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>>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO NASA'S JET PROPULSION
LABORATORY.
I THIS IS WHERE JPL HAS RELEASED
NEWS ON VOYAGER, CAN SINI AND ON
ONE OF OUR MARS ROVERS.
NOW, THE DAY THAT OPPORTUNITY
LANDED IT WAS 15 YEARS AGO,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
THIS PLACE WAS PACKED TPULT OF
REPORTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
TEAM.
IT IS PACKED WITH THE PEOPLE
MANY BACK FOR TODAY'S NEWS.
IT HAS BEEN FABULOUS AND
WONDERFUL TO SEE EVERYBODY
TOGETHER AGAIN.
EVERYBOD PROBABLY KNOWS BY NOW
NASA'S OPPORTUNITY WENT SILENT
ON JUNE 10.
THAT'S AFTER A MASSIVE GLOBAL
DUST STORM JUST COVERED THE
PLANET AND THE SKIES DARKENED
AND THE ROVER COULD NOT GET
SOLAR POWER.
LAST NIGHT THE TEAM MADE ITS
FINAL PLANNED COMMANDS AND WE
HAVE VIDEO TO SHOW YOU RIGHT
HERE.
AT THE TIME PART OF THE TEAM
WENT UP TO MISSION CONTROL TO
SEND UP MORE COMMANDS TO ASK THE
ROVER TO RESPOND.
ONE WAY LIGHT TIME IS 13 AND
A HALF PHAPBTS AND IT TOOK 13
AND A HALF MINUTES TO GET
A SIGNAL UP TO MARS.
IF THE RECOVERY DID RESPOND IT
WOULD TAKE ANOTHER 13 AND A HALF
MINUTES TO COME BACK.
TO FIND OUT MORE AND WHAT THE
OUT COME WAS FROM LAST NIGHT, I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO
THE PANEL RIGHT NOW.
WE BEGIN WITH INTRODUCTIONS OUR
JPL ADMINISTRATOR, JIM
BRIDENSTINE AND THE ASSOCIATE
ADMINISTRATE THOMAS TERBUKIN.
>> I WAS THERE YESTERDAY AND
THERE WITH THE TEAM AS THE
COMMANDS WENT OUT INTO THE DEEP
SKY AND I LEARNED WE HAD NOT
HEARD BACK.
IT RE REMAINS SILENT.
I AM HERE WITH A SENSE OF DEEP
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.
I STAND HERE SURROUNDED BY THE
TEAM.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT'S AN
EMOTIONAL TIME.
I STAND HERE SURROUNDED BY
A TEAM THAT I, BEFORE I EVEN
CAME TO KNOW AS I WATCHED THIS
AMAZING LANDING AND THAT
DEVELOPMENT AND AT THE CENTER OF
THAT WERE TWO PEOPLE PETE AHEAD
OF ME.
A HERO IN THE WORLD --
[APPLAUDING]
AND RIGHT NEXT TO MY RHT HERE
IS STEVE SQUIRES, ANOTHER HERO.
PHRAUF
[APPLAUDING]
SURROUNDED BY A TEAM, IT IS
A TEAM THAT MAKES THIS AND
A TEAM THAT IS CELEBRATES HERE
TODAY EMOTIONALLY.
I REMEMBER THE EMOTIONS.
I YOU SAT CORNELL PROFESSOR
JUMPING UP AND DOWN LIKE MY 4
YEAROLD AT HIS BIRTHDAY WHEN THE
LANDING WAS COMPLETE.
THE ROVER SAID I'M HERE.
SCIENCE IS AN EMOTIONAL AFFAI
IT'S A TEAM SPORT.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING
TODAY.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THE AMAZING
WORK THAT HAPPENED HERE.
IT TRANSFORMED OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF OUR PLANET.
EVERYTHING WE DO AND THINK ABOUT
IN OUR PLANETARY NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH MARS AND ELSEWHERE RELATES
TO THE RESEARCH THAT CAME FROM
THAT AND THE ENGINEERING BREAK
THROUGHS THATAME FROM THAT.
IT'S AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE
A CHAMPION FOR EXPLORATION AND
SCIENCE, ADMINISTRATOR
BRIDENSTINE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THOMAS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO SAY ALMOST TWO DECADES
WORTH OF WORK BY SO MANY
EXTRAORDINARILY IMPRESSIVE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.
AND LAST YEAR I BECAME THE
ADMINISTRATOR AND OPPORTUNITY
QUIT COMMUNICATING.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
[LAUGHING]
BECAUSE I'M A POLITICIAN
HISTORICALLY I WILL GO AHEAD AND
PASS THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO
SOMEBODY ELSE I DON'T KNOW YET,
BUT I'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT
IS.
THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF SO MANY
ACHIEVEMENTS.
I WILL START BY SAYING WHEN THIS
LITT ROVER LANDED THE
OBJECTIVE WAS TO HAVE IT BE ABLE
TO MOVE 1100-YARDS AND SURVIVE
FOR 90 DAYS ON MARS.
90 SOLs.
INSTEAD, HERE WE ARE 14 YEARS
LATER AFTER 28 MILES OF TRAVEL
AND TODAY WE GET TO CELEBRATE
THE END OF THE MISSION.
IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME AS NASA
ADMINISTRA
ADMINISTRATOR TO THIS AMAZING
FACILITY WITH SO MANY AMAZINGLY
TALENTED PEOPLE TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.
NOT JUST FOR OUR COUNTRY BUT THE
SCIENCE PEOPLE WILL BENEFIT ALL
OVER THE WORLD AND BENEFIT FROM
THE SCIENCE FOR YEARS TO COME.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE
DIRECTOR MIKE WATKINS.
>> SPIR AND IT OPPORTUNITY MAY
BE GONE, BUT LEAVE US A LEGACY
OF A NEW PARADIGM FOR SOLAR
SYSTEM EXPLORATION.
A ROBOTIC GEOL GIST ON MARS AND
AN ENGINEERING TEAM ON EARTH SET
OUT ON A MISSION OF DISCOVERY
AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD
FIND OR KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THEY
WOULD GO SOMETIMES FROM ONE DAY
TO THE NEXT AND THEY MADE IT
WORK.
THEY MADE IT WORK LONGER THA*PB
ANY OF US THOUGHT POSSIBLE BY
DEDUCTION OF WHERE TO GO AND
BRILLIANT ENGINEERING TO KEEP
THE ROVERS ALIVE.
IT CONTINUES NOT ONLY IN THE
CURIOSITY RECOVERY THAT IS
OPERATING HEALTHFULLY ON THE
SURFACE OF MARS BUT IN THE NEW
2020 ROVER UNDER CONSTRUCTION
HERE AT THE JET PROP
PROPULSION LABORATORY.
THEY BROUGHT TO LIFE THESE TWO
INTREPID ROVERS AND AN ENERGETIC
GROUND TEAM.
AND IT WAS BUS OBVIOUS TO
THE PUBLIC.
THAT LEGACY TURNS OUT NOT ONLY
IN A GENERATION OF ENGINEERS AND
SCIENTIST, OF WHICH I AM ONE,
BUT A GENERATIO OF STUDENTS.
MANY STUDENTS WERE INSPIRED TO
GO INTO SIM CAREERS AND SOME TO
COME HERE TO JPL TO WORK ON THIS
MISSION OPPORTUNITY.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
UPCOMING LEGACIES IN THE TWO
PANELS?
>>> I WILL TURN IT BACK TO GAY
HILL.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD WE'LL TAKE
QUESTIONS LATER IN THE PROGRAM
AT THE END OF ALL OUR PANELS.
IF YOU ARE ON THE TELEPHONE, BE
SURE TO HIT STAR 1 TO GET IN THE
CUE.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTION ON SOCIAL
MEDIA USE #~ASK NASA.
LET'S TELL YOU ABOUT OUR ROVER,
OPPORTUNITY.
IF THERE WERE A WORD TO DESCRIBE
THIS ROVER IT WOULD BE AN OVER
ACHIEVING.
THINK ABOUT IT.
IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO 90
DAYS.
IT WENT 14 AND A HALF YEARS.
FROM IT WE LEARNED A WEALTH OF
SCIENCE AND ALSO HOW TO
EXPLORE.
WITH THAT WE GIVE YOU THIS OVER
VIEW.
