[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 0 - 22:52:48 ]
Welcome! The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, together with NASA Quest, have scheduled webchats with two NASA experts. Planetary geologist Jeff Plescia will be our special guest for the Thursday May 11 chat at 4 pm, PDT (7 pm, PDT). Jeff's specialty is volcanoes on Mars. He is particularly interested in wrinkle ridges and how the Martian crust has gotten so deformed over time.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 1 - 22:53:39 ]
Be sure to read Jeff's bio BEFORE coming to the chat so that you don't ask questions that have already been answered in his profile -- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/team/plescia.html

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 3 - 15:43:31 ]
Hello! Today's chat with Geologist Jeff will begin in about 15 minutes... Have those questions ready. For those of you sending in questions now, I see them and will post them once the chat officially begins :-)

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 4 - 16:06:20 ]
Hi, I'm here ready to take your questions.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 8 - 16:07:18 ]
RE: [Melissa] Was it difficult deciding what kind of scientist you wanted to be? I am having a hard time with that part.
I was always interested in rocks and I was interested in space, so going into planetary science just seemed like a good idea.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 9 - 16:08:18 ]
RE: [Cindy] Is there a tentative date for manned exploration of Mars?
Probably not for another 10-20 years. We really don't seem to have the political will to it yet. It will be an undertaking on the scale of Apollo and everyone in congress and the country need to be behind it. Besides we don't know enough about the planet yet.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 11 - 16:14:09 ]
Cindy & Melissa: Do you have anymore questions for Jeff?!

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 12 - 16:14:11 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] Since only Cindy and Melissa are here, I'm going to ask you a question-- What more do we need to know about Mars in order for a manned expedition to take place?
We only need more in the sense of science. We know enough now to land safely. But given that the search for life is an important element in exploration, we really are not sure where to go to find such evidence. Could be a lake, a big channel, a volcano.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 14 - 16:16:26 ]
RE: [Cindy] I saw a time magazine that dealt with this recently but did not have the opportunity to read it--do we need more information about things like atmospheric pressure on Mars?
We know the surface pressure and temperature and we have a reasonable idea about how the weather changes over the year. So we probably know enough about the atmosphere.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 17 - 16:19:22 ]
RE: [Cindy] What do you think will be the main problems that we will encounter while traveling to Mars?
The most significant problem for the flight to and from Mars will be radiation from solar flares and from cosmic radiation. The area in the spacecraft where the crew live will have to be shielded in some way to prevent the crew from too much radiation.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 19 - 16:20:03 ]
RE: [MrsRosa] Hi, My name is Rosa Shelton, Youth Development Coordinator at CPDC in NE DC. Our teens are in the process of checking in now.
Hi Mrs. Rosa, welcome to the chat! We're looking forward to chatting with you and your kdis tonight! Send your questions when ready!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 20 - 16:20:52 ]
Mrs. Rosa: What does CPDC stand for?

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 21 - 16:21:07 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] Another question for you from your friendly moderator-- If YOU were sent to Mars and told to start searching for life, what is the first thing you would do after landing and what is the first thing you would look for?
If I were looking for evidence of life, I would probably go look for a sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks on Earth typically are the places you find fossils. If I hoped to find live organism, then maybe go to one of the volcanoes where there might be heat and water and Yellowstone like environment.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 23 - 16:22:26 ]
RE: [Nketia] Hi,my name is Nketia Purvis,teen volunter at CPDC in NE DC.
Welcome Nketia: Do you have a question for Geologist Jeff?

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 25 - 16:23:10 ]
EXCELLENT question Jason :-)

