if you'd like to ask a question please 214 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:00,040 press star followed by one and make sure 215 00:09:03,870 --> 00:09:02,290 that your line is unmuted our first 216 00:09:07,579 --> 00:09:03,880 question comes from Mike wall with 217 00:09:13,410 --> 00:09:07,589 space.com your line is open 218 00:09:14,820 --> 00:09:13,420 thank you all and yes like um can like I 219 00:09:16,949 --> 00:09:14,830 just like to ask a quick question of dr. 220 00:09:18,990 --> 00:09:16,959 Z um could you just say a little bit 221 00:09:21,780 --> 00:09:19,000 about how important like a rover 222 00:09:23,370 --> 00:09:21,790 missions name is to the overall be tied 223 00:09:24,990 --> 00:09:23,380 to the mission and to the outreach just 224 00:09:27,449 --> 00:09:25,000 what would it mean in terms of being 225 00:09:29,310 --> 00:09:27,459 able to connect like with the public and 226 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:29,320 kind of follow on that it seems like 227 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:30,910 everybody is already calling it I mean 228 00:09:33,900 --> 00:09:32,050 we already have a nickname and that's 229 00:09:36,510 --> 00:09:33,910 Percy and and how do you guys feel about 230 00:09:40,230 --> 00:09:36,520 Percy as a nickname for this thing thank 231 00:09:43,650 --> 00:09:40,240 you I think so much for a question I 232 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:43,660 don't know how you feel yourself kind of 233 00:09:50,340 --> 00:09:46,330 a person but I do think of rowers as 234 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:50,350 these robotic the these robotic 235 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:53,130 personalities tooth out there and our 236 00:09:57,540 --> 00:09:55,630 really making the missions I think of 237 00:09:59,250 --> 00:09:57,550 opportunity I think of spirit you know 238 00:10:03,630 --> 00:09:59,260 first opportunity also with the next 239 00:10:05,730 --> 00:10:03,640 name RP that it's very very soon people 240 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:05,740 were use and just because it's a multi 241 00:10:12,180 --> 00:10:09,910 symbol work for me the name whether it's 242 00:10:15,870 --> 00:10:12,190 perseverance or courtesy people call it 243 00:10:20,310 --> 00:10:15,880 that way is is really part of that 244 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:20,320 character of that of that mission that 245 00:10:25,230 --> 00:10:23,050 we will relate to as we go forward it 246 00:10:29,070 --> 00:10:25,240 will be in a news I many times and we 247 00:10:31,530 --> 00:10:29,080 will don't think of it again and not 248 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:31,540 only us as researchers and engineers but 249 00:10:35,610 --> 00:10:33,610 people all over the world will connect 250 00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:35,620 to it and in a direct fashion so is it 251 00:10:41,069 --> 00:10:38,110 important I think it really is important 252 00:10:44,940 --> 00:10:41,079 for us especially in our Mars program in 253 00:10:47,970 --> 00:10:44,950 our with it with our with our Rovers 254 00:10:49,710 --> 00:10:47,980 that is it's just a really important 255 00:10:52,199 --> 00:10:49,720 part and it has helped us to also 256 00:10:55,319 --> 00:10:52,209 explain the importance of science and 257 00:10:57,569 --> 00:10:55,329 and the excitement of engineering do so 258 00:10:59,900 --> 00:10:57,579 many as a result of that I love it 259 00:11:03,390 --> 00:10:59,910 absolutely love it 260 00:11:06,329 --> 00:11:03,400 okay thanks next question 261 00:11:07,950 --> 00:11:06,339 our next question comes from Ken Kramer 262 00:11:10,950 --> 00:11:07,960 with space up-close 263 00:11:13,740 --> 00:11:10,960 your line is open hi thank you for doing 264 00:11:16,110 --> 00:11:13,750 this and congratulations to all of you 265 00:11:18,180 --> 00:11:16,120 especially Alex I think it's a I think 266 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:18,190 it's great name I listen to your essay I 267 00:11:22,650 --> 00:11:20,770 get a couple of questions as well 268 00:11:25,829 --> 00:11:22,660 curious how long did you work on this 269 00:11:28,890 --> 00:11:25,839 essay I want to know do you want to be 270 00:11:33,630 --> 00:11:28,900 an astronaut going to Mars and about