Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:02AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [20 ] GOOD MORNING & welcome to another Live From Mars WebChat! Unfortunately, Anita Dodson is out sick today. However, three of her colleagues have agreed to join us! Cecilia Satterwhite is a planetary geologist who specializes in Mars meteorites. She does this by studying the meteorites in Antarctica. Jackie Allen is also a planetary geologist and her expertise lies in the volcanoes on Mars. Carl Allen is a Mars specialist and offers his expertise on Mars in general.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:02AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [21 ] sorry folks, I gave you the wrong website for the first button the correct site is: button and then use the education resource button to get into the site.

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:04AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [22 ] It looks like we have quite a few people signed on today! Welcome! Anyone have a question for the 3 Mars experts?

Megan: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:04AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [23 ] Do you think that there are still volcanoes on Mars?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:06AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [24 ] Hi Megan, there are definitely volcanoes on Mars, they are probably not active.

Mark Stokes: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:06AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [25 ] I have a question for the 3 experts: my impression is that you are involved in graphics relative to Mars. I've been involved in graphics for years. Question: do you use sophisticated process, such as 8 color presses and computer programs, to produce complex images of Mars?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:07AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [26 ] Hi Mark, Anita Dodson does most of the graphics and she is not here today. Jackie and I work on the science end.

Kyle/vg: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:08AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [27 ] Hello, Sandy were here in Villa Grove Illinois for a teacher's workshop. I'm sure some of us will have some questions

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:09AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [28 ] Mark, If you get onto the last website I listed for LPI. they are a nasa imaging center and may be able to answer your question about graphics.

Shannon: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:09AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [29 ] I'd like to know about the meteorites. How do you REALLY KNOW that the meteorites in Antarctica come from mars???

Kyle/vg: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [30 ] Does the high elavation on Mars have something to do with the dry climate?

JULIE/ESD101: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [31 ] HELLO, I HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN NASA. ANITA, WHAT KIND OF WORK BACKGROUND DO YOU NEED TO HAVE BEFORE APPLYING AT NASA AS A GRAPHICS COMMUNICATOR.

Megan: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [32 ] If there are volcanoes, but they are not active at this time, do you think that they might become active sometime in the near future?

Mark Stokes: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [33 ] Cecilia and Jackie - thanks. What's the URL for LPI?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [34 ] Hey Shannon, They are igneous (were once molten),they must have come from a body from the solar system that was large enough to have internal heat. They are young. Geologically most are 180 million years. cont...

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:11AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [35 ] Hi Julie: Turn your CAPS LOCK button off as your text is hard to read. Thanks :-)

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:12AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [36 ] shannon, the chemistry of the oxygen isotopes in the minerals.There are trapped gases that match the atmosphere of mars as measured by viking lander.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:14AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [37 ] Megan, the volcanoes will not likely become active in the future. Mars is a small planet and most likely will not produce more eruptions because it cooled

Megan: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:15AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [38 ] O.k., thanks!

tim/vg: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:16AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [39 ] In terms of a human mission to Mars, have scientists been able to calculate the necessary size of the space craft needed to travel such a great distance

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:16AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [40 ] Mark, the website is button

Mark: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:16AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [41 ] Cecilia and Jackie - do you know if the core of Mars has a similar structure to that of Earth's core?

Mark Stokes: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:17AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [42 ] Thanks for the link, J & C.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:17AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [43 ] Julie, most start out in art, graphics design, architecture and computer assisted design/drafting. Bachelors and or work experience.

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:18AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [44 ] To the meteorite specialist.....How do you locate meteorites in Antactica?

JULIE/ESD101: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:18AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [45 ] I think I may not be doing this right. I tried to enter a question and was told to go to the mars room. I went back to the website and started again. but I don't see myself on the Who's On! Julie

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:19AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [46 ] Julie: We are seeing you and your questions! Who's On does not always work. Do you see your own questions?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:20AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [47 ] Tim, we have some future mission designers/scientists and engineers who have been working on that it not so much the size of the spacecraft but the number of spacecraft that would go. specifically there will be likely be one that will be sent ahead to produce oxygen both for humans and for return fuel.

JULIE/ESD101: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:20AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [48 ] yes I see them now. Thanks for answering my question. Is This not the time to chat with Anita Dodson?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:21AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [49 ] Mark, we don't know for sure but we assume that we have a core because of the differentiated surface. great question.

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:21AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [50 ] Julie: Unfortunately, Anita Dodson is out sick today. However, three of her colleagues have agreed to join us! Cecilia Satterwhite is a planetary geologist who specializes in Mars meteorites. She does this by studying the meteorites in Antarctica. Jackie Allen is also a planetary geologist and her expertise lies in the volcanoes on Mars. Carl Allen is a Mars specialist and offers his expertise on Mars in general.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:22AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [51 ] Jean, The meteorites are fairly easy to see because they usually are black and are sitting on the top of the white ice. They accumulate in glacial morraines.

JULIE/ESD101: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:22AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [52 ] Thanks! Could you tell me What has been your best experience working for NASA?

