04/02/2003 3:00PM 37- 252 Marlar Lounge
Dr. James Garvin, Chief Scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA

Description: NASA's present program of science-driver exploration of Mars involves an intensive robotic campaign of increasingly sophisticated missions. While funding for Mars exploration has increased dramatically, Garvin gives an overview of what to expect in the next decade with great hope that human beings will be the agents of the great discoveries about the Red Planet. He shows a brief animated film at 1:26:00 that shows how we may land on Mars, with an air bag delivery system for a Mars exploration land rover and exploratory aircraft as well. Simply put, this is a must-see 6-minute film.

About the Speaker(s): Dr. Jim Garvin currently serves as Lead Scientist for Mars Exploration at NASA Headquarters for the Space Science Enterprise. Prior to this position, he was with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center where he served as a Senior Earth and Space Scientist for 15 years. Garvin was educated at Brown and Stanford Universities, receiving his Ph.D. in 1984. His research focused on the sedimentary geology of the Viking Lander sites on Mars, as well as impact cratering processes. Upon arrival at Goddard, Garvin spearheaded development of planetary orbital laser altimetry as a tool for measuring landscapes on Mars and Earth. Garvin served as Chief Scientist for the Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA), which flew in Earth orbit in 1996 and 1997 on STS-72 and STS-85, respectively. He was recently awarded NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal for his work developing the scientific strategy for Mars Exploration and for chairing the NASA Decadal Planning Team.

Host(s): School of Engineering, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Tape #: T15210.