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 27 - 16:24:03 ]
RE: [Jason] Jeff, you mentioned that manned mission to Mars would need to be supported by Congress and the nation. If you had to give "the Big Speech" to Congress about why we should send humans to Mars, what would you say?
I would tell them we should go to Mars for a couple of reasons. The first is just about exploration and finding out what's out there - similar to the early explorations across the Atlantic Ocean and across the south seas from island to island. On a scientific front, we could learn a lot about the early Earth and possibly about the origin of life.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 29 - 16:24:38 ]
RE: [George] Hello this is George i wanted to ask you what was it like to go into space.
I'm just a geologist. The closest I've gotten to space is an airplane.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 31 - 16:27:51 ]
RE: [Nketia] Yes,I wanna know can you talk to your family while you are in space
Typically the astronauts talk with their family through the shuttle radio system. They have a different set of frequencies that are not normally used, so they have some element of privacy.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 35 - 16:29:57 ]
RE: [Jason] Jeff, as a planetary geologist, are there any "mysteries" of Earth that you would like to learn about or study?
There are a lot of mysteries about the Earth. There are ideas that early on the Earth was completely covered in ice periodically. We still do not know where and why life evolved on the Earth. And it probably would have been pretty interesting to watch a mars sized object hit the Earth and make the Moon.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 36 - 16:30:39 ]
RE: [JeffA/HUD] Hi, i'm with Emily who is six. She wants to know if there are volcano's on Mars just like here on earth and what color is Mars?
There are quite a few volcanoes on Mars, not as many as on the Earth. None of them are active, at least we have not seen any erupt. Mars is basically red. The iron in the soil has essentially rusted to make it red.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 37 - 16:32:08 ]
RE: [Andrew] I can't recall what I saw this on, but I remember watching something that said that we are first going to send a return ship to Mars that will produce fuel from the Mars' atmosphere and then wait two years to send a manned ship there. Is this still part of the mission plan? It sounds good to me.
The idea of sending a ship to Mars is make fuel is one option that has been considered. The idea makes sense in that if you could make the fuel for the return flight to Earth, then you don't need to take all that stuff with you. Most of what get's launched is fuel anyway. There are a couple of different ideas about how to make the fuel and what to make.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 41 - 16:35:22 ]
RE: [Krystal] Besides work on craters in Australia and Canada what other locations have you worked in?
I've worked a number of craters in the United States, in Wisconin, Alabama, Texas, North Dakota, and of course in Arizona.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 45 - 16:36:15 ]
RE: [kevin] Hello, this is kevin joy, volunteer at CPDC in washington dc. My question is where did your interest for the Mars volcanos stem from??
I guess I just think volcanoes are neat. I've been to Hawaii and to Central America and seen them erupt and stuck my rock hammer in molten lava. So studying martian volcanoe is fun.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 46 - 16:38:18 ]
RE: [Jason] Jeff, thanks for answering my questions. You said that by learning more about Mars, we could learn more about early Earth. From the few missions we've had so far, are some of there similarities between the two we've seen?
Actually from the few missions so far, the observations we've made show they are very different now. For example, Mars has a very thin atmosphere, mostly of carbon dioxide, and not much water. But the surface is partly very old and we could learn, if we had samples, what that early crust was like and how it changed with time. That would give us an idea of how our crust changed. If we could figure out where the water and atmosphere on Mars went, we might be able to understand what might happen the Earth over time.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 48 - 16:39:57 ]
RE: [drew] I read your bio and I would what to know how would you compare Apollo 11 to the technology today?
The Apollo 11 technology is like a Model T car. Things have advanced incredibly over the last 30 years. The problem with big spacecraft (even the Shuttle) is that once you design it, you can't change it so the technology you use is when you design it, which can be 10 years before you build it. We need to be able to keep the technology up to date. The computer in Apollo 11 was probably not as evolved as the one in your calculator.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 49 - 16:40:52 ]
RE: [Nketia] I wanna know what kinds of food do you eat in space.
On the shuttle and eventually on the space station, you can eat anything you want. The problem is that you can't just put it on a plate like you do at home, it tends to float away. So most stuff is in bags.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 50 - 16:41:50 ]
RE: [Rahel] Do you think there is any life form outside earth? If so Do you take any weapons when you go to space, to protect your self other life forms.
Personally I believe that in the galaxy as a whole, there are other people. They may look different from us, but they're probably out there. In the solar system, the best bet would be some small bacteria on Mars or on one of the moons of Jupiter.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 54 - 16:43:52 ]
RE: [JeffA/HUD] Emily here again, does Mars have any moons in its orbit like we do on earth?bb
Mars has two small moons - Phobos and Deimos. But they are only about 4-6 miles across. They would look like little points of light in Mars sky.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 55 - 16:44:54 ]
RE: [Krystal] We know that there are volcanoes on Mars, but what about "Mars" quakes
Presumably there are Mars quakes. There were seismometers on the Viking landers, but one did not work and the other was very noisy and didn't seem to see any. Mars probably has a lot less quakes than the earth, but it must have some because you can see young faults in the pictures.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 58 - 16:45:36 ]
EVERYONE: There are about 15 minutes left in today's chat with Jeff. Keep your questions coming :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 59 - 16:46:12 ]
RE: [MrsRosa] Sandy, CPDC stands for Community Preservation and Development Corporation. We are located in NE Washington, D.C.
Thanks Mrs. Rosa! How did you hear about this chat today?