>> CONFIRMATIONAVE SAFE LANDING
[APPLAUDING]
>> OPPORTUNITY HIT A HOLE IN ONE
WHEN SHE LANDED.
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ROLLED INTO
THE SMALL CRATER AND WHEN THE
ROVER FIRST TURNED ON ITS
CAMERAS IT SAW THE RIM OF THE CH
EXPOSED BED ROCK.
>> TOOK OUT OUR MICROSCOPE AND
TOOK A PICTURE AND THE SURFACE
IS LITTERED WITH AN UNCOUNTABLE
NUMBER OF LITTLE THINGS.
>> CALLED BLUEBERRIES BECAUSE
THEY LOOKED LIKE BLUEBERRIES IN
A MUFFIN.
THEY ARE FEATURES THAT FORM IN
WATER AND A DEFINITIVE SIGN
THERE HAD BEEN LIQUID WATER ON
THE SURPAS OF MAR SOMETIME IN
THE PASS.
>> WE WENT TO ENDURANCE CRATER
AND THAT'S THE CRATER WE DROVE
DOWN IN.
AND THERE WE DID WHAT THE
GEOLOGIST CALLED AN IN 
SEQUENCE SECTION.
>> WE WANT TO GO TO VICTORIA AND
HEADED THERE.
WE HAD TO LITERALLY SURFCROSS
THE DUNES OF WIND-BLOWN
MATERIAL.
THE ROVER GOT STUCK IN ONE OF
THOSE.
WE HAD TO GET THE RECOVERY
UNSTUCK.
WHAT WE FOUND THE BEST WAY TO
GET IT OUT IS PUT IT IN REVERSE
AND GUN IT.
THE ROVER POPPED OUT.
WE CHANGED OUR DRIVING
STRATEGY.
WE RECOGNIZED RIPPLES AS
HAZARDS.
WE GET TO THIS GIANT HALF-MILE
DIAMETER CRATER, VICTORIA CRATER
O
GET IN THIS THING.
>> WE COULD SEE THE ROVER IN THE
IMAGE.
>> THAT WAS THE FIRST IMAGE WE
GOT FROM SPACE SHOWING ONE OF
OUR ROVERS.
>> WE SPENT A YEAR SCOUTING THE
EDGE OF THAT CRATER TO DECIDE
WHERE WE WANTED TO GO IN TO GET
THE BEST S STRATOGRAPHIC
SECTION.
>> WE SPENT A YEAR INSIDE
VICTORIA CRATER.
>> THE SCIENCE TEAM WAS EXCITED
ABOUT DRIVING TO ENDEAVOR CRATER
OVER 20-KILOMETER AWAY.
IT WAS A LONG DRIVE AND WOULD
TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS AND DECIDE
TO DO IT ANY WAY.
>> THERE WERE TOOANY DANGEROUS
RIPPLES IN OUR WAY AND HAD TO
TAKE A ROUTE THAT AT TIMES TOOK
US AWAY FROM THE CRATER ONLY
THEN TO CUT BACK AND APPROACH IT
MORE DIRECTLY.
>> WE PULL UP TO ENDEAVOR CRATER
AND ALL NEW THINGS TO LOOK AT.
>> WE DISCOVERED THE HOME STICK
VEIN, THIS BRIGHT LINNIER
FEATURE.
IT WAS A GYPSUM VEIN.
IT WAS OUR FIRST TASTE OF WHAT
IS AN IMPORTANT PROCESS ON
MARS.
>> WE WERE DRIVING TO A VALLEY.
ALONG THE WAY THERE WE REALIZE
RIGHT ABOUT THE POINT WHERE WE
WERE GOING TO GET WAS WHEN WE
WOULD CROSS THE MARATHON MARK.
WE SAID WE WILL CALL IT MARATHON
VALLEY.
THAT'S WHEN WE REACHED THE
DISTANCE OF A MARATHON,
26-POINT2-MILES ON ANOTHER
PLANET.
WE DROVE THROUGH SLOPES DOWN ON
THE INTERIOR OF OF THE CRITTER
RIM UNTIL WE CAME TO
CONTINUE ON TO THE NEXT VALLEY,
PERSEVERANCE.
>> WHERE THE RECOVERY WAS
EXPLORING WHEN WE LOST CONTACT.
>> WEED WE WILL OPERATE THIS
VEHICLE UNTIL THE DAY WHERE WE
CAN'T AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID AND
I'M REALLY PROUD.
>> WE SET A FOUNDATION THAT WILL
SERVICE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR
FUTURE EXPLORATION.
[APPLAUDING]
>> WELL, OPPORTUNITY WOULD NOT
HAVE HAD THAT LONGEVITY HAD IT
NOT BEEN THE ENGINE EARS THAT
BUILT IT AND -- ENGINEERS THAT
BUILT IT AND KEPT IT GOING.
THEY TOOK THE WORD "WORKAROUND"
TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE
PROJECT MANAGER AND DEPUTY
PROJECT SCIENTIST.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUDING]
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
WE WERE MEANT TO GET TO THIS
POINT TO WEAR THE ROVERS OUT AND
LEAVE NO UNUTILIZED CAPABILITY
ON MARS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD TAKE
THIS LONG, BUT IT'S A HARD DAY.
IT'S HARD FOR ME.
I WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING.
I REMEMBER DURING THE EARLY DAYS
OF DEVELOPMENT TRYING TO FINISH
UP THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
ROVERS IN THELEAN ROOM A FEW
FEET AWAY FROM HERE, WE WERE
WORKING THREE SHIFTS.
THE ENGINEERING TEAM WAS WORKING
THE FIRST TWO SHIFT AND HAD
A ONE PERSON WHO WOULD KEEP
A SKELETON SHIFT FROM 11:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 A.M.
I VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE MANY
SH*EUFTS ON THE WEEKEND WHEN IT
.
IT WAS MEANINGFUL AND TOUCHING
BECAUSE IT WAS JUST ME AND THE
TWO ROEFRBS.
THEY WERE IN THE CLEAN ROOM LE
A NEONATAL CARE FACILITY.
THEY HAD ALL THE LIFE SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT.
YOU WOULD WATCH THEIR VITAL
SIGNS AND SEE THE HEART RATES
AND VOLTAGES AND TEMPERATURES
AND CURRENTS AND SEE THEM LIVING
AND WAKE AND SLEEP.
DURING THOSE TIMES WHEN IT WAS
JUST ME, YOU DEVELOP A SPECIAL
BOND.
AND THEY BECOME YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT THEME IS SO TRUE FOR SO
MANY HERE TODAY, THEY HAVE THAT
STRONG CONNECTION.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MACHINE AND
WE ARE SAYING GOODBYE, IT IS
POIGNANT.
WE CAME TO THAT POINT.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WELL, BACK IN JUNE WE WERE
AFFLICTED BY A I STORE IRK
GLOBAL DUST STORM ON MARS THAT
BLACKENED THE SKIES OVER THE
ROVER AND STARVED THE ROVER FOR
ENERGY AND WENT SILENT.
WE TED OVER THE LAST EIGHT
MONTHS TO RECOVER THE RECOVERY
AND GET SIGNAL.
WE LISTEN EVERY DAY AND --
LISTENED EVERY DAY AND SENT OVER
ONE THOUSAND RECOVERY COMMANDS
TO EXERCISE EVERY POSSIBILITY OF
GETTING A SIGNAL FROM THE
ROVER.
WITH TIME THE SKIES ARE
DARKENING AND IT'S GETTING
COLDER ON MARS.
WE PASSED THROUGH THE SEASON ON
MARS AND BROUGHT US TO LAST
NIGHT AND OUR FINAL COMMANDS AND
WE HEARD NOTHING AND COMES TIME
TO SAY GOODBYE.
WE WANT TO REMEMBER THE 14 AND
A HALF YEARS OF PHENOMENAL
EXPLORATION.
THIS WAS A 90 DAY MISSION AND WE
WERE EXCITED JUST HAVING THREE
MONTHS TO EXPLORE THE PLANET
WITH JUST A KILOMETER OF
CAPEABILITY.
FOURWE HAVE DONE PHENOMENAL
THINGS.
WE HAVE GREATLY EXPANDED OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE RED
PLANET.
