"13th Annual International Mars Society Convention," by Shannon Bohle, BA, MLIS, CDS (Cantab), FRAS, AHIP Send Your Avatar’s Name to Mars By Shannon Bohle, MLIS What is science education without the library? Libraries are strategically positioned at the geographic center of college campuses for good reason. They represent the primary access point for students to access materials to meet their information needs and serve as social meeting places and centers for informal learning. During the Information Age, the library is migrating from the 'bricks and mortar' model of the 19th and 20th centuries to a borderless, networked, digital nexus. The wired campus provides students access to specialized online databases, scanned archival documents, and digitized books and uses social media to reach students. To some degree, the library has now gone virtual as well. Perhaps the best example of the virtual library is my library project, the Neil A. Armstrong Library and Archives in Second Life. It is the first and only library or archive in a synthetic virtual environment recognized by the Library of Congress and is a “Top 10” finalist for the 2010 Linden Prize. The Library was mentioned at two federal conference locations this year, including DTIC and NDU. At the Library, patrons can learn about and participate with NASA in Mars-related activities. Thousands of avatars have already participated in the Library’s activity to “Send Your Avatar’s Name to Mars” aboard NASA JPL’s Curiosity rover—the same rover that James Cameron (Avatar film maker) is currently collaborating with NASA on a 3D camera to film the surface of Mars. They can also read full-text NASA books about Mars. NASA JPL also has another location in Second Life simulating the Martian environment complete with dust storm particle and wind sounds and a 3D rover model NASA used to learn more about Mars. Avatars can create virtual world objects and training scenarios about traveling to and living on Mars. Mars-themed films have also been created.

1. Thousands of avatars participated from around the world Send your avatar’s name to Mars with James Cameron’s ( Avatar film maker) 3D film project Send Your Avatar’s Name to Mars By Shannon Bohle, MLIS 13 th International Mars Society Convention August 5, 2010

3. “ That’s one small step for an avatar, one giant leap for libraries” Video: Linden Prize "Top 10” (1.5 mins )

4. Neil A. Armstrong Library and Archives Encouraging Participatory Learning

5. International History of the Exploration of Mars Predecessors: Progress Toward Human Spaceflight to Mars Mariner 3 & 4 (1964) - 4 first to get closeup pictures of Mars Mariner 6 & 7 (1969) - closeup pictures of surface of Mars Mariner 8 & 9 (1971) - 9 First to orbit Mars Viking 1 & 2 (1975 & 1976) - Landing on Mars Mars Observer (1992) Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) (1996-7) Mars Pathfinder (1996) - Landed Rovers to roam the surface to learn about climate and soil properties, used solar power, used slower communications methods (Low-Gain Antenna, the other the High-Gain Antenna X-band Frequencies) Mars Climate Orbiter (1998) Mars Polar Lander/Deep Space 2 (1999)

6. Determine whether Life ever arose on Mars Characterize the Climate of Mars Characterize the Geology of Mars Prepare for Human Exploration Understanding the history of water on Mars is important to meeting the four science goals of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program:

7. Improved landing techniques tested for human spaceflight to Mars. “ Curiosity” Mars Science Laboratory Rover “Curiosity” (planned 2011-Ongoing) Human-friendly landing technique. Larger size – About the size of an SUV (9 feet long) whereas first Mars rover, Sojourner, was about the size of a microwave, and 4x as heavy as Spirit and Opportunity. Improved power source (expected lifespan increase to 14 years, uses radioactive decay from plutonium power source). Viking landers lasted 4-6 years, Spirit/Opportunity 6 years+. Faster communication with Earth - UHF frequencies, Low- Gain Antenna, High-Gain Antenna X-band Frequencies. Laser communications are in the research stages.

8. Biogenic hypothesis: Meteorite fragment ALH 84001 Prevention of Sample Contamination Evidence of Past Life on Mars Spectrometry Future Sample Return “ The scientific objectives of the Mars Exploration Rover mission are to: * Search for and characterize a variety of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity. In particular, samples sought will include those that have minerals deposited by water-related processes such as precipitation, evaporation, sedimentary cementation, or hydrothermal activity. * Determine the distribution and composition of minerals, rocks, and soils surrounding the landing sites. * Determine what geologic processes have shaped the local terrain and influenced the chemistry. Such processes could include water or wind erosion, sedimentation, hydrothermal mechanisms, volcanism, and cratering. * Perform "ground truth" -- calibration and validation -- of surface observations made by Mars orbiter instruments. This will help determine the accuracy and effectiveness of various instruments that survey Martian geology from orbit. * Search for iron-containing minerals, identify and quantify relative amounts of specific mineral types that contain water or were formed in water, such as iron-bearing carbonates. * Characterize the mineralogy and textures of rocks and soils and determine the processes that created them. * Search for geological clues to the environmental conditions that existed when liquid water was present. Assess whether those environments were conducive to life.”

9. What’s Over That Horizon?

10. Vehicle planning for transportation on Mars How far will wheels sink—What is the soil resistance? Testing automated obstacle avoidance systems R&D and testing of autonomous robots to perform dangerous or time consuming work, such as drilling and mining Transportation

11. Mars Rover 3D Software

14. NASA JPL’s Explorer Island

15. NASA JPL’s Explorer Island

16. Grand Prize, 2010 Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge NSF Research Video (4 mins ) USAF

18. Mars Expedition Flight Video (8 mins ) USAF

19. United Space Alliance’s Mars Desert Research Station Habitat

21. Video: Moon to Mars (3 mins )

22. Marc Boucher (Kenji Aero) * Platform for education and public outreach * Test bed for ideas actually for use in arctic * Arctic explorers discuss experiences in auditorium * Videos from the arctic expeditions * Engineering design concepts (Stephen Braham) * Volunteers to help with the project Virtual Haughton-Mars Project

23. Spaceport UK

24. Spaceport UK

25. Planetarium (Sweden) Mars