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 60 - 16:47:03 ]
RE: [Andrew] I have a problem of thinking too much. My theory about other life is that there definitely is other life in our universe. If we are just one solar system out of millions in our galaxy, and just one galaxy out of millions in our universe, then what happened with the Earth having the right atmosphere and other factors to support life would most likely have happened with some other star in a solar system. Do you agree with this?
Yes, I agree. There appears to be a wide range of conditions under which life can exist on the Earth and different kinds of life might be able to survive in different environments. So given all the stars and all the galaxies, odds are good that something else is out there.

[ MrsRosa - 61 - 16:47:12 ]
Our program focus is bridging the digital divide gap within communities. Because of our youth development program, teens have been exposed to this chat and we decided to be a part.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 62 - 16:47:57 ]
RE: [Nketia] I'm from CPDC,and I would like to know how does it feel sleepind in space
As I mentioned earlier, I'm not an astronaut. I've never been in space. But I would guess sleeping is not much different, except they sleep in sleeping bags standing up.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 63 - 16:48:47 ]
EVERYONE: When today's chat with Jeff is over, please let us know how we did by filling out a short survey form at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys -- Your input will help us to bring you the best webchats possible!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 64 - 16:49:23 ]
Ok Jason, will do!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 67 - 16:50:35 ]
You still have 10 more minutes to send in your questions -- keep typing :-)

[ Krystal - 68 - 16:51:02 ]
Thank you Jeff, on behalf of the staff and members on CPDC. Good luck in space.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 69 - 16:51:05 ]
RE: [Rahel] What is the main similary of Mars to earth.
The basic similarity is that the planets are made of silicate rocks - as opposed to the gas giants of the outer solar system. Both have atmospheres (although Mars is much thinner but may have been thicker in the past) and water (again most of what Mars had is gone). They both have internal heat as indicated by volcanoes.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 72 - 16:52:12 ]
RE: [MrsRosa] Are the volcanoes made of the same basic things on Mars and Earth?
The volcanoes on Mars look a lot like the ones in Hawaii and so the idea is that they are made of the same kind of rock - basalt.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 73 - 16:52:36 ]
RE: [Rahel] I heard that you feel like you are taller in space because there is low gravity. Do you think it is true?
In space there effectively is no gravity, so you would stretch out a bit. Probably like hanging from your feet.

[ MrsRosa - 74 - 16:53:36 ]
Thanks again for taking the time to chat. It was really great exposure. We should do this more often. When will the shuttle launch?

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 78 - 16:53:46 ]
I have a question for you guys in DC. What grade are you in and what do you think of space exploration?

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 79 - 16:54:28 ]
RE: [JeffA/HUD] Emily again, why do you study Mars, why not Pluto or another planet?
You really can only study a few things at a time, and Mars just seemed interesting to me.

[ George - 80 - 16:54:48 ]
I'm in the 11th

[ Delonte - 81 - 16:54:48 ]
10th

[ Renaldo - 82 - 16:55:08 ]
I'm out of school. Graduated last year

[ Krystal - 83 - 16:55:16 ]
I just finished my first year in college

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 84 - 16:55:20 ]
RE: [MrsRosa] Can you describe basalt?
Basalt has very low amounts of silicon in it and a lot of iron. It would be the opposite of granite. It's usually dark gray in color.

[ Robert - 85 - 16:55:25 ]
11th

[ Kevin - 86 - 16:55:45 ]
Howard University graduate.

[ Delonte - 87 - 16:56:44 ]
Space exploration is really great. I am taking Biology in school now

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 88 - 16:57:11 ]
RE: [Rahel] When do you think it is feasible for people live in space. What is the main obstacle other than air and low gravity
People have been living in space aboard the MIR spacestation for years. The biggest problem is just boredom. There are not many diversions and you have no privacy. It's like being in small room with a bunch of other people and not being able to leave for weeks or months.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 89 - 16:57:34 ]
So now a question from your friendly chat moderator... For all of you who told Jeff and I what grade you're in, how many of you are interested in a career in science or engineering?

[ Kevin - 90 - 16:57:52 ]
I think it's cool to look at pictures of the Earth and its surroundings

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 92 - 16:58:16 ]
RE: [Krystal] I wanted to go to NASA when I was younger
What happened?

