On August 6^th, the rover Curiosity landed in the Gale Crater on Mars.

Jeff Barnes and Dan Tyler have been working for the past four years with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California on a computer model of the Martian atmosphere. They have been using the model to make adjustments to the spacecraft’s control system for its landing on Mars. The model calculates and predicts Mars’ likely weather conditions based on observations of atmospheric conditions.

The Mars Science Laboratory is a continuation of previous research the two scientists have done. In 2008, the Phoenix Mission landed in the north polar region of Mars and both scientists were also involved. In the past, Barnes has also been involved with the Viking mission and the Mars Pathfinder mission.

Jeff Barnes is a professor and Dan Tyler is a research associate professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

To read more: http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/jul/osu-scientists-part-intensive-planning-tricky-mars-landing

Go Beavs!

kg

To further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. This will be done by:

1. Broad public outreach to instill the vision of pioneering Mars.
2. Support of ever more aggressive government funded Mars exploration programs around the world.
3. Conducting Mars exploration on a private basis.

Starting small, with hitchhiker payloads on government funded missions, we intend to use the credibility that such activity will engender to mobilize larger resources that will enable stand-alone private robotic missions and ultimately human exploration.

hosted its second annual Mars Rover Challenge. A group of OSU Engineering students from the OSU Robotics Club built and operated the winning rover.

“Their science payload was particularly amazing because of the way they used common household products,” judge Heather Smith said in a statement on the Mars Society’s Web site. “They had an electric toothbrush to clean off rocks, a standard mechanical drill, and a common thermometer.”

Definitely check out the blow by blow of the Rover Challenge…Sounds like an awesome competition! My favorite part of the website is the photo of the day with the caption:

If I’m ever lost on Mars, I want Oregon State to come find me!

I’ll second that emotion!!

(Big ups to Rachel from Anvil Media for the initial linkage!)

-jm