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Meet: Mike Mellon
Planetary Scientist
Mars Global Surveyor
University of Colorado
Who I Am
I am a planetary scientist at the University
of Colorado. My work primarily focuses on studying martian geology and
climate, including, as central link between these two, water. Water on
Mars has attracted a great deal of interest from scientists. Widespread
flood channels and valley networks indicate liquid water was once an active
agent of erosion on the planet's surface. Yet today, the surface of Mars
is too cold and dry to support liquid water. Still, water is present as
vapor in the atmosphere and as ice at the polar caps, and probably exists
in abundance as ice within the soil (permafrost). Yet, we don't understand
where the volume of water that was needed to carve the channels has gone
or why the climate has changed. In my work I investigate where water could
be located and what geologic evidence can tell us about the planetwide
distribution of water. I examine the surface temperatures on Mars from
space craft data and computer simulations and relate these results to
the "texture" of the soil on Mars and the ice in the permarost. I also
study permafrost in Antarctica in areas where the climate conditions are
similar to Mars. The Antarctic work helps me to imagine the soil on Mars
and how ice might form.
While at work I spend much of my time in the library,
my office and the laboratory (and only occasionally in places like Antarctica).
In the library I gather information from a wide variety of fields like
chemistry, engineering, geology, physics, and of course, planetary science.
In my office I use the information I've gathered to create computer models
(simulations) of Mars to evaluate existing data, predict future data and
to test theories. In the laboratory I make measurements of water and soil
in a Mars-like environment (cold). Laboratory experiments can be easier
and less costly than making measurements at Mars and help to test both
theories and computer models.
Early Years
I grew up in a small town in New Jersey. As a kid I always had some
interest in science and engineering, though I never really had any particular
career in mind. I did enjoy science in school more than other subjects,
particularly when we got do some hands-on experiments. My grades, however,
were not the greatest. When I was 10, my parents got me a telescope and
I spent a good deal of time looking at stars and planets. But usually
I spent more time fishing and riding my bike than contemplating Mars.
Later in high school, my interests tended more toward physics. I still
wasn't sure what kind of career I wanted and took classes in drafting
and shop, as well as math and science classes. Shop turned out to be rather
useful in doing laboratory work where I need to design and build experiments.
In my spare time I liked to build model airplanes and model rockets. Some
of my rockets were more successful than others. Most of my spare time
in high school was occupied with learning karate.
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.
Work
When I completed by PhD from the University of Colorado,
I was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship (a job!) by the National Research
Council to continue my study of Mars at NASA Ames Research Center in California.
During the next 3 years at NASA, I learned a great deal about laboratory
experiments and became involved in Antarctic research. After NASA, I returned
to Colorado to continue my research and to begin working with data from
the Mars Global Surveyor space craft. I also think I missed the mountains
and winter snow.
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 and snow shoe. 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.
Archived Chats with Mike Mellon
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