Blue Dot #170

Dave talks with two of the Deputy Project Scientists deeply involved with the Curiosity Rover, which has been exploring Gale Crater since 2012, and the new, yet to be named, Mars 2020 Rover that will be launching this July.

Abigail Fraeman is the DPS for Curiosity and explains how the mobile science laboratory has furthered our understanding of how Mars was once a planet that was suitable for primitive microbial life.

Veteran Blue Dot guest Ken Williford, is the DPS for the new rover that will be exploring Jezero Crater on the red planet when it hopefully lands successfully in February of 2021.

The next-generation rover is going to be uniquely equipped to try and find the answer as to whether life once actually did exist on our planetary neighbor. It will also be able to produce the first video of a landing on Mars.

We'll hear from both scientists about why these missions not only will answer fundamental scientific questions but also why they are important to understanding our own unique place in space.

Plus you will hear the nine finalist names, submitted by K-12 students across the U.S. for the new rover that the public can vote on!