the 271 00:11:35,070 --> 00:11:33,640 name itself opportunity actually died 272 00:11:39,150 --> 00:11:35,080 from the dust storm there and 273 00:11:41,130 --> 00:11:39,160 perseverance in a gully and where was 274 00:11:46,260 --> 00:11:41,140 water carved gully did that play a role 275 00:11:48,690 --> 00:11:46,270 in your naming of this Rover at all so 276 00:11:52,470 --> 00:11:48,700 starting with the first question 277 00:11:56,130 --> 00:11:52,480 typing up the essay and drafting ago I 278 00:11:59,310 --> 00:11:56,140 think I spent about of days work on that 279 00:12:01,260 --> 00:11:59,320 but actually getting the name took about 280 00:12:03,630 --> 00:12:01,270 two weeks of solid research and 281 00:12:12,150 --> 00:12:03,640 brainstorming and seeing more of the 282 00:12:14,820 --> 00:12:12,160 space in RDR I am oh yeah so I would 283 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:14,830 like to be an astronaut it's approaching 284 00:12:18,750 --> 00:12:17,050 the frontiers of space exploration and I 285 00:12:22,019 --> 00:12:18,760 would like to be on the very edge of 286 00:12:24,180 --> 00:12:22,029 that but if I don't make it sense it's a 287 00:12:25,769 --> 00:12:24,190 very hard job to get engineering at NASA 288 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:25,779 would be a job I could have the same 289 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:32,410 amount of fulfillment with definitely 290 00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:36,370 right it did okay yeah talk a little bit 291 00:12:44,310 --> 00:12:42,520 about that then so opportunity and there 292 00:12:48,390 --> 00:12:44,320 was one other missions called Vikram to 293 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:48,400 which India launched that failed and I 294 00:12:52,650 --> 00:12:50,529 mentioned those in my essay because 295 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:52,660 those were proof of how hard Mars 296 00:12:59,160 --> 00:12:54,970 missions are and how much perseverance 297 00:13:01,019 --> 00:12:59,170 it takes and they were big reasons for 298 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:01,029 me choosing perseverance as the finer 299 00:13:10,620 --> 00:13:07,690 men great thank you okay ready for our 300 00:13:13,230 --> 00:13:10,630 next question and next we have Keith 301 00:13:17,129 --> 00:13:13,240 Cowen from NASA watch comm your lines 302 00:13:19,499 --> 00:13:17,139 open hi thanks for doing this today 303 00:13:21,929 --> 00:13:19,509 Thomasson to Lori it was good to hear 304 00:13:23,759 --> 00:13:21,939 the word astrobiology in Mars 2020 now 305 00:13:25,799 --> 00:13:23,769 for severance and perseverance in the 306 00:13:28,410 --> 00:13:25,809 same sentences this is an overt 307 00:13:30,509 --> 00:13:28,420 astrobiology mission and astrobiology is 308 00:13:33,030 --> 00:13:30,519 really an emergent disciplines of a 21st 309 00:13:34,499 --> 00:13:33,040 century that you know people like Alex 310 00:13:35,999 --> 00:13:34,509 are going to be studying as they prepare 311 00:13:37,979 --> 00:13:36,009 that you know as part of the others part 312 00:13:39,629 --> 00:13:37,989 of Miss generations go to Mars and this 313 00:13:41,129 --> 00:13:39,639 word is used in many textbooks and 314 00:13:43,109 --> 00:13:41,139 classes and so forth now and I'm just 315 00:13:45,569 --> 00:13:43,119 wondering now that we're talking about 316 00:13:47,699 --> 00:13:45,579 astrobiology is a thing that propels 317 00:13:50,159 --> 00:13:47,709 missions are you going to use the Mars 318 00:13:53,369 --> 00:13:50,169 2020 mission to enhance the visibility 319 00:13:55,229 --> 00:13:53,379 of astrobiology and also you know it's 320 00:13:57,269 --> 00:13:55,239 possible we may have as many as four 321 00:13:59,819 --> 00:13:57,279 Rovers on Mars in the next year and a 322 00:14:01,590 --> 00:13:59,829 half or so all of which are doing one 323 00:14:03,929 --> 00:14:01,600 sort or another astrobiology 324 00:14:06,299 --> 00:14:03,939 are there any ways being contemplated to 325 00:14:08,970 --> 00:14:06,309 have an outreach effort that brings all 326 00:14:10,889 --> 00:14:08,980 four of them together and also it's a 327 00:14:13,349 --> 00:14:10,899 couple this with people like Alex 328 00:14:16,049 --> 00:14:13,359 inspiring them for you know future 329 00:14:19,379 --> 00:14:16,059 careers in