YOU KNOW, WHY DID THE RECOVIES
LAST SO -- ROVERS LAST SO LONG?
WHY DID OPPORTUNITY LAST SO
LONG?
TWO MAIN TECHNICAL REASONS.
ONE WE HAD EXPECTED THAT DUST
FALLING OUT OF THE AIR WOULD
ACCUMULATE ON THE SOLAR RAYS AND
CHOKE OFF POWER AFTER 90 DAYS.
WE DIDN'T EXPECT WIND WOULD COME
ALONG PERIODICALLY AND BLOW THE
DUST OFF THE RAYS.
ON A SEASONAL CYCLE IT WAS
PRETTY RELIABLE AND ALLOWED US
TO SURVIVE NOT JUST THE FIRST
WINTER BUT ALL THE WINTERS WE
EXPERIENCED ON MARS AND KEEP
GOING AND EXPLORING.
THE ROVERS HAVE THE FINEST
BATTERIES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE OVER 5, 5,000
CHARGE/DISCHARGE CYCLES ON
THEM.
THEY STILL HAVE ABOUT OR HAD
ABOUT 85% OF THE CAPACITY.
WE WOULD LOVE IF OUR CELL PHONE
BATTERIES LASTED THAT LONG.
IT WASN'T ENABELING CAPABILITY.
WITH THE DUST CLEANING AND
BATTERIES ALLOWEDITOUS HAVE THE
BATTERY NEEDED FOR THE COLDEST
DARKEST WINTER TIME ON MARS AND
KEEP EXPLORING.
AND EXPLORE WE HAVE.
WE HAVE DONE PHENOMENAL THINGS.
WE HAD MANY CHALLENGE ALONG THE
WAY.
WHEN WE FIRST LANDED ON MARS,
ONE THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, WE
HAD A HEATER ON THE ROBOTIC ARM
THAT GOT STUCK ON AND WASTE
IF WE LEFT IT ALONE LIKE THAT
THE MISSION WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED
LONG BEYOND THE 90 DAYS.
WE DEVELOPED THIS TECHNIQUE
CALLED DEEP SLEEP.
EVERY NIGHT WE WOULD TURN
EVERYTHING OFF ON THE ROVER
INCLUDING ALL THE SURVIVAL
HEATERS AND THE ROVER WOULD GET
COLD BUT STAY JUST WARM ENOUGH
THAT WHEN THE SUN WOULD COME UP
AND WE WOULD POWER EVERYTHING UP
IT NEVER GOT BELOW ITS ALLOWABLE
TEMPERATURES.
THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE LIGHT
IN YOUR BEDROOM IS STUCK ON AND
YOU CAN'T SWHRAOEP AND YOU GO
OUTSIDE AND TURNFF THE MASTER
BREAKER FOR YOUR HOUSE.
THAT MEANS YOUR RETPREUPBLERATOR
STARTS TO WARM UP.
BY THE MORNING TIME AND YOU TURN
THE BREAKER BACK ON THE ICE
CREAM HASN'T MELTED TOO BADLY.
IMAGINE THAT FOR 5,000 NIGHTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO DO FOR
THIS VEHICLE.
IT PARTLY, PERHAPS, EXPLAINS WHY
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO RECOVER THE
ROVER.
WITH THE  LOSS OF POWER THE
CLOCK GETS SCRAMBLED AND DIDN'T
KNOW WHEN TO DEEP SLEEP AND
DIDN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT WHEN IT
NEEDED TO AND THE HEATER WAS
STUR
ENERGY THE SOLAR RAYS WERE
ACUMULATEING TO CHARGE THE B
BATTERIES.
THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THE EXPLAN
SKPAEUGZ THAT NOW IT'S MUCH
COLDER AND DARKER ON MARS.
WE HAD OTHER CHALLENGES.
WE SUFFERED FROM AMNESIA ON THE
ROVER WHERE THE FLASH MEMORY
STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE
WOULDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHG PAST
SHUTTING DOWN AND SLEEPING AT
NIGHT.
WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE GOT DOWN
ALL THE CRIT SAL SCIENCE
INFORMATION WE COLLECTED THAT
DAY AND DID THAT FOR MANY YEARS
ON THAT VEHICLE.
ALL THOSE THINGS WERE
ACCOMPLISHED BY A PHENOMENAL
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE TEAM.
WE WERE INNOVATIVE AND PROBLEM
SOLVING AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO
KEEP THE ROVER GOING AND
PRODUCTIVE AND TO CONTINUE THAT
EXPLORATIONND SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERY.
IT ALSO MEANT WE LOST PEOPLE.
SADLY SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES
PASSED AWAY.
BUT MANY MOVED ON TO OTHER
THINGS, OTHER PROJECTS AND OTHER
ENDEAVORS.
WE HAD TO REPLACE THOSEE
AND HIRED IN MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
ON TO THIS PROJECT AND TRAINED
THEM TO BE EXPERIENCED
ENGINEERS.
WE HAD A PIPELINE OF TRAINING
YOUNG ENGINEERS TO BE PHENOMENAL
CONTRIBUTORS FOR THEIR CAREERS
GOING FORWARD AND HERE AT JPL
AND NASA.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REWARDING
LEGACIES OF THIS PROJECT, WE
HAVE PROCED A GENERATION OF
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS THAT
CAN GO ON TO DO EVEN GREATER
THINGS.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR DEPUTY
PROJECT SCIENTIST TO SAY
A LITTLE ABOUT THE DUST STORM
AND SOME OF THE SINESS WE DID.
>> -- SINESS WE DID.
>> -- SCIENCE WE DID.
>> THANK YOU.
IF WE COULD SHOW THE GRAPHIC OF
THE DUST STORM.
IT WAS A  HISTORIC DUST STORM
AND NEEDED THAT TO FINISH THIS
HISTORIC MISSION.
YOU SEE WHAT THE SUN USUALLY
LOOKS LIKE.
ON THE LEFT WHERE THERE IS
A BRIGHT SUN IS A TYPICAL SUMMER
DAY ON MARS.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IMAGE IS
ABOUT AS DARK AS THE SUN GOT IN
THE PREVIOUS DUST STORM BOTH
SPIRIT AND OPPORTUNITY
EXPERIENCED.
THIS PAST DUST STORM WE COULD
TELL THE SKY GOT AS DARK AS WHAT
YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
IT WAS SO DARK WE COULDN'T SEE
THE SUN AND THE SOLAR PANELS
COUL'T RECHARGE THE BATTERY.
I'LL SPEAK TO JOHN'S STATEMENT
ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THIS ROVER.
WHEN OPPORTUNITY LANDED BACK IN
2004, I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS A HIGH SCHOOLUNIOR, BUT
I THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO
COME TO JPL AND ACTUALLY BE HERE
WHEN THE ROVERS LANDED AM I WAS
A PARTICIPANT IN AN OUT REACH
PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE
PLANETARY SOCIETY.
I WAS IN THIS ROOM ON LANDING
NIGHT.
THERE I AM STANDING FOR THE
PRESS CONFERENCE.
THERE IS THE PICTURE OF ME WITH
THE SCIENCE TEAM SEEING THE
FIRST IMAGES COMING BACK.
IT WAS THOSE FIRST IMAGES THAT
INSPIRED ME TO BE A PLANETARY
SCIENTIST.
IT WAS A VIEW OF MARS WE HAD
NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I WAS IN THE ROOM WITH THE FOLKS
SO EXCITEED TO SEE THE BED ROCK
IN THE CRATER AND I WANTED TO
KNOW WHY.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN HEARING
A LOT OF PEOPLE'S STORIES FROM
WITHIN THE PROJECT, FROM WITHIN
JPL AND ALL OVER THE WORLD VIA
SOCIAL MEDIA.
WHAT STRIKES MA AS SO COOL, THIS
IS NOT UNIQUE FOR ME.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS JUST LIKE
ME WHO WITNESSED THE ROVERS AND
FOLLOWED ALONG THEIR MISSION
FROM THE IMAGES RELEASED TO THE
PUBLIC IN LAST 15 YEARS AND
BECAUSE OF THAT WENT TO PURSUE
CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUDING]
CAN I JUST GET A SHOW OF HANDS
HOW MANY OF YOU HAPPENED TO
NUMBER HIGH SCHOOL OR BELOW.