[ Andrew - 93 - 16:58:17 ]
I'm in the 8th and I've learned a little bit about it, but I want to learn more

[ Krystal - 94 - 16:58:17 ]
Now that I'm older I appreicate the the interesting things you can find in space

[ Delonte - 96 - 16:59:11 ]
I'm interested in becoming an entreprenuer or lawyer

[ George - 97 - 16:59:23 ]
I would like to become an Artist

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 98 - 16:59:37 ]
RE: [Andrew] I'm in the 8th and I've learned a little bit about it, but I want to learn more
Well you can take some geology and physics courses when you get to high school and then probably some space science courses when you get to college.

[ Kevin - 99 - 16:59:42 ]
I'd like to explore teaching

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 100 - 17:00:12 ]
RE: [Kevin] I'd like to explore teaching
You could teach courses about space.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 101 - 17:01:20 ]
I'm impressed! You are all off to a great start with your dreams of becoming artists, teachers, entrepeneurs and lawyers. Keep asking your questions and don't stop until you find the answers!

[ Rahel - 102 - 17:01:46 ]
I am a teacher.I have an MS degree in Educational Technology. I think space exploration is very important. I think we can learn more about earth and about life in general by exploring space.

[ MrsRosa - 104 - 17:01:46 ]
I graduated with a BS in Biology so Science is my love

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 105 - 17:02:24 ]
RE: [Andrew] Mrs. Rosa told me that physics was difficult
A lot of things are difficult. You should still give it a try.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 106 - 17:03:01 ]
RE: [MrsRosa] I graduated with a BS in Biology so Science is my love
There's a lot of interest in biology in extreme places on the earth and life elsewhere.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 108 - 17:04:08 ]
RE: [George] Did you realize right off, what your passion was
No, actually I thought I wanted to be an oceanography first. But after spending 3 months on a ship, I changed my mind.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 109 - 17:04:13 ]
EVERYONE: It's time to wrap this chat up. Jeff will answer the remaining questions in the chat room, and then he has to get home to his 4-year-old and newborn daughters.

[ Andrew - 110 - 17:04:28 ]
O.k., I will give it a try

[ Kevin - 111 - 17:04:28 ]
Science was one of my weaker subjects, but I did think it was interesting.

[ Krystal - 112 - 17:04:28 ]
I now lean more towards the business side of things( Math and numbers)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 113 - 17:04:53 ]
RE: [Andrew] O.k., I will give it a try
All right Andrew: that's the spirit :-)

[ MrsRosa - 114 - 17:05:39 ]
I agree. I am still exploring what I want to do. Now I'm coordinating the Youth Program and we also incorporate science, math and reading in what we teach.

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 115 - 17:06:11 ]
It was fun answering your questions. I think you're all bright students and should continue your interest in science, even if you don't actually go into it.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 116 - 17:06:14 ]
RE: [MrsRosa] I agree. I am still exploring what I want to do. Now I'm coordinating the Youth Program and we also incorporate science, math and reading in what we teach.
That's wonderful! What a contribution you are making!!!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 117 - 17:09:12 ]
OK EVERYONE: That's it for today! THANK YOU so much for joining us and for your GREAT question! Keep up the good work! Please remember to fill out the short chat survey at-- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys -- And, for more chat info, visit our Calendar of Events at --http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/common/events

[ Rahel - 118 - 17:09:28 ]
Thank you very much Jeff. It is really great talking to you. My Kids (8-12 years old) were asking me a lot of questions , when i introduced them to astronmy. I guess, I will direct their questions to you next time. thank you again.

[ MrsRosa - 119 - 17:09:47 ]
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us

[ JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist - 120 - 17:10:18 ]
RE: [Rahel] Thank you very much Jeff. It is really great talking to you. My Kids (8-12 years old) were asking me a lot of questions , when i introduced them to astronmy. I guess, I will direct their questions to you next time. thank you again.
There is a place that you can ask questions whenever you want. What is the URL Sandy?

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 121 - 17:10:32 ]
This chat will be archived and available for you to reread later this evening. Thanks again everyone :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 122 - 17:11:17 ]
RE: [JeffPlescia/PlanetaryGeologist] There is a place that you can ask questions whenever you want. What is the URL Sandy?
Send your questions to: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso and click on the Questions icon.