Overview
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Explore the challenges and triumphs of Mars exploration in this 56-minute lecture by NASA scientist Anita Sengupta. Delve into the groundbreaking work behind the Curiosity rover's mission to Mars, including the innovative landing system developed by Sengupta and her team. Learn about Mars' geological history, its moons, and the presence of water on the Red Planet through stunning images captured during the mission. Discover why Gale Crater was chosen as the landing site and how the rover's advanced technologies, including its laser and driving capabilities, contribute to its scientific investigations. Gain insights into the diversity in engineering and the intelligence of the Curiosity rover. Examine the surface radiation on Mars and its implications for future human exploration. Join Sengupta as she shares her expertise and passion for space exploration, offering a glimpse into NASA's ongoing efforts to unravel the mysteries of the Red Planet and pave the way for potential human missions to Mars.
Syllabus
Introduction
Anitas background
Why explore Mars
Mars geological history
Mars moons
Water on Mars
Images of Mars
How do we do it
Why Gale Crater
Gale Crater
Parachutes
Diversity in Engineering
Curiosity
Rover
Laser
Driving around
Surface radiation
Is Curiosity intelligent
Taught by
The Royal Institution