HOW MANY HAVE YOU BEEN HERE
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE
MISSION?
THIS IS FABULOUS TO SEE IT HAS
GONE THROUGH GENERATIONS.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE LOOK AT THE
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS ABOUT
THIS PROJECT IS A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY
INVOLVED IS THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ENTIRE
PROCESS.
YES, THE PROJECT IS ABOUT
A ROBOT.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT ROBOT
WAS BUILT BY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
TH REASON THIS THING HAS LASTED
SO LONG GOES BACK FIRST AND
FOREMOST TO THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT
THEM.
THERE WAS A TEAM OF ENGINEERS AT
THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT 19
YEARS AGO WERE GIVEN A TASK MANY
THOUGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
THAT GROUP OF ENGINE EARS BUILT
THESE EXTRAORDINARY MACHINES.
THE REASON THAT SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY INSTEAD OF BEING 90
DAYS AND DRIVING HALF
A KILOMETER ACROSS THEARTIAN
SURFACE AND WAS A DECADE-LONG
OVER LAND EXPLORATION WAS
BECAUSE OF THAT ENGINEERS AND
WHAT THEY DID.
>> SOME FOLKS FORGET OPPORTUNITY
WAS ACTUALLY A TWIN.
THE MARS EXPLORATION ROVER
MISSION ALSO HAD SPIRIT, THAT
EXPLORED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
MARS AND JUST LIKE OPPORTUNITY,
SPIRIT WENT WELL PAST ITS
WARRANT AND BROUGHT TOGETHER
LOTS OF SCIENCE FOR OUR TEAM.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO STEVE
SQUIRE, THE PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR AND MACK DONO
TKWHVIC.
>> IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE MY DEAR
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
SPIRIT AND OPPORTUNITY WERE
ROBOTIC FIELD GEOLOGISTS.
GEOLOGY IS A FORENSIC SCIENCE.
A GEOLOGIST IS LIKE A DETECTIVE
AT THE SCENE OF A CRIME.
SOMETHING HAPPENED BILLIONS OF
YEARS AGO, WHAT WAS IT?
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CLUES AND
IT'S IN THE ROCKS.
WE ERBG QUIPPED THE VEHICLES
WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED TO
READ THOSE CLUES.
SPIRIT'S MISSION REALLY BEGAN IN
ERNEST 150 -- EARNEST 150 DAYS
WHEN WEEACHED THE COLUMBIA
HILLS, THIS WONDERFUL RANGE OF
HILLS WE NAMED TO HONOR THE
MEMORIES OF THE COLUMBIA SPACE
SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS.
AND THE CLUES THERE TOLD US
ABOUT WHAT MARS WAS LIKE AT THIS
PLACE VERY LONG AGO, VERY EARLY
IN MARTIAN HISTORY.
MARS TODAY IS COLD AND DRY AND
PRETTY DESOLATE, A PLACE WHERE
NOT MUCH HAPPENS, OKAY.
BUT AT THAT PLACE LONG AGO IT
WAS A HOT, VIOLENT, STEAMY
PLACE.
THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON.
THERE WERE IMPACTS, VIOLENT
IMPACTS THAT CREATED CRATERS.
THERE WERE VOLCANIC EXPLOSIONS.
LAVA WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH
WATER AND ICE BELOW THE GROUND
AND FLASH INTO STEAM AND GO
KABOOM.
WE SAW PROFOUND EVIDENT FOR
HYDRO THERMAL ACTIVITY.
THERE WERE STEAM VENTS, STEAM
COMING OUT OF THE GROUND, HOT
SPRINGS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A SCARY PLACE AND
IT ACTUALLY WAS IN A SENSE.
BUT IT WAS THE KIND PLACE THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY
SUITABLE FOR SOME KINDS OF VERY
HARDY KRA MICROBES.
IT WAS A PLACE THAT WAS
HABITABLE.
OPPORTUNITY'S MISSION,
OPPORTUNITY HAD TWO MISSIONS,
THE FIRST LASTED NINE YEARS.
IT STARTED SOL 1 THE FIRST DAY
WE LANDED.
IT WAS GEOLOGIC PAY DIRT RIGHT
FROM THE BEGINNING.
THE STORY IN THE CLUES IN THE
ROCKS AT THE OPPORTUNITY SITE
WAS DIFFERENT.
THESE WERE SOMEWHAT YOUNGER
ROCKS AND THEY SHOWED EVIDENT OF
LIQUID WATER BELOW THE SURFACE.
LIQUID WATER THAT HAD COME TO
THE SURFACE AND TRICKLED ACROSS
THE GROUND, EVAPORATED AWAY.
BUT IT WASN'T NICE STUFF.
WE WERE RUNNING AROUND SAYING
WATER ON MARS, IT WAS REALLY
SULFURYK ACID ON MARS.
THE PH WAS LOW AND IT WAS SALTY
AND ACIDIC.
THIS WAS NOT EVIDENCE OF AN
EVOLUTIONARY PARADISE BUT IT WAS
A FASCINATING SRAOEURLT.
 FASCINATING ENVIRONMENT.
WE WENT TO IMPACT CRATERS FIRST,
FIRST EAGLE CRATER AND THEN
ENDURANCE AND ULTIMATELY THE
LONG 6 KILOMETER TREK DOWN TO
VICKITORIAL CRATER.
WE WERE THERE FOR TWO YEARS, A
YEAR ALONG THE RIM, ANOTHER YEAR
DOWN INSIDE.
AND BY THE TIME WE WRAPPED UP
THE INVESTIGATION WE HAD BEEN
FOUR AND A HALF, FIVE YEARS AND
PUT THE BETTER PART OF 7 OR  8
KILOMETERS ON THE ODOMETER.
WE HAVE DONE PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE
COULD DO.
WE HAD DONE STRATOGRAPHIC
SECTIONS AND BEEN IN THE CRATERS
AND PIECED TOGETHER
A COMPELLING, DETAILED,
SCIENTIFICALLY-NUANCED STORY OF
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
BUT THEN WE HAD TO DECIDE WHAT
TO DO NEXT.
WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE, I
SUPPOSE, WAS JUST NOODLE AROUND
ON THE PLANES UNTIL THE WHEELS
FELL OFF, BUT IT DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THAT WAS NOT A GOAL WORTHY OF
THIS ROVER.
IT WAS NOT A GOAL WORTHY OF THIS
TEAM.
WE MADE THE DECISION AT THAT
POINT TO DO THE LONG, LONG, LONG
DRIVE TO ENDEAVOR CRATER.
ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, 20
KILLOMMERS IT WAS EXCRUCIATING.
WE GOT THERE AND WHEN WE GOT
THERE THE MISSION STARTED ALL
OVER AGAIN.
NEW ROCKS, NEW STORIES LOOKING
AT THE DISTANT PAST.
WE WERE ABLE AT THE RIM OF
ENDEAVOR CRATER TO FIND ROCKS
THE OLDEST OBSERVED BY EITHER
ONE OF THE ROVERS.
ROCKS THAT EVEN PRE-DATED THE
FORMATIONS OF ENDEAVOR CRATER
AND THAT TOLD THE STORY OF WATER
COURSING THROUGH THE ROCKS BUT
WITH NEUTRAL PH.
IT WAS WATER YOU COULD DRINK.
WE WERIBLE TO PIECE TOGETHER
A NEW STORY.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERIES HREFRB
YEAR -- 11 YEARS INTO OUR 90 DAY
MISSION.
>> THE TRAVERSE FROM VICTORIA TO
ENDEAVOR WAS NOT EXCRUCIATING.
IT WAS INCREDIBLY EXCITING.
FOR SOMEONE'S WHO DAY JOB IS TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE TO LAND
SPACECRAFT ON MARS THE SCIENCE
BEHIND THAT IS LOOKING AT REMOTE
SENSING DATA AND PREDICTING DOWN
WHAT IS ON THE GROUND.
IT OPENED UP IN A WAY IT NEVER
HAD BEFORE WITH HIGH RESOLUTION
IMAGES AT 25-CENTIMETERS PER
PIXEL FOR THE FIRST TIME WE
COULD SEE OUR ROVER SITTING ON
THE SURFACE.
AND THAT MEANS YOU COULD FIGURE
E
KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WOULD BE
A SAFE PATH OR NOT.
