Steve Squyres
Steve Squyres
Steven W. Squyresis the James A. Weeks Professor of Physical Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His research area is in planetary sciences, with a focus on large solid bodies in the solar system such as the terrestrial planets and the moons of the Jovian planets. Squyres is principal investigator of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. He is the recipient of the 2004 Carl Sagan Memorial Award and the 2009 Carl Sagan Medal for Excellence in Communication in...
sit
So don't sit here and think, 'Oh, we're going to go to the hills.' We're going to go 'toward' the hills,
bedrock continue heading south studying toward victoria
For Opportunity, we're going to continue south through the etched terrain, studying bedrock as we go and heading toward Victoria crater.
cannot reach
I cannot tell you that we are going to reach those hills,
image sheer terms
In terms of sheer scenic grandeur, it is the most spectacular image we've taken. It's like nothing else on Mars.
both decisions faced hill images next places present several sides steep tasty weeks
The hill is very steep in places ... and the orbital images show a lot of tasty geology, some of it in pretty nasty-looking places. All in all, the next several weeks are going to present us with some of the most interesting route-finding decisions that we've faced in a long time, on both sides of the planet.
area climbing field geologist good plotting point
Also, we're doing what any field geologist would do in an area like this: climbing to a good vantage point for plotting a route.
journey
This is a journey into the unknown, to something completely new.
along landing launch risk
The launch is a milestone, but just one of many along the way. Landing historically is where the most risk is involved.
trust responsibility share
Having been given that public trust, we have a responsibility to share with the public.
leadership style
My style of leadership is to lead with the lightest touch that I possibly can.
hiking hills climbs
We didn't know if the rover could climb up or down the hills of the crater.
real adventure simple
What we initially conceived as a fairly simple geologic experiment on Mars ultimately turned into humanity's first real overland expedition across another planet. Spirit explored just as we would have, seeing a distant hill, climbing it, and showing us the vista from the summit. And she did it in a way that allowed everyone on Earth to be part of the adventure.
rocks giving water
We have concluded that the rocks here were once soaked in liquid water. It changed their texture, and it changed their chemistry. We've been able to read the tell-tale clues the water left behind, giving us confidence in that conclusion.
way turns
There's no way to actually turn the rover off.