[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 1 - 09:50:14 ]
Hello! Today's Mars Millennium QuestChat with planetary scientist Mike Mellon will begin at 10 am, PDT. Be sure to read Mike's bio before coming to the chat-- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/team/mellon.html

[brittanytori-SHodges/NBC - 3 - 09:56:33 ]
Hi! How are you doing today?

[ brittanytori-SHodges/NBC - 7 - 09:59:37 ]
we are from New Berlin Center School In New Berlin WI We are in sixth grade class.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 8 - 09:59:44 ]
Hello to Brittany and Tori, and Ellen and Stefanie! Glad you could be here today :-) Mike Mellon will be ready to chat in about 5 minutes. I hope you have your questions ready!

[ MrsMarske-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool - 10 - 10:00:35 ]
Hi to all the other students. Glad to be able to visit with all of you.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 11 - 10:00:53 ]
RE: [MrsMarske-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] Mrs. Marske's 6th grade science class is ready to go. Thank you again, for willing to take time off your busy day to talk with us. We appreciate it.
Welcome to Mrs. Marske and her 6th grade class! We're happy that you can fit us into your busy day also. The chat will begin momentarily...

[ EllenandStefanie-SHodges/NBC - 12 - 10:01:07 ]
We are 6 graders also from as I said NBC in Wisconsin

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 13 - 10:01:54 ]
RE: [EllenandStefanie-SHodges/NBC] What time is it there
It is a few minutes before 11 am, in Denver, CO where both Mike and I are located. Actually Mike is in Boulder, about 20 miles away from where I am.

[ brittanytori-SHodges/NBC - 15 - 10:02:38 ]
Hi sixth grade science class.We are in sixth grade too! Where is Sioux Center? New Berlin Center is in New berlin

[ Skywise-Skywise/PennStateUniversity - 16 - 10:03:08 ]
Salutations everyone!

[ MrsMarske-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool - 18 - 10:03:28 ]
It's 12:03 in Sioux Center, Iowa. Hi, 6th graders in WI.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 21 - 10:04:43 ]
Hi everyone! Mike Mellon is here and ready to go!

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 22 - 10:05:01 ]
Hello to all. Send me some questions...

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 28 - 10:07:05 ]
RE: [EllenandStefanie-SHodges/NBC] How long have you been studying the planets.
I have been studying Mars and other planets for about 11 or 12 years now. But beforethat I used to spend time in the back yard looking through a little telescope at the planets.

[ EllenandStefanie-SHodges/NBC - 30 - 10:07:18 ]
How long have you been studying the planets

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 36 - 10:09:05 ]
RE: [brittanytori-SHodges/NBC] Do you ever dream to be an astronout and visit the planets you know so much about??
Actually, I don't have any plans or dreams to be an astronaut and visit any planets. At least not any time soon. I'm content to sit on Earth and study them from here.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 44 - 10:13:03 ]
RE: [EllenandStefanie-SHodges/NBC] Have you ever been to the moon?
Mike is not an astronaut!

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 47 - 10:13:49 ]
RE: [BradyPunt-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] When Mike gets there : We have studied the Thermal Emmission Spectrometer and we were wondering how are you using or are you using the T ES to study Mars?
I am using the TES instrument to study the surface of Mars by using the surface temperature. The temperature tells us if the surface is sandy or rocky. Sandy and dusty surfaces get hotter during the day, like beach sand. Rocky surfaces stay cool.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 55 - 10:16:01 ]
RE: [brittanytori-SHodges/NBC] As a kkid did you like to learn about planets and other thing about space?
As a kid I used to look at the planets through a little telescope. I spent most of my time trying to make them less blurry.

[ Skywise-Skywise/PennStateUniversity - 57 - 10:16:44 ]
NASA is a great organization to work with and/or for in my opinion

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 60 - 10:17:42 ]
RE: [Lauren-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] If there is water located under the surface of Mars, how deep is it?
If there is liquid water under the surface of Mars it would be several kilometers (or miles) below the surface. Above that depth the ground ice frozen and any water would be in the form of ice.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 63 - 10:19:08 ]
RE: [Jeremy-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] What do you think is the most interesting about Mars?
The most interesting thing about Mars to me is that there are places on Earth that are so much like Mars, such as cold dry deserts in some valleys of Antarctica.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 65 - 10:20:53 ]
RE: [LukeVanEngen-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] Did you have anything to do with the Pathfinder mission as well as the MGS mission?
No, I don't have any direct connections with the Pathfinder mission. I have been working mostly on Mars Global Surveyor. That keeps me buisy.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 71 - 10:25:54 ]
EVERYONE: PLEASE HOLD UP SENDING QUESTIONS FOR 5 MINUTES... so Mike can answer all of your questions...