THE DISTANCE AND LINE OF SIGHT
BETWEEN VICTORIA AND ENDEAVOR
WAS MAYBE 16-KILOMETERS.
ALONG THAT PATH WAS 70% INCLUDED
BED FORMS, LARGE RIPPLES THAT
COULD EAT YOUR ROVER.
WE DIDN'T WANT OUR ROVER TO BE
EATEN BY A BED FORM, THAT WASN'T
THE IDEA.
WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A PATH.
TIM PARKER AND I SPENT YEARS
LOOKING AT THE HIGH RISE IMAGES
AND CAME UP WITH VARIETY PATH.
WE HAD THE BLUE PATH AND YELLOW
PATH, GOLD PATH AND THEN THE
PINK PATH.
THE PINK PATH WAS THE WINNER.
IT WENT OUT OF THE WAY FROM THE
STRAIGHT LINE DIRECTION BETWEEN
THE TWO, DROVE SOUTH AND THEN
DROVE EAST IN A DIRECTION WHERE
THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF
HAZARDS.
SOME OF MY FONDEST PERSONAL
MEMORIES OF THE MISSION WERE
GOING INTO THE ROVER TEAM WHEN
MOST OF THE SCIENCE TEAM HAD
CHECKED OUT AND SAID REMIND ME
WHEN WE GET TO AN OUT CROP
BECAUSE THESE RIPPLES JUST
AREN'T DOING IT FOR ME.
[LAUGHING]
TO ME IT WAS TREMENDOUSLY
EXCITING TO KNOW WHERE YOU WERE
AND RELATE IT TO WHAT YOU SAW
AROUND YOU AND HELP IT DECIDE
WHERE TO GO NEXT.
THAT WAS THE FUN PART.
[LAUGHING]
THE QUESTION IS:  WHAT SCIENCE,
WHAT CLUES IN THE ROCKS ALLOWED
US TO COME UP WITH A STORY OF
A BATTERY ACID IN THE MIDDLE
MARTIALIAN HISTORY AND CLEANER
WATER LATER?
THE CLUES WERE IN THE ROCKS.
AT EAGLE CRATER AND EARLIER
LOCATIONS WE SAW SULPHATE
SANDSTONE.
ROCKS WITH LITTLE SAND-SIZED
PARTICLES AND THEIR COMPOSITION
WAS LARGELY SULFUR OR A LARGE
PART.
THEY WERE FINALLY LAMINATED AND
LAYERED AND WE STARTED THINKING
ABOUT IT AND THE WAY WE COULD
GET THE ROCKS BY WAS EVAPORATING
SALTY WATER.
THE EVAPORATION THAT LEFT THE
MINERALS WERE PUT INTO BED
FORMS, SAND DUNES THAT MOVED
THEM AROUND AND THE WATER
COURSETHROUGH THE ROCKS AND
CREATED THE BLUEBERRIES THAT LED
US TO THE STORY OF ACID-RICH
WATER, WHICH WE DON'T THINK OF
BEING USEFUL FOR LIFE AS KNOW
IT.
WE SAW CLAY MINERALS THAT WERE
ALUMINUM-RICH BY NEUTRAL PH
WATERS, THAT'S THE KIND OF WATER
WE COULD DRINK AND THAT'S THE
KIND OF WATER WE THINK LIFE
COULD HAVE GOTTEN STARTED.
SO THIS ENDEAVOR OF GOING TO
ENDEAVOR CRATER AND EXPLORING
WITH THE ROVER WAS AFTER ONE OF
THE ALMOST THEOLOGICAL
QUESTIONS, WILL LIFE FORM
ANYWHERE THAT LICK WADE WATER
IS -- LID WICK WATER IS
STABLE -- LIQUID WATER OR ARE WE
REALLY, REALLY LUCKY?
>> WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL TE
A PEEK AT OUR NEXT ROVER.
STAY WITH US.
>> PARACHUTE DEPLOYED.
[APPLAUDING]
>> THE ROCKET HAS FIRED.
[APPLAUDING]
>> GETTING A SIGNAL.
VERY STRONG AND HEALTHY.
>> OH, LOOK AT THIS
[CHEERING]
>> THAT'S OUR NEXT ROVER.
LET'S TAKE IT AWAY WITH
JENNIFER.
>> I AM THE PROJECT SYSTEM
ENGINEER FOR THE MARS 2020 ROVER
FOUNDATION ON WHICH THAT WAS THE
BUILT, WHICH HAPPENED ON THE
MARS EXPLORATION ROVER SPIR AND
IT OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS THE PROJECT SYSTEM
OPPORTUNITY ON SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY ALSO.
I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO
TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE
A STEPPINGSTONE FOR THE LARGE
ROVERS WE BUILD TODAY.
I ACTUALLY TKPWR GATHERED
A GROUP OF FOLKS AND WE TALKED
ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY DID
FOR US THAT HELPED US BUILD THE
MARS 2020 ROVER AND CURIOSITY
ROVER.
WE WENT FROM BEING STUCK TO
UNSTUCK ON MARS.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, WE HAD
VIKING LANDERS AND THE
PATHFINDER LANDER AND THE SO
SKWRO -- SOJOURNER ROVER.
WE SAW MOUNTAINS, ROCK, STUFF
THAT OUR GEOLOGISTS WANTED TO
GET THEIR HANDS ON A COULDN'T
GET THERE.
ONE OF THE GREAT PARADIGM SHIFTS
IS WE TOOK EVERYTHING WE NEEDED
AND MADE A GEOLOGY THAT COULD GO
AND INVESTIGATE EVERYTHING THE
SCIENCE TEAM WAS INTERESTED IN.
YOU CAN SEE THIS WITH THE
MODEL.
THEY WERE TWINS.
THE THINGS WE TOOK WITH US YOU
CAN SE OUR COMMUNICATIONS
ANTENNA, A UHF ANTENNA.
THE WHEELS THAT WOULD TAKE US
EVERYWHERE AND THIS ROBOTIC ARM
THAT WOULD ABRADE ROCKS AND TELL
US WHAT THEY ARE MADE OF.
A HUGE PARADIGM SHIFT FOR US.
THE NEXT THING THAT WAS
SIGNICANT IN TERMS OF BUILDING
BLOCKS OF HOW WE DO BUSINESS AT
JPL THE NEED TO DO THINGS
FASTER.
WE HAD A COUPLE REQUIREMENTS ON
SPIR AND IT OPPORTUNITY THAT
FORCED US TO DO THING FASTER.
YOU HEARD THE PRIME MISSION
TO BE COMPLETED IN 90 SOLs, 90
MARTIAN DAYS.
THAT'SOT A LOT OF TIME TO DO
WHAT WE NEEDED.
WE HAD TO BUILD THE VEHICLE AND
GET IT ON THE LAUNCH VEHICLE IN
THREE YEARS WE HAVE FIGURED OUT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE 90 SOL
SKPHEUGZ WHAT IT MADE US DO IN
TERMS OF DESIGN THINKING.
90 SOLs.
IF WE TRIED TO OPERATE THE ROVER
THE WAY WE OPERATED PREVIOUS
SPACECRA AND A SEQUENCE EVERY
TWO WEEKS WE WOULD NEVER
ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION WE NEEDED
TO DO IN 90 SOLs.
WHAT WE HAD TO DO WAS TAKE ALL
THE THINGS THE GROUND OPERATORS
WOULD DO AND CODE THEM IN THE
SOFTWARE AND PUT HIGH LEVEL
BEHAVIORS AND AUTONOMY ON THE
VEHICLE SO WE COULD SAY DRIVE
OVER THERE AND IT WOULD SAFELY
DO IT AND GET THERE ON I OWN.
WE COULD TELL IT JUST THE TIMES
WE NEEDED FOR THE COMMUNICATION
WINDOWS AND HAD A BEHIOR THAT
WOULD CONFIGURE THE
COMMUNICATION WINDOWS.
THAT WAS FUNDAMENTAL TO DO THIS
MISSION QUICKLY CAN AND WE USE
THEM ON CURIOSITY, MARS 2020.
AND MARS 2020 IS TAKING THE NEXT
STEPS ON AUTO NAVIGATION.
