NASA is tapping the
expertise of three
University of Hawaii
scientists for the next
mission to Mars.
The researchers will help
design the new rover for
the next trip in 2020.
The high tech instruments
will use 3-D imaging
technology and lasers to
study the chemical
composition of the
planet's surface. It's a
kind of remote
fingerprint technology
that originated at UH.
Two of the researchers
will be working with
California's Los Alamos
laboratory on the project
which will keep them busy
for the next decade.
SHIV SHARMA, UH
Researcher: "FOR THE LAST
2 C1
SHIV SHARMA, UH
Researcher: "FOR THE LAST
15 YEARS IT'S WHAT I HAVE
BEEN DREAMING ABOUT SO
ITS NICE TO SEE,"
ANUPAM MISRA, UH
Associate Researcher:
"THE MORE FOCUS IS ON
DETECTING ANY
BIOSIGNATURE OR
BIOLOGICAL RESIDUE WHICH
CAN PROVE THAT THERE WAS
LIFE IN THE PAST"
A 3rd scientist--a
volcanologist-- will help
with a Mastcam that will
be able to provide high
resolution panoramic
views and the ability to
get closeups of the
terrain.
SARA FAGENTS,
VOLCANOLOGIST: "I AM
THERE TO INTERPRET THE
ROCKS THE ROVER ENCOUNTER
AS IT TRAVERSES THE
SURFACE OF MARS. MY
PARTICULAR INTEREST IS ON
THE INTERACTION OF
VOLCANISM WITH WATER AND
ICE IN THE MARTIAN
SUBSURFACE."
NASA hopes to be able to
collect rocks from the
planet's surface for the
first time. The U-H
scientists were part of
seven teams selected out
of more than 60 that
competed to be a part of