studying Mars and 330 00:14:21,710 --> 00:14:19,389 astrobiology I hate that this is Laurie 331 00:14:25,350 --> 00:14:21,720 thank you for the question and 332 00:14:30,150 --> 00:14:25,360 absolutely we intend to use the Mars 333 00:14:33,090 --> 00:14:30,160 2020 as we go forward here to bring much 334 00:14:34,829 --> 00:14:33,100 more visibility to to the the word 335 00:14:37,019 --> 00:14:34,839 astrobiology into the field of 336 00:14:39,150 --> 00:14:37,029 astrobiology I mean clearly this is a 337 00:14:40,829 --> 00:14:39,160 main focus as you know with the mission 338 00:14:42,449 --> 00:14:40,839 to to try and better understand those 339 00:14:45,210 --> 00:14:42,459 environments and understand whether life 340 00:14:46,710 --> 00:14:45,220 could have or did actually take hold 341 00:14:48,780 --> 00:14:46,720 there and to collect those samples and 342 00:14:52,189 --> 00:14:48,790 bring them back and really you know test 343 00:14:55,439 --> 00:14:52,199 those and see what what was really there 344 00:14:57,509 --> 00:14:55,449 and I think you know even in some of the 345 00:14:59,400 --> 00:14:57,519 other missions that we have as well as 346 00:15:01,499 --> 00:14:59,410 we start talking about dragonfly for 347 00:15:03,509 --> 00:15:01,509 example in Europa clipper we intend to 348 00:15:05,369 --> 00:15:03,519 to bring astrobiology much more 349 00:15:08,460 --> 00:15:05,379 visibility to the astrobiology aspects 350 00:15:10,619 --> 00:15:08,470 of those missions as well they all carry 351 00:15:12,509 --> 00:15:10,629 different types of payloads and 352 00:15:13,829 --> 00:15:12,519 different types of experiments that that 353 00:15:15,179 --> 00:15:13,839 all contribute to our better 354 00:15:16,769 --> 00:15:15,189 understanding of what types of 355 00:15:19,679 --> 00:15:16,779 environments could could host life 356 00:15:22,609 --> 00:15:19,689 throughout the solar system as far as 357 00:15:25,169 --> 00:15:22,619 the the multiple Mars launches and the 358 00:15:28,529 --> 00:15:25,179 multiple missions are going to be at 359 00:15:30,090 --> 00:15:28,539 Mars very soon we are working hopefully 360 00:15:30,850 --> 00:15:30,100 to bring all those together I think it's 361 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:30,860 a fantastic 362 00:15:38,830 --> 00:15:33,650 International Year for Mars where we're 363 00:15:40,090 --> 00:15:38,840 all all working side by side sometimes 364 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:40,100 together as partners sometimes 365 00:15:44,350 --> 00:15:42,650 independently but I think it's going to 366 00:15:46,450 --> 00:15:44,360 be really exciting to have that many new 367 00:15:48,220 --> 00:15:46,460 missions arriving at the same time and 368 00:15:50,050 --> 00:15:48,230 we are looking to again try and bring 369 00:15:52,690 --> 00:15:50,060 more visibility to to those partnerships 370 00:15:54,940 --> 00:15:52,700 and to the to the significant interest 371 00:16:01,290 --> 00:15:54,950 in trying to do more robotic exploration 372 00:16:03,790 --> 00:16:01,300 at Mars alright thanks for next question 373 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:03,800 alright next question comes from Robert 374 00:16:06,750 --> 00:16:06,050 Perlman with collect space your line is 375 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:06,760 open 376 00:16:15,750 --> 00:16:12,770 thank you I guess first for Laurie out 377 00:16:19,030 --> 00:16:15,760 of the 28,000 entries that were received 378 00:16:21,790 --> 00:16:19,040 how unique was perseverance do you know 379 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:21,800 how many others suggested the name if if 380 00:16:29,470 --> 00:16:25,850 they did or was Alex's entry good alone 381 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:29,480 on that and for Alex congratulations if 382 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:33,290 I can if I can ask if you could confirm 383 00:16:40,540 --> 00:16:38,210 with your ages and also have you I know 384 00:16:43,050 --> 00:16:40,550 it's early but have you heard from Clara 385 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:43,060 MA or for and from any of the other 386 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:45,710 students who have named some of the 387 00:16:50,050 --> 00:16:48,710 Rovers in the past so I'll take the 388 