WE ARE MAKING A NEW ALGO RYTH
THAT ALLOWS US TO NAVIGATE
TERRAIN.
WE ARE MOVING ALL THINGS
FORWARD.
THIS AUTONOMY STARTED WITH THE
MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS AND
CONTINUING ON TODAY.
THEN I HAVE TO SHARE ONE OF MY I
WON'T SAY FAVORITE, MOST
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM SPIRIT
AND OPPORTUNITY MISSIONS.
I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HERE WHO
WERE THERE HAVE THIS AS A MORE
MEMORABLE MOMENT.
AFTER SPIRIT LANDED, 18 DAYS
INTO THE MISSION WE LOST
COMMUNICATIONS WITH SPIRIT.
I WAS A SPIRIT MISSION MANAGER
AND WAS THERE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED.
WE KNOW TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT
AND COULDN'T GET COMMUNICATIONS
AND WHAT MADE IT MORE HARROWING
WAS OPPORTUNITY WAS CAREENING IN
TOWARDS MARS AND WE WEREN'T SURE
IF WE HAD A PROBLEM THAT WOULD
CAUSE A PROBLEM ON OPPORTUNITY
ON SPIRIT AND INSTEAD OF 2 FOR
2, WE WOULD BE 0 FOR 2.
A BUNCH OF US STAYED FOR THREE
DAYS, DIDN'T GO HOME AND TRIED
TO FIGURE IT OUT.
WE FIGURED IT OUT AND SAVED
SPIRIT AND OPPORTUNITY AND HERE
WE ARE 15 YEARS LATER.
THE STORY IS WHEN I WAS RIDING
DOWN IN THE ELEVATOR AND A GROUP
OF FOLKS HAD BEEN WORKING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
WITH ME AND I HAD TWO REALLY
SIGNIFICANT FEELINGS.
THE FIRST WAS OBVIOUSLY RELIEF
THAT WE HAD GLOVE-SAVED THIS
ROVER FROM THE GRAVE.
THE SECD WAS I LOOKED AROUND
AT THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AND I
THOUGHT WOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR A FARM GIRL FROM
OHIO TO BE SURROUNDED BY SUCH
AMAZING PEOPLE.
A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF A TEAM
THAT PEOPLE COULD RISE TO THE
CHALLENGE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
WHETHER THE SPIRIS SOL 18
ANOMALY OR THE TEAM TODAY WHO IS
TRYING TO GET SPIRIT BACK -- NOT
SPIRIT -- I DON'TNOW, WHY
DON'T YOU WORK ON SPIRIT TOO.
GO SPIRIT!
[LAUGHING]
A FUNNY COMPETITION BETWEEN THE
OPPORTUNITY MISSION MANAGER AND
ME THE SPIRIT MISSION MANAGER.
WE WON'T GET INTOHAT.
I WANT TO END BY THANKING THE
TEAM.
THE TEAM FROM THE BEGINNING, THE
TEAM FROM THE MIDDLE, THE TEAM
FROM THE END FOR ALL THE WORK
THEY DID.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF
THAT TEAM.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO LORI TO
TALK ABOUT FUTURE MARS
MISSIONS.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
APPRECIATE IT.
JENNIFER TALKED ABOUT THE
ENGINEERING LEGACY OF SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
BUT I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT
THE SCIENTIFIC LEGACY OF THIS
MISSION, THE MARS EXPLORATION
ROVER MISSION.
THE TWO ROVERS REALLY DID CHANGE
THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT DOING
PLANETARY SCIENCE ON THE SURFACE
OF OTHER PLANETS.
I LOVE LISTENING AND WATCHING
STEVE SQUIRES GET SO EXCITED
ABOUT THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY
ROLL RIGHT UP TO THE ROCKS WE
WANT TO SEE.
ROLL UP TO THEM AND BE ABLE TO
LOOK AT THEM UP CLOSE WITH A
A MICROSCOPIC IMAGER.
BANG THEM UP, TAKE THE
MEASUREMENTS AND UNDERSTAND THE
CHEMISTRY OF THE ROCKS AND SAY
THAT WAS INTERESTING NOW I WANT
TO GO OVER THERE AND HAVE THAT
ABILITY TO DO THAT.
NOW WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DOING
PLANETARY SCIENCE WE JUST
AUTOMATICALLY HAVE THIS NEW
PARADIGM WHERE WE ASSUME WE WANT
MOBILITY AND NEED THE ABILITY TO
GO FROM HERE TO THERE.
WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO ONE PLACE
AND SIT THERE AND STUD THAT ONE
SPOT.
WE WANT TO MOVE.
IT WAS THAT THESE TWO ROVERS
REALLY SET THAT NEW PARADIGM FOR
HOW WE WANT TO EXPLORE.
IN ADDITION TO JUST THAT ABILITY
TO MOVE AROUND, THE DISCOVERIES
OF THESE TWO ROVERS, THE
DISCOVERY OF LIQUID WATER ON THE
SURFACE OF MARS AT A TIME IN THE
ANKIENT PAST HAS -- ANCIENT PASS
INSPIRED THE CURIOSITY MISSION
GOING ON RIGHT NOW, STILL
EXPLORING GALE CRATER.
WE KNOW THERE WAS STANDING WATER
IN THE ANCIENT PAST A HABITABLE
ENVIRONMENT THAT INSPIRED OUR
NEXT EXPLORATION MARS 2020.
WE HAVE CHOSEN THE LANDING SITE
AND WE BELIEVE THERE IS AN
ANCIENT RIVER DELTA.
IF LIFE EVER DID COME TOOB MARS
THERE OUGHT TO BE EVIDENT OF IT
THERE AT THIS LOCATION.
WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE WILL DRIVE AROUND WITH THE 
2020 ROVE AND ARE COLLECT
SAMPLES AND STARTING TO WORK ON
WHAT THE NEXT MISSION IS GOING
TO BE, A MARS SAMPLE RETURN
MISSION.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
EUROPEANS ON THAT, DEVELOPING
CONCEP THAT WOULD FLY AT THE
END OF THE 2020s TO GO BACK TO
THE CRATER, COLLECT THE SAMPLES
AND BRING THEM BACK TO EARTHO
STUDY THEM AND UNDERSTAND,
REALLY GET A GOT SENSE OF WHAT
IS THERE ON THE SURFACE OF
MARS.
ALL THIS IS LEADING TOWARDS THE
ABILITY TO IN THE FUTURE
EVENTUALLY PUT HUMAN ON MARS,
GET BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WHEN WE DO PUT HUMANS ON MARS
THEY WON'T BE GOING ALONG, THEY
WILL GO WITH ROBOTICS EXPLORES,
WORKING TOGETHER AND THE PEOPLE
IN THIS ROOM OR THE PEOPLE YOU
HAVE INSPIRED WILL HELP TO BRING
THE HUMANS AND ROBOTIC EXPLORERS
IN THE FUTURE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT
AND HAND IT BACK TO DOVE.
>> YOU THANK YOU, LORI.
[APPLAUDING]
WHEN WE COME BACK FINAL THOUGHTS
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR AND
TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> HELLO, I AM THE PROJECT
SYSTEM ENGINEER ON THE MARS 2020
PROJECT.
I AM STAND NEGLIGENT SPACECRAFT
ASSEMBLY FACILITY AT THE JET
PROPULSION LABORATORY WHERE WE
ARE BUILDING UP THEES 52S OF THE
2020 VEHICLE.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE
HARDWARE BEING BUILT.
TO THE FAR LEFT YOU CAN SEE THE
CRUISE STAGE.
THE PART THAT GETS US TO MARS.
NEXT TO THE CRUISE STAGE YOU SEE
OUR DESCENT STAGE.
IT IS INSIDE OF SOMETHING WE
CALL THE AIR SHELL WHICH YOU CAN
SEE OVER HERE.
THE AIR SHELL HAS A PARACHUTE AT
THE TOP AND WILL DEPLOY AND SLOW
US DOWN AT MARS.
TO THE FAR RIGHT WHAT YOU SEE IS
THE HEAT SHIELD.
THE HEAT SHIELD IS THE PART OF
THE SPACECRAFT THAT FACES THE
ATMOSHERE AND APWHRAEUTS
A LITTLE AND SLOWS US DOWN AND
WE JETTISON IT AND THE ROVER
COMES DOWN ON THE BRIDLE AND WE
LAND ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.