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 74 - 10:26:39 ]
Yes, There should be plenty of water. The trick will be to find it. As for going to Mars, it's an awfully long trip and my cat might not be happy with me when I get back.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 75 - 10:28:49 ]
RE: [StevenHadley-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] WE've heard that NASA is planning to send equipment to change the atmosphere, growing plants, etc. so that we could live on Mars. Would the minerals in the soil be sufficient to grow plants?
NASA does not have any immediate plans to change the Martian atmosphere. It would be a major and expensive project. Besides, with much less effort, people could live on Mars in small shelters and grow plans in green houses.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 77 - 10:30:28 ]
RE: [Andrew-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] How do you think the polar ice caps formed on mars?
The polar ice caps of Mars probably formed from condensing water vapor from the atmosphere. The poles are generally the coldest places and so the trap the water.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 79 - 10:32:23 ]
RE: [AdrianaRamon-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] We know the Grand Canyon was formed by the CO River. How do you think Valles Marineris, Mars's huge canyon, was formed?
Vallis Marineris most likely formed by a combination of water erosion and rock slides eroding the valley walls. Like everywhere on Mars, many geologic processes are acting at the same time to form the features we see.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 80 - 10:34:35 ]
RE: [JustinRegenerus-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] What does it take to be a scientist?
Most of all I think it takes a strong interest in science and a real love for discovering new things. You also need to study math and science in school. Though, I must admit I did not do well in math in grammar school.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 82 - 10:36:40 ]
RE: [West-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] We know that the crust of the earth is fairly thick and active. How thick is Mars' crust?
The crust of Mars is much thicker than Earths because Mars is cooler inside. Mars being smaller was able to radiate much of its heat to space over its lifetime.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 84 - 10:38:23 ]
RE: [DavidMcAlpine-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] Are there any plans to send instruments up to Mars that would be able to dig under the surface of Mars to see if there is any water?
There is a space craft on its way to Mars now called the Mars Polar Lander. It will land and dig about half a meter (a foot and a half) into the soil near the polar cap. It should find ice in the soil, if us scientists are right...

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 86 - 10:40:49 ]
RE: [Skywise-Skywise/PennStateUniversity] Mars is not actually red in color, but more of a butterscotch, right? So how do we change the public opinion?
For those of us who think in primary colors red is fine. But you are right, Mars is not exactly red. I'm not sure public opinion needs to be changed on this point. I don't think it changes how we view Mars from a conceptual point of view.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 88 - 10:42:12 ]
RE: [AmyRenes-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] What is your favorite theory of why the climate on Mars changed since there seems to have been water and not there isn't.
I think that Mars has gotten colder over the years (billions of years) and that is probably due to an overall loss of the green house gas CO2.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 90 - 10:44:30 ]
RE: [Yasmen-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] Isn't the MGS orbiting Mars right now? Is its mission to determine where water is located?
MGS is in orbit around Mars right now. Its mission is to map the geologic and mineralogic character of the surface. A future mission to be launched in 2001 has an instrument that can directly detect water in the top meter or two from orbit. It does so my measuring gamma rays and high energy neutrons emitted from the surface.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 92 - 10:46:57 ]
RE: [AmyHulstein-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] What is the most interesting data that you've learned from the MGS?
There is more interesting data than we have time to think about. That I have had time to think about so far, I think it is interesting that the surface mineral of Mars are turning out to be not at all what people had predicted. Many of the predicted mineral are simply not there, which dramatically changes are view of Mars.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 94 - 10:49:30 ]
RE: [DavidMcAlpine-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] What are some of the natural resources you might find on Mars?
The most important natural resource that people often take for granted is water. Water is needed to humans, plants and animals. It can also be used to produce oxygen and fuel. Without abundant water we would have a dificult time landing people on Mars or colonizing the planet.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 95 - 10:51:08 ]
RE: [Shawn-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] When do you think men and women will make it to mars. We know that it takes about 6 months to get there?
I think that we will land people on Mars some time in the next century. Perhaps in as early as 20 or so years, but maybe not for 50 years. It will be very costly and to do it safely we will have to develop new technologies that we do not yet have.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 99 - 10:52:31 ]
EVERYONE: There ae only about 10 minutes left in today's chat with Mike Mellon. At the end of the chat, pleae let us know how we on the Quest project are doing with our chats by filling out the short survey at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys THANK YOU!