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:50,060 first part first 389 00:16:53,020 --> 00:16:51,770 and then we'll let Alex answer the 390 00:16:56,350 --> 00:16:53,030 second part 391 00:16:59,080 --> 00:16:56,360 so certainly perseverance was this was 392 00:17:00,100 --> 00:16:59,090 not the only submission of perseverance 393 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:00,110 there was certainly more than one I 394 00:17:05,890 --> 00:17:04,310 don't I don't know the total number of 395 00:17:10,420 --> 00:17:05,900 perseverance --is that were in the 396 00:17:12,670 --> 00:17:10,430 28,000 but it really boiled down to the 397 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:12,680 essay the certainly the name is a big 398 00:17:16,360 --> 00:17:14,570 part and understanding and getting a 399 00:17:19,770 --> 00:17:16,370 sense of how that personality is going 400 00:17:22,270 --> 00:17:19,780 to relate to the robotic mission but the 401 00:17:24,910 --> 00:17:22,280 most of the evaluation was based on the 402 00:17:26,740 --> 00:17:24,920 content of the essay and so even though 403 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:26,750 there were multiple submissions of that 404 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:29,810 word it was it really boils down to the 405 00:17:34,990 --> 00:17:32,090 outstanding essay that that Alex put 406 00:17:37,810 --> 00:17:35,000 forward that really was in my mind very 407 00:17:40,270 --> 00:17:37,820 moving and and really captured the 408 00:17:42,340 --> 00:17:40,280 spirit of the exploration that we're 409 00:17:44,290 --> 00:17:42,350 attempting to do with the perseverance 410 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:44,300 mission 411 00:17:48,430 --> 00:17:46,130 thanks Lloyd I think you want a question 412 00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:48,440 if you want to repeat your questions for 413 00:17:54,780 --> 00:17:52,910 Alex short one just quickly I know the 414 00:17:58,720 --> 00:17:54,790 release said you were in seventh grade 415 00:18:01,420 --> 00:17:58,730 how old are you and also have you I know 416 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:01,430 it's early but have you heard from Clara 417 00:18:03,610 --> 00:18:01,970 MA 418 00:18:08,770 --> 00:18:03,620 or any of the other students who have 419 00:18:13,060 --> 00:18:08,780 named NASA's past Mars rovers thank you 420 00:18:16,060 --> 00:18:13,070 I am 13 years old and while I met Clara 421 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:16,070 ma in the finalist interview I have not 422 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:19,250 heard from her son to be honest this is 423 00:18:23,770 --> 00:18:21,890 Laurie again Clara learned about the 424 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:23,780 selection at the same time the rest of 425 00:18:28,540 --> 00:18:25,730 the world did at 1:30 Eastern this 426 00:18:30,820 --> 00:18:28,550 afternoon so she probably just found out 427 00:18:38,620 --> 00:18:30,830 she lives in London and she lives in 428 00:18:40,090 --> 00:18:38,630 London by the way we did get to meet 429 00:18:44,020 --> 00:18:40,100 Clara she was one of the panelists in 430 00:18:46,990 --> 00:18:44,030 the final interview okay thanks meaning 431 00:18:50,740 --> 00:18:47,000 taking a couple more asknasa questions 432 00:18:51,970 --> 00:18:50,750 here and water on twitter asked how much 433 00:18:55,270 --> 00:18:51,980 time will it take for the rover to 434 00:18:58,480 --> 00:18:55,280 arrive on Mars and how will it enter the 435 00:19:03,820 --> 00:18:58,490 atmosphere Matt do you want to try that 436 00:19:05,170 --> 00:19:03,830 one sure we launched on July 17th or at 437 00:19:06,460 --> 00:19:05,180 least that's when the window opens we 438 00:19:09,190 --> 00:19:06,470 should launch pretty close to the 439 00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:09,200 opening of the window and we land on 440 00:19:15,730 --> 00:19:12,710 February 18th so that's that's a period 441 00:19:18,790 --> 00:19:15,740 of time it takes on the trajectory we're 442 00:19:21,220 --> 00:19:18,800 on when we get to Mars we'll be 443 00:19:25,270 --> 00:19:21,230 traveling about twelve or thirteen 444 00:19:27,690 --> 00:19:25,280 thousand miles an hour and so we have to 445 00:19:30,430 --> 00:19:27,700 go through a number of different 446 