Noel Hinners, Lockheed Martin
Welcome

We would not be here today to celebrate the anniversary if Viking had not been successful. Team work was the key. There was sufficient money to design properly. The youth of our country needs to be involved in these future projects. Mars Surveyor program has inadequate funding. The public needs to be interested in this project. This can be accomplished through education.

Lucas Layton and Jason Mantossian from the Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in Pasadena CA were introduced. Joe Spence, from the NASA GSFC Academy was also introduced. They will give a student's perspective. Scientists Mark Lupisella, NASA Lead Ground System Engineer and Chris McKay, NASA Ames Research Scientist were also on the panel Roald Z. Sagdeev, Director of the East West Space Sciences Center, U. Of MD. Will give an international perspective on Mars exploration.

Lucas Layton: Recently graduated from high school (English major) . Read his reaction to the Mars Symposium.

Jason Mattossian: "The gap between Humanities and Sciences is too large. It is important to get different philosophies on all the issues. NASA is trying to educate young children but we must educate the masses in order to get support."

Q&A: Bonnie Bracey:" How do we change policy? Don't school districts know that maybe NASA can write better curriculum?"

Jason:Vote for me in 25 years and I'll change that!

Joseph Spence: " When we think about a vision there are two aspects-internal and external. We need to free the human spirit. My generation will be faced with formulating a vision. We must be moving forward or we will decay.

Mark Lupisella: " My perspective on Mars is a little different. Inspiration is natures way of securing the future. What does it lead to?

1. Dreams- Give us hope and purpose. Mars is unique and exotic and can be given to our children.
2. Knowledge- Planetary science is fairly new.
3. The Future- A network of power stations on Mars to recharge the Rover.
The Rover can be a transport vehicle for humans and a possible habitat.

"What do we do if we find life on Mars? Would the life forms have rights? We need to make policies now and have dialogue about these issues. "

Mark: I am an engineer.

Jason: If your school doesn't have a strong math program, how can we have more scientists . It all goes back to education.

James: We are going to have to be able to communicate. That's where I'm coming from.

Jason: We need people with initiative to start these schools.

James: The love for learning needs to be instilled. Children are naturally inquisitive....Sometimes students can be drilled so hard that the love for learning goes right out of you...

Chris McKay: "This is the 20th Anniversary. of Viking. I'd like to thank all the scientists who had a part of that. (Applause) Individuals do matter. Never let the system beat you down. Anything worth doing is hard. All the easy stuff was done by our ancestors. That's all I've got to offer after 20 year so doing this.

Oh...weeds will grow on Mars, eventually!!"

YES! (From audience member)

Q: Are Russian students motivated by space exploration?

Roald: It was in the beginning yes, but due to economic conditions it has changed. Now students ask for letters of recommendation from me to go to business schools instead of studying sciences.