Mars Science Laboratory – In Search of Origins
Overview
On November 25th, NASA will launch one of the most ambitious missions ever sent into space – the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Recent named “Curiosity”, the Mars Science Laboratory rover will land on the surface of Mars in July 2012 and drive many kilometres across the surface in search of evidence of an origin to life there. Building on decades of exploration of the Red Planet, Curiosity will tell us more about the planetary context for life on Mars – and on Earth – than any other probe ever sent there. Whatever its findings, Curiosity will contribute to a deeper understanding of the chemical and planetary context for life as we know it.
In celebration of the launch of Curiosity, and of Science Week 2011 theme “The Chemistry of Life”, Kevin Nolan of The Planetary Society will present a Science Week media-rich talk titled “Mars Science Laboratory – In Search of Origins”, in Dublin, Galway and Cork. The talk, aimed at the general public, will present an engaging overview of the great questions regarding the origin of life, the ground-breaking research being carried out both on Earth and Mars in search of answers, how MSL-Curiosity will contribute, and what plans are afoot for the near and medium-term future for the exploration of Mars.
Format
A media-rich lecture presenting the latest and most enthralling images and results from Mars regarding the search for evidence of life there.
Themes
1. The search for the origin and cosmic abundance of life
2. What Mars will tell us about the chemical origin and cosmic abundance of life
3. The chequered road to Mars and the recently implemented optimum ‘phased’ strategy for present and future exploration of Mars
4. Results to date regarding Mars’ past and the possibility of life there
5. Mars Science Laboratory – what it is, what exploration it will carry out and the value of that exploration
6. The near term future – the outcomes of MSL, a sample return mission, human mission
7. The value and relevance of Mars exploration
8. The value of Space exploration in general
9. The value and relevance of knowing answers to the origin and cosmic abundance of life
Event Details
Media-rich talk, including the latest “of-the-press” images sent back from Mars; delivered over three nights during Science Week 2011; in Galway, Dublin and Cork. The aim is to celebrate both Science Week 2011 and the imminent launch of the Mars Science Laboratory “Curiosity” (among the most sophisticated and far-reaching space probes ever to be launched in the search for life elsewhere in the universe).
• Admission:
Free.
Reservation advised – seats allocated on a first come first served basis.
• Suitability:
All ages, general public
• Venue and Times:
o Dublin:
Mansion House, Dawson’s Street ; 8.00pm on Monday 14th November
Reservation: info@planetary.ie
o Galway:
NUI-Galway (Theatre TBA), Galway, 8.00pm on Wednesday 16th November
Reservations: info@planeary.ie
o Cork:
Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blackrock, Co. Cork, 8.00pm on Friday 18th November
Reservations: info@bco.ie
• Event Website:
o
www.planetary.ie
(Launch on September 30th)
• Event Facebook and Twitter (Launch on September 30th)
• Event Blog:
o
cosmicp.blogspot.com
(Launch on September 30th)
“Mars Science Laboratory – In Search for Origins” is presented in association with:
Forfas; Discover Science and Engineering; ESERO Ireland; Lord Mayor of Dublin – Mansion House; Galway Astronomy club; Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork; NUI Galway; ITT Dublin, The Planetary Society