WHAT YOU SEE OVER HERE MAY NOT
LOOK LIKE WHAT IT IS, BUT THIS
IS THE BEGINNINGS OF THE ROVER
THAT WILL DRIVE ON MARS.
IT HAS THE ELECTRONICS ON THE
INSIDE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE
WHEELS ON, WE DON'T HAVE THE
MOBILITY SYSTEM ON, DON'T HAVE
THE BELLY PAN ON.
THOSE THINGS ARE COMING IN AND
OVER THE NEXT SEF WRAL MONTHS WE
WILL FINISH THE ROVER.
THE NEXT THING WE A GOING TO
DO IS TAKE ALL OF THE PIECES
THAT YOU SEE HERE IN THE CLEAN
ROOM, PUT THEM TOGETHER IN THE
THE LAUNCH CONFIGURATION AND
TAKE THEM THROUGH OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS.
SO THEY WILL SEE ALL THE
ENVIRONMENTS THE SPACECRAFT WILL
SEE FROM LAUNCH TO LANDING ON
MARS.
AND WE ARE ON TRACK FOR
A JULY  2020 LAUNCH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S OUR NEXT ROVER.
WITH US NOW IS THE ADMINISTRATOR
TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT IS ON
THE FUTURE FOR NASA.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
JENNIFER, AS LONG AS WE BRING
BACK SPIRIT, LET'S BRING BACK
SOJOURNY AND THE TWO VIKINGS AS
WELL.
BRING THEM ALL BACK.
>> WE TRIED REALLY HARD.
>> WE TRIED, YEAH.
I GET IT.
I BRING THAT UP FOR A REASON.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE LEGACY
OF THIS PART OF THE NASA
FAMILY.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE HERE AT JPL
IS ASTANISHING AND GOES BACK
DECADES.
IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE THAT BECAUSE
OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE WE
WILL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE ON
THE SURFACE OF MARS IN THE
FUTURE.
IN FACT, WHEN I WAS LEARNING
MORE AND MORE ABOUT SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY, I GOT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THESE TWO SPACECRAFT ON THE
WAY TO MARS FLEW THROUGH ONE OF
THE WORST SOLAR STORMS, ONE OF
THE WORST SO S SOLAR
FLARES EVER RECORDED.
THEY HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN AND
REBOOT IT WHICH WAS NEVER
INTENDED IN THE DESIGN, BUT SOME
HOW, THIS AGENCY, JPL WAS ABLE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THROUGH
THAT VERY SCARY PART OF THE
MISSION WITH A WHOLE LOT OF
INVESTMENT AND A WHOLE LOT OF
HOPES ON THE LINE.
THAT'S AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT.
I REMEMBER THIS PT OF THE NASA
FAMILY.
YOU HEAR ME TALK ABOUT THE NASA
FAMILY A LOT.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS HERE FOR
THE INSIGHT LANDING A FEW SHORT
MONTHS AGO.
WE HAD A DOWN LINK FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SO
OUR ASTRONAUTS COULD
CONGRATULATE THE FOLKS IN THIS
ROOM AND OTHERS NOT HERE ON WHAT
ANMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT IT WAS
TO LAND FOR THE EIGHTH TIME
SOFTLY ON THE SURFACE OF MARS
WITH A SUCCESSFUL MISSION.
THAT'S WHAT THE NASA FAMILY IS
ALL PW-RBS BRINGG TOGETHER ALL
OF THE PIECES OF THIS AGENCY TO
ACCOMPLISH VERY SPECIAL THINGS.
AND ONE OF THE SPECIAL THINGS
THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF WE
ARE GOING TO FLY HUMANS TO MARS
IS HOW TO DEAL WITH SOLAR
FLARES.
THAT KIND OF AN EVENT WITH
A HUMAN FLIGHT TO MARS COULD BE
ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE
DOING THE PARKER SOLAR PROBE
RIGHT NOW WITH OUR HELIOPHYSICS
DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE OUT WHEN
ARE THE SOLAR FLARES GOING TO
OCCUR AND THE IMPAC?
AND MAYBE BE ABLE TO PREDICT
ACCURATELY ENOUGH TO KNOW WHEN
AND HOW TO SEND HUMANS TO MARS
AND DO IT SAFELY.
THERE IS A DAY COMING WHEN WE
WILL NEED THE ENTIRE NASA FAMILY
TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY WE ARE
GOING TO PUT HUMANS ON MARS AND
HUMANS ARE GOING TO WORK SIDE BY
SIDE WITH LANDERS AND ROVERS AND
ROBOTS AND IT'S GOING TO BE
A WHOLE OF NASA.
IN FACT, IT COULD EVEN BE, IT
WILL BE AS A MATTERB OF FACT,
A WHOLE OF THE WORLD APPROACH.
WE WILL NEED INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS.
THAT BRINGS ME TO SPACE POLICY
DIRECTIVE ONE THE PRESIDENT
SIGNS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO
NOW.
HE SAID WE WILL GO TO THE MOON
AND SUSTAINABLY.
THE QUESTION IS WHY.
WHEN WE GO TO THE MOON WE WILL
LIVE AND WORK THERE FOR A PERIOD
OF TIME.
WE WILL RETIRE RISK.
WE WILL LEARN HOW HAOUL ANS CAN
LIVE ON A WORLD THA IS NOT OUR
OWN.
WE WILL TAKE ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT WE LEARN AS AN AGENCY AND
APPLY THEM TO MARS.
WE WILL REPLICATE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE WHAT WE LEARN AT MARS.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE POSSIBLE
BECAUSE THIS ENTIRE AGENCY, THIS
IMPORTANT PART OF THE AGENCY,
THIS PART OF THE NASA FAMILY,
THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
WAS BLAZING THIS TRAIL, IT
CURRENTLY BLAZING THIS TRAIL.
NOT JUST WITH SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY AND SOJOURNER AND
VIKING 1 AND VIKING 2, BUT NOW
WITH MARS 2020 AND
A MARS RETURN MISSION WHERE WE
WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT.
SALES AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS
A BIOSIGNATURE IN THERE.
FRIENDS, THE GOAL IS TO DISCOVER
LIFE ON ANOTHER WORLD.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
ACHIEVE.
BECAUSE OF SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE
IN THIS ROOM, FRIENDS, WE ARE
WELL ON OUR WAY TO DOING THAT.
A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE
SURE EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE
AT HOME UNDERSTAND, IN FACT,
BECAUSE OF THE CURIOSITY ROVER
WE NOW KNOW THERE ARE COMPLEX
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ON THE SURFACE
OF MARS.
DOES THAT NOT GUARANTEE THERE IS
LIFE ON MARS BUT INCREASES THE
PROBABILITY.
WE NOW KNOW THE METHANE CYCLES
ON MARS IS COMESHERATE WITH THE
SEASONS ON MARS.
WE KNOW THERE IS LIQUID WATER
12-KILOMETERS UNDER THE SURFACE%
OF MARS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS COLLUDE TO
SAY THERE IS A LOT WE NEED TO
LEARN AND FRIENDS WE WILL DO IT
QUICKLY.
YOUR LEGACY HERE AT JPL AND PART
OF THIS NASA FAMILY IS CRITICAL
TO ACHIEVING THOSE OBJECTIVES.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
CONGRATULATIONS ON AMAZING
OPPORTUNITY MISSION.
>> THANK YOU, JIM.
[APPLAUDING]
SO I MUST APOLOGIZE.
WE DO HAVE A HARD OUT ON THIS
PROGRAM.
WE WILL NEED TO BE OFF THE AIR
AT 11:59 PACIFIC TIME.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR ALL
THE PANELISTS AND SPEAKERS TO
COME ON UP.
WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS.
NOW IF YOU ARE ON THE TELEPHONE,
GO AHEAD AND HIT STAR 1.
THAT WILL PUT YOU IN THE CUE FOR
QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA
QUESTIONS YOU CAN HAVE #~ASKNASA
AS A WAY TO GET YOUR QUESTIONS
IN.
WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES.
I WANT TO PROMISE YOU WE'LL
STILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE OFF THEIR.
WE HAVE SPEAKERS STANDING BY TO
TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS EITHER BY
PHONE OR ON-LINE.
