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LIVE FROM MARS: lfm
Mike Mellon
Planetary Scientist, Mars Global Surveyor
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
College
I went to school at Stockton State College in New Jersey, where I studied mostly
physics but also learned about geology and archeology. I even participated in an
archeological dig... no bones, just pottery and stone tools. When I neared graduation I
made a decision that, although physics was a great deal of fun, I didn't want to do just
physics for a living. So I decided to continue in graduate school in planetary science
where I could combine physics with geology, chemistry and meteorology. I also decided I
wanted to study Mars. I didn't know what about Mars I wanted to know, just that it had to
be Mars. So I moved to Colorado to attend graduate school at the University of Colorado
in Boulder, where I was able to work with and learn from some rather bright people who
also shared in interest in Mars. Eventually, I was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship (a
job!) by the National Research Council to continue my study of Mars here at NASA Ames.
Personal
Besides working on martian research, I enjoy a number of outdoor hobbies such as
hiking, camping, and rock climbing. In the winter I like to cross country ski. In fact I
particularly enjoy cold weather, which might be why I am interested in the cold climate
of Mars. I also have a cat and several fresh and salt water fish. The cat keeps an eye on
the fish for me while I'm at work.
Update
After several years working at NASA Ames Research Center I have moved to a new job
back at the University of Colorado. My new job as a research associate involves working
with data from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. In addition to my ongoing research
interests in water on Mars and its role in climate and geology (mentioned above), I will
also be working with data from the spacecraft trying to understand more about martian
soil. Moving to Colorado allows me to work more closely with the new spacecraft data and
to live closer to the mountains and in the colder climate that I enjoy. Despite leaving
Ames, I am continuing to work with my colleagues there on projects involving Mars,
Antarctica and the study of permafrost.