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:24AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [53 ] I can identify with white ice and such. We have a late start following a blizzard yesterday so I don't have my Physics class here.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:25AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [54 ] Julie, Jackie's best experience has been being able to help teachers understand what we do as scientists and see them share that with the students. Cecilia probably the possible discovery of life on mars. My hands became famous from holding ALH84001.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:26AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [55 ] Jean/Terril - where are you located? At least you didn't have to live in a tent like they do in antarctica.

Shannon: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:26AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [56 ] Cecilia: When you held the Mars meteorite, how did you feel? Did you have to wear special gloves?

JULIE/ESD101: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:27AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [57 ] Are any of you involved with instrumentation on the Mars Pathfinder or Mars Global Surveyor?

tim/vg: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:27AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [58 ] Is any of the biosphere projects data going to be implemented into future human missions to Mars?

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:28AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [59 ] Are meteorites often found in glacial morraines on earth? We live in an area of glacial morraine in Iowa.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:28AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [60 ] Hi Shannon, We have to wear actually two pairs of gloves and we are handling the meteorite inside a nitrogen filled glove box. It was exciting but I was worried about getting nervous and dropping the meteorite (weight is 600 grams.

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:29AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [61 ] I can't imagine tenting in Antarctica. Even though I have tented in snow in Wyoming!

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:30AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [62 ] Julie, unfortunately no, but you can go to the live from Mars website go the teams icon and click there and you can find all the people you want to know about.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:31AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [63 ] Tim, the biosphere projects were not controlled enough to produce the data that would be useable. however there human interactions provided interesting and useful incites

JULIE/ESD101: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:31AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [64 ] Thanks for answering my questions I really appreciated it. I'm going to leave now as I didn't realize you were doing the chats and haven't prepared the right questions. I hope to be involved in some more chats in the future.

Mark Stokes: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:32AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [65 ] That's pretty cool about holding the meteorite. Are these precautions taken in order to avoid contamination? And why nitrogen as opposed to something else?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:33AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [66 ] Jean, there have been a lot of meteorites found in farmland soils that were glacially worked. I don't know if anyone has gone to look specifically in morraines. great idea go for it. then call us and send them to us for verification of course.

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:34AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [67 ] Julie: Thanks so much for joining us! We have webchats about Mars every Tues/Wed/Thurs. morning. Go to the Live From Mars website for more info. Click on the Featured Events icon. Hope to talk to you again really soon!

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:34AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [68 ] Jean/terril - better you then me...I can't wait for summer to be back in texas.

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:35AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [69 ] I heard an interesting debate this summer which addresses the contamination issue. The scientist involved referred to the fact that we naturally have much exchange within the Solar System.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:35AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [70 ] Mark, yes we are trying to prevent contamination. Nitrogen helps prevent reaction between the gas and minerals in the rock.

Megan: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:36AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [71 ] Well, I have to leave now too :) Thanks for the great chat!

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:36AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [72 ] Megan: It was great to chat with you again today! Look forward to chatting with you again next week :-)

Mark: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:36AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [73 ] OK, cool. What gas? Do you mean oxygen/hydrogen regarding contamination of the meteorite?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:37AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [74 ] Jean/terril, there is likely material coming from the outer solar system come in toward earth but probably not much going out due to gravity.

Mark: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:37AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [75 ] Bye Meg.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:38AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [76 ] Mark, The nitrogen will not react with the minerals in the meteorites whereas oxygen cause oxidation to occur i.e. rust.

Shannon: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:38AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [77 ] Is that why Mars looks red? Is it rusty?

Mark: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:39AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [78 ] OK, thanks C & J for the rust answer.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:39AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [79 ] Shannon, yep that's why mars looks red. From the oxidation of surface materials.

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:41AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [80 ] EVERYONE: In about 8 mins. Cecilia and Jackie have to go to lunch. If you have anymore questions, get them in now!!!

tim/vg: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:42AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [81 ] Thank you for talking to us. We enjoyed the experience. Villa Grove signing off.

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:42AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [82 ] Tim: So glad you could participate. Hope you will join us again next week!

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:43AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [83 ] Tim/vg - great talking with you - keep studying science.

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:43AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [84 ] Have you done on-sight work in Antarctica?

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:45AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [85 ] Must get ready to teach a Geometry class. When and with whom will the next chat be?

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:45AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [86 ] Jean/terril, Jackie and I have not been to antarctica. But we work with a lot of people that have gone. These people go to search for meteorites. One now famous person is Robbie Score who is credited with picking up ALH84001 the famous martian meteorite. I don't want to go because it is to cold. but jackie does.

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:46AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [87 ] Jean: Thanks so much for joining us! The chat schedule for next week hasn't been confirmed yet. However, check the LFM Web site under "Featured Events" for further info. I will know in the next couple of days who is speaking next week.

Jean/Terril: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:47AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [88 ] I'll volunteer! Thaks so much for the chat.

Mark Stokes: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:48AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [89 ] Thank you to C&J, Sandy, and Andrea for another great chat.

Cecilia & Jackie/NASA: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:49AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [90 ] goodbye everyone, thanks for all the great questions and interest in science...Cecilia & Jackie

Sandy/NASA Chat Host: . . . . Tue, Jan 28, 9:50AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [91 ] EVERYONE: Today's Live From Mars WebChat is now over. Thank you to all who joined us! You asked some really great questions :-) Hope to "talk" to you again next week. Check the Live From Mars Web site for further info. Click on Featured Events icon.