WE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
LET'S SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS HERE IN THEOOM.
IF NOT, WE WILL GO TO THE
TELEPHONE.
DO WE HAVE -- OH, WE DO HAVE
A QUESTION HERE IN THE ROOM.
RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT, THIRD
ROW.
>> HI.
FROM THE PLANETARY SOCIETY.
A QUESTION FOR JENNIFER AND
STEVE AND JOHN.
WHAT, SINCE YOU ALL WERE THERE
AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WHAT ARE
YOU TAKING WUWH YOU TWO 2020
AND WHAT WILL YOU MAKE ON WARD
STEVE AND JOHN.
>> ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE WELL
TRAINED TO BECOME ENGINEERS ON
2020 AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HELP US
BUILD THE NEXT ROVER.
AND FOR ME,T'S THE FAMILY.
THE FAMILY OF THE PEOPLE WHO
HELPED DEVELOP THIS AND WE WORK
TOGETHER TOWARD THE NEXT
MISSIONS AND THE TEAM THAT WORK
THROUGH ALL OF IT.
THE TEAMS ARE WHAT MAKE THE
ROVERS GREAT.
>> WHEN I STARTED OUT A LONG
TIME AGO ON THE MARS EXPLORATION
PROJECT I WAS A ROOKIE PI.
I MAEDA A NUMBER OF SILLY
MISTAKES.
I LEARNED FROM THOSE.
I LEARNED A LOT.
I TRIED VERY HARD TO PASS SOME
OF THE LESSONS ALONG TO YOUNGER
SCIENTISTS AND YOUNGER
ENGINEERS.
I WOULD AGREE WITH JENNIFER IT
IS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND
EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF PEOPLE IN
THE ROOM, THE ONES WE HAVE LOST
ALONG THE YEARS.
THAT'S THE REAL STORY IS THE
PEOPLE ON THIS PROJECT.
>> FOR ME, IT'S THE PRIVILEGE
AND HONORO HAVE BEEN PARENT OF
THIS PROJECT AND THE HONOR TO
HAVE BEEN SERVING AS PROJECT
MANAGER FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS
THAT I WILL TAKE WITH ME.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP WITH MATT
FROM PATHFDER AND BEYOND.
>> IT'S MOST OF MY -- SO THIS
PROJECT, I HAVE BEEN ON THIS
PROJECT 18 YEARS.
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
LOOKING AT THE LANDING SITES ALL
THE WAY THROUGH OPERATIONS, IT'S
BEEN HALF OF MY CAREER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GREAT.
>> DO WE HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA
QUESTION?
WE HAVE HAD QUITE AN OUT POURING
OF LOVE ON-LINE.
AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW IF WE WOULD EVER
TRY TO RETRIEVE THE OPPORTUNITY
ROVER AND PERHAPS PUT IT IN
A MARTIAN MUSEUM.
[LAUGHING]
>> CAN I TAKE THAT ONE?
I HAVE BEEN TOANT ARCTICA
A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE HUTS
THAT WERE BUILT BY THE EARLY
EXPIDITIONS THAT WENT THERE MORE
THAN A CENTURY AGO AND ARE LEFT
EXACTLY AS THEY WERE WHEN THE
EXPIDITIONS ENDED.
YOU CAN WALK INTO THE HUT AND
THE PLATES WITH THE SEAL BLUBBER
AR STILL THERE, EXACTLY THE WAY
WE LEFT THEM.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THESE -- WE BUILD THEM FOR MAR,
THE PLACE THEY WERE DESIGNED TO
GO.
THAT'S THEIR HOME AND WHERE I
WOULD LIKE THEM TO STAY.
ALSO, IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BRING 180 KILL GRAMS BACK
FROM THE SURFACE OF MARS THE
LAST THING I WANT IS SOMETHING I
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S MADE OF.
[LAUGHING]
[APPLAUDING]
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE WE HAVE
ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NEW
QUESTIONS WE CAN ASK BASED ON
WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED BY THIS
MISSION?
>> I AM HAPPY TO TAKE THAT.
GREAT QUESTION.
YEAH, SO SPIRIT AND OPPORTUNITY
HAVE SO ADVANCED OUR ABILITY TO
ASK QUESONS ABOUT MARS.
IN 2004 WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE
HAD BEEN WATER ON MARS.
THE ROVERS ANSWERED THAT AND THE
TIMING AND CHEMISTRY OF THE
WATER.
WE ARE ASKING MORE SOPHISTICATED
QUESTIONS.
CURIOSITY WAS TO ASK WAS IT
HABITABLE?
WE HAVE FOUND THAT YES, IT WAS.
ORGANIC MOLECULES, DRINKABLE
WART.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE ARE ASKING
MORE COMPLEX QUESTIONS.
WHERE IS THE LIFE?
THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WE
ARE GETTING THE.
SALES.
BUT WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING WHY MARS' CLIMATE
CHANGED AND WHAT GOVERNS ITS
HABITABILITY OVER TIME AND HOW
DOES THAT RELATE TO THE PLANETS
WE ARE FINDING IN OUR OWN SOLAR
SYSTEM AND ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
IN OTHER SOLAR SYSTEMS?
>> WE HAVE A CALLER ON THE
PHONE.
I BELIEVE IT IS NASA WATCH.
GO AHEAD.
>> FOR STEVE SQUIRE, AS YOU GUYS
DROVE THE TWIN ROVERS ACROSS
MARS YOU WOULD STOP AT VARIOUS
PLACES AND GIVE THEM NAMES THAT
EVOKED EXPLORATION, SHIPS,
PLACES AND PEOPLE AND ONE AFTER
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND BOB WARTON.
HOW WOULD YOU PLACE SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY IN THE PANTHEON OF
EXMOREATION VEHICLES LIKE
ENDURANCE AND THE BEAGLE AND
CHALLENGER?
WERE THEY SCOUTING PARTYS?
WHAT WILL YOU CALL THEM IN THAT
SORT OF CONTEXT?
>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
I AM PROBABLY THE WORST PERSON
IN THE WORLD TO ASK QUESTION
ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THE
MISSION.
I'M TOO CLOSE TO IT.
I HAVE A LONG-STANDING INTEREST
IN THE HISTORY OF EXPLORATION.
I TEACH A COURSE ON IT AT
CORNELL.
I HOPE OUR PLACE TURNS OUT TO BE
AN IMPORTANT ONE.
FOR ME ON THIS DAY IT'S JUST TOO
HARD TO JUDGE.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER CALL ON THE
PHONE FROM THE ATLANTIC.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK IS
THE FUTURE OFOVERS ON MARS IN
GENERAL.
AFTER MARS 20 BETWEEN THE DO YOU
WANT TO SEND MORE FOR SIMILAR
EXPLORATIONS.
SHOULD NASA SUNDAY MORE AND
WHY?
>> I'LL TAKE THAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
THERE IS A FUTURE BEYOND 2020.
WE WERE COLLECTING SAMPLES WITH
THE 2020 MISSION AND ABSOLUTELY
WANT TO GET THE SAMPLES BACK
HERE TO EARTH.
AND THAT FOLLOW ON MISSION WILL
DO EXPLORATION AND COLLECT
SAMPLES AND BRING THEM BACK.
I EXPECT THE 2020 MISSION WILL
GUIDE US TOWARD WHAT THE NEXT
MISSION TO MARS IS GOING TO BE
AFTER THE SAMPLES ARE RETURNED.
I SEE A VERY LONG AND SUSTAINED
PRESENCE AT MARS AND SUSTAINED
EXPLORATION THERE AS WELL AS THE
REST OF OUR SOLAAR SYSTEM TO
HELP ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT
HOW THE PLANETS FORMED AND HOW
LIFE FORMED ON EARTH AND OTHER
PLACES IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
I SEE FUTURE EXPLORATION AM
COMING UP.
>> WELL, WE PROMISED NASA WOO
WOULD HAVE A HARD OUT ON THIS
PROGRAM.
WE WILL WRAP QUESTIONS RIGHT
NOW.
WE WILL TAKE MORE ON-LINE AND ON
THE PHONE LATER ON TODAY.
BEFORE WE GO, WE WOULD LIKE
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WHO
HAVE BEEN ON THIS MISSION FOR 15
YEARS AND MORE.
[APPLAUDING]