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:30,440 activities to get to a point where we 447 00:19:35,590 --> 00:19:33,050 can safely touchdown the first thing 448 00:19:38,020 --> 00:19:35,600 that happens is we slow down as the 449 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:38,030 heatshield enters the outer atmosphere 450 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:40,910 that gets us down to about a thousand 451 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:44,450 miles an hour or so then we deploy an 452 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:47,090 enormous supersonic parachute and 453 00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:50,570 that'll slow us down to 150 years miles 454 00:19:55,750 --> 00:19:52,910 an hour or so and eventually then we 455 00:19:56,940 --> 00:19:55,760 drop out of the the Aero shell which 456 00:20:00,780 --> 00:19:56,950 protected us during 457 00:20:03,810 --> 00:20:00,790 tree and we use rocket engines on our 458 00:20:05,370 --> 00:20:03,820 descent stage to take us most of the 459 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:05,380 rest of the way as we approach the 460 00:20:09,510 --> 00:20:06,730 ground 461 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:09,520 the rover deploys down on a tether and 462 00:20:14,790 --> 00:20:12,130 the wheels come down the wheels will 463 00:20:17,250 --> 00:20:14,800 touch the surface at jezero will cut the 464 00:20:19,620 --> 00:20:17,260 tether the descent stage is done it will 465 00:20:24,810 --> 00:20:19,630 fly away and and we're on the ground 466 00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:24,820 it's pretty simple but that whole 467 00:20:29,370 --> 00:20:26,710 process is called entry descent and 468 00:20:31,620 --> 00:20:29,380 landing and the technique that's used 469 00:20:35,850 --> 00:20:31,630 for that terminal descent is a technique 470 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:35,860 we call sky crane after the big heavy 471 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:38,290 lift military helicopters that carry 472 00:20:44,850 --> 00:20:42,010 cargo below them on on tethers it's the 473 00:20:47,250 --> 00:20:44,860 same the same fundamental approach that 474 00:20:49,710 --> 00:20:47,260 we used on curiosity although we've 475 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:49,720 added a couple additional capabilities 476 00:20:59,280 --> 00:20:55,690 to make the landing safer at jezero okay 477 00:21:03,110 --> 00:20:59,290 thanks Matt another one that might be 478 00:21:07,710 --> 00:21:03,120 for you and or any of our scientists 479 00:21:10,110 --> 00:21:07,720 what HP sure on Twitter has how will the 480 00:21:12,090 --> 00:21:10,120 science how well perseverance advanced 481 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:12,100 the science beyond what curiosity has 482 00:21:17,070 --> 00:21:14,410 been doing I'll take that one this is 483 00:21:19,590 --> 00:21:17,080 Laurie great question 484 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:19,600 so the Curiosity rover of course landed 485 00:21:23,460 --> 00:21:21,730 in in Gale Crater which is a place where 486 00:21:26,190 --> 00:21:23,470 they discovered there had been standing 487 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:26,200 water certainly looks like you know 488 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:28,330 confirmation of a much warmer and wetter 489 00:21:33,330 --> 00:21:31,570 Mars in the distant past they were able 490 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:33,340 to identify that the water that was 491 00:21:38,550 --> 00:21:35,410 present in that crater 492 00:21:40,770 --> 00:21:38,560 was at a pH level or an acidity that was 493 00:21:43,650 --> 00:21:40,780 actually you know something that would 494 00:21:45,060 --> 00:21:43,660 be conducive to to life here on earth as 495 00:21:47,670 --> 00:21:45,070 opposed to some of the other places we'd 496 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:47,680 found previously they had very acidic 497 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:49,210 water where we don't think life could 498 00:21:53,010 --> 00:21:51,130 have formed so we know that there were 499 00:21:55,590 --> 00:21:53,020 conditions there and water available 500 00:21:59,000 --> 00:21:55,600 