Purdue News
Purdue News
The event will take place from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, and officially launches The Science Coalition's new Web site at www.sciencecoalition.org
The Science Coalition is an alliance of 413 organizations and research institutions, including Purdue and other universities, businesses, medical groups, health care providers and scientific societies. The coalition's mission is to sustain the federal government's historic commitment to university-based science research.
The two-hour chat kicks off The Science Coalition's new Web site, and marks the first of several planned interactive on-line forums for experts and enthusiasts to talk about major scientific advances supported by university research. The Web site highlights the latest breakthroughs in science research at the nation's universities.
Two university scientists, Thanasis (Tom) Economou of the University of Chicago's Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research and Peter H. Smith of the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, will discuss the scientific instruments designed for the current NASA Pathfinder mission by their university research teams. They will be joined by NASA astronaut candidate Peggy A. Whitson.
Economou and his team designed and built the alpha proton X-ray spectrometer (APXS), one of the key scientific instruments on board the Mars Pathfinder's rover, "Sojourner." The APXS has provided the first-ever chemical composition analysis of Martian rocks and soil.
"Down the line we want to be able to find out if life on Mars developed along the same lines as life on Earth, but we won't be able to answer that question until we can bring back samples to examine in laboratories here on Earth," Economou said. "Before that can happen, we have to learn as much as we can about Mars and figure out what kinds of samples we should bring back. Our instrument will help select the proper samples for the next mission."
Smith became one of the most famous photographers in the solar system this summer when the camera he developed provided stunning color and stereoscopic photos from the surface of Mars. Smith and his team have devoted much of the past four years to designing, building, calibrating and testing the camera. The group includes university scientists, engineers and students.
Whitson is in the astronaut training program at Johnson Space Center in Houston. She recently was co-chair of the U.S.-Russian Mission Science Working Group, and she received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rice University. Whitson will answer questions from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. about the future potential for human space flight to Mars. Economou and Smith will participate in the full two hours of the on-line session.
Source: Julie Brown, The Science Coalition, (202) 289-5900; e-mail, Julie_Brown@clsdc.com
Writer: Sharon Bowker, (765) 494-2077; e-mail, sharon_bowker@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
