Spirit is dead; hope for life on Mars is not, says UAB prof who worked on mission
Posted Jun 01 2011 1:45pm
Recently NASA said it is ending attempts to regain contact with Mars Exploration Rover Spirit . They believe Spirit is dead. One of the scientists who helped bring Spirit to life has not lost being inspired.
UAB astrophysicist and Associate Professor Emeritus Thomas Wdowiak ’s personal mission to Mars began when he was seven. “I am 71 now and my work with the Mars exploration rover has been the highlight of my scientific life.”
Wdowiak has been a co-investigator on the Athena Science Team since 1997 and he participated in the surface operations of Spirit and Opportunity rovers. Based on what he saw, Gusev Crater, where spirit landed, Mars topography is sort of like Birmingham.
Speaking with Wdowiak by phone he explains the geography of the Gusev Crater is comparable to “being in downtown Birmingham looking up at Red Mountain.” Among the rocks found on Mars are hematite and goethite (mineral forms of iron oxide) also found in Red Mountain.
In case you don’t know, goethite and hematite are minerals that only form in water. Water is essential for life. Spirit found evidence that there could have been a habitat for life on Mars. And this is huge for Wdowiak who taught the course Extra Terrestrial Life at UAB. So I asked him if he was sad that the Spirit mission is ending and he said, “I have a dog named 'Rover' who is getting along in age which saddens me. The Mars rover has always made me feel jubilant.”
When asked about Spirit’s place in history, Wdowiak says, “When you think of all the amazing things NASA has accomplished, I rank the Mars rovers third just behind the Apollo missions to the moon and the Hubble Telescope.” So even though Spirit may be silent, Wdowiak’s enthusiasm has never been more alive.
On Thursday, June 2nd, the National Geographic channel will air a documentary about Spirit entitled "Death of a Rover" - it is guaranteed to be much more positive than the title.
Recently NASA said it is ending attempts to regain contact with Mars Exploration Rover Spirit . They believe Spirit is dead. One of the scientists who helped bring Spirit to life has not lost being inspired.
Wdowiak has been a co-investigator on the Athena Science Team since 1997 and he participated in the surface operations of Spirit and Opportunity rovers. Based on what he saw, Gusev Crater, where spirit landed, Mars topography is sort of like Birmingham.
Speaking with Wdowiak by phone he explains the geography of the Gusev Crater is comparable to “being in downtown Birmingham looking up at Red Mountain.” Among the rocks found on Mars are hematite and goethite (mineral forms of iron oxide) also found in Red Mountain.
In case you don’t know, goethite and hematite are minerals that only form in water. Water is essential for life. Spirit found evidence that there could have been a habitat for life on Mars. And this is huge for Wdowiak who taught the course Extra Terrestrial Life at UAB. So I asked him if he was sad that the Spirit mission is ending and he said, “I have a dog named 'Rover' who is getting along in age which saddens me. The Mars rover has always made me feel jubilant.”
When asked about Spirit’s place in history, Wdowiak says, “When you think of all the amazing things NASA has accomplished, I rank the Mars rovers third just behind the Apollo missions to the moon and the Hubble Telescope.” So even though Spirit may be silent, Wdowiak’s enthusiasm has never been more alive.
On Thursday, June 2nd, the National Geographic channel will air a documentary about Spirit entitled "Death of a Rover" - it is guaranteed to be much more positive than the title.