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 100 - 10:53:33 ]
RE: [WillieAyers-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] We were wondering what is your favorite part of being a scientist and what has been the best thing that's happened to you since you've been a scientist?
The best part to me is getting to do something I enjoy and make a living at it. I don't get paid much, but I still want to work long hours because it is fun. So far the most interesting thing I have be able to do as a result is a trip to Antarctica last year to look at areas of Earth that are much like Mars.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 103 - 10:57:06 ]
RE: [Jocelyn-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] What do you think about the meteorite that was said to be from mars and contain primitive life?
The Mars meteorite is very interesting. We are pretty sure it is from Mars based on a long list of chemical and mineral evidence. I think the possibility of life has spurred a lot of scientific activity and thought which is always good. As for having a definite answer as to whether there is life of not will take much more work. Science is slow and methodical. One report or discovery must be tested and backed up before it is believed.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 107 - 10:58:30 ]
EVERYONE: IF YOU WILL HOLD OFF ON SENDING ANYMORE QUESTIONS, MIKE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THE REMAINING ONES (UP TO 102) BEFORE HE HAS TO LEAVE. Thanks ;-)

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 108 - 10:59:01 ]
RE: [KrystalRozeboom-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] What is your theory of how objects in space became planets, moons, or other objects in space?
Planets generally form by collecting dust and rocks that float around in the early solar system. They start small and grow to the size of planets. Some stay smaller and become moons or commets and asteroids.

[ all6thgraders-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool - 111 - 11:02:05 ]
We want to thank you for answering all our questions. We learned a lot. It was exciting to visit with a real scientist. It was a great adventure for us.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 112 - 11:02:24 ]
RE: [StevenHadley-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] We've heard there is water in Mars's atmosphere and we wonder how much there is and how might it be taken out of the atmosphere so it could be used?
There is not much water in the martian atmosphere. If you were to condense all the water in the atmosphere onto the surface spead over the globe it would make a layer thinner than a sheet of paper (on Earth that layer would be about a foot). We still may be able to use that though, if we collect enough in a small location.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 113 - 11:04:12 ]
RE: [Stephen-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] Besides the poles, where would the most likely place for water be. Any specific location on mars?
The next most likely place to find water is frozen in the ground as permafrost. The would be much more abundant than the atmosphere. The only question is that we have yet to test the theory that this water is actually there by looking for it.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 115 - 11:06:00 ]
You are MOST welcome! We hope you and your students will have the time to come back and chat with us again very soon! Your kids asked excellent questions!!! Thank you for preparing for this chat :-)

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 116 - 11:06:54 ]
RE: [JudyDieck-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] Do you think there is life on Mars? Do you think it's possible for there to be life on any other planet?
I think that there could have been life on Mars. If there is life today, it is so cold and dry that that life would have to find some warm wet place to live... probably deep underground. Either way, life on Mars would probably not have evolved much past the stage of a single cell. The same possibilities hold for elsewhere in the solar system.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 117 - 11:08:20 ]
RE: [DaRoyce-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] We saw your answer to the qestion about the color of mars. What causes the reddish color?
The redish color of Mars is caused by abundant iron oxide on the surface, primarily the mineral hematite.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 118 - 11:10:37 ]
RE: [BradyPunt-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] We learned that they have discovered another solar system and we were wondering if you would want to study another solar system besides ours?
Sure. But the type of studies I do involved getting a close up and detailed look at the planets with speciallized instruments. Other solar systems are so far away that it is very difficult and in some cases impossible to see individual planets from Earth. But if you can get me the data I'd be happy as a clam to study those planets too.

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 119 - 11:12:08 ]
RE: [Jasmine-DonnaAshby/M.J.E.] How old is mars?
Mars formed about the same time as the