where where life could have potentially 501 00:22:02,370 --> 00:21:59,010 been been hosted they also identified 502 00:22:03,990 --> 00:22:02,380 complex organic molecules that could 503 00:22:05,430 --> 00:22:04,000 have been the early building blocks of 504 00:22:08,850 --> 00:22:05,440 life so we've learned an enormous amount 505 00:22:10,860 --> 00:22:08,860 from curiosity but what perseverance is 506 00:22:13,290 --> 00:22:10,870 going to do to push things forward 507 00:22:15,270 --> 00:22:13,300 well beyond what what curiosity was able 508 00:22:17,940 --> 00:22:15,280 to do it is going to carry some 509 00:22:22,380 --> 00:22:17,950 specialized instrumentation that will be 510 00:22:25,110 --> 00:22:22,390 able to detect potentially if biomarkers 511 00:22:27,630 --> 00:22:25,120 are presence in the soil that could give 512 00:22:30,150 --> 00:22:27,640 us some indicators that perhaps there 513 00:22:32,549 --> 00:22:30,160 might be the right molecules there that 514 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:32,559 could be life sparing and then we'd do 515 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:35,050 one thing that perseverance can do that 516 00:22:39,090 --> 00:22:37,090 we've never tried before to push things 517 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:39,100 way beyond is to collect the samples to 518 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:43,450 cor take cores of the soil there at 519 00:22:47,610 --> 00:22:45,970 jezero crater and give us the ability to 520 00:22:49,830 --> 00:22:47,620 bring those back to earth where we can 521 00:22:53,430 --> 00:22:49,840 now study them in our own laboratories 522 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:53,440 here we have tremendous capabilities on 523 00:22:59,460 --> 00:22:56,890 earth that we can you know only only try 524 00:23:01,049 --> 00:22:59,470 to do in a small way on the surface of 525 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:01,059 Mars so the ability to bring those 526 00:23:06,419 --> 00:23:04,090 samples back here really is going to 527 00:23:09,870 --> 00:23:06,429 open the open the floodgates of 528 00:23:11,210 --> 00:23:09,880 discovery not only initially when we 529 00:23:13,590 --> 00:23:11,220 bring them back with our 530 00:23:14,490 --> 00:23:13,600 state-of-the-art instrumentation but 531 00:23:19,820 --> 00:23:14,500 going forward 532 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:19,830 saving those samples for posterity and 533 00:23:23,820 --> 00:23:22,570 so that we can use future 534 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:23,830 instrumentation we haven't even thought 535 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:27,010 of and to develop you know to test new 536 00:23:35,030 --> 00:23:28,510 hypotheses that we haven't even thought 537 00:23:37,530 --> 00:23:35,040 about yet we're also going to be testing 538 00:23:41,220 --> 00:23:37,540 oxygen production from the from the 539 00:23:43,430 --> 00:23:41,230 martian act atmosphere as when we're 540 00:23:46,770 --> 00:23:43,440 there as well 541 00:23:48,780 --> 00:23:46,780 okay thank you everybody remind 542 00:23:50,580 --> 00:23:48,790 everybody that you can press star 1 for 543 00:23:52,380 --> 00:23:50,590 a question if there are no more 544 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:52,390 questions we'll wrap up in just a minute 545 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:53,650 here but just want to give people one 546 00:24:05,020 --> 00:23:54,730 more chance to ask any more questions 547 00:24:09,380 --> 00:24:07,400 all right well thank you everybody for 548 00:24:11,930 --> 00:24:09,390 participating in our call today and 549 00:24:13,820 --> 00:24:11,940 please be sure to follow the 550 00:24:16,910 --> 00:24:13,830 perseverance Rover at its new social 551 00:24:19,430 --> 00:24:16,920 account at NASA persevere and I will 552 00:24:22,340 --> 00:24:19,440 repeat the replay call number one more 553 00:24:25,970 --> 00:24:22,350 time it's eight eight eight four three 554 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:25,980 three two two zero five that'll be 555 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:27,510 available for one month after this call 556 00:24:31,940 --> 00:24:31,290 thank you this concludes today's 557 00:24:46,770 --> 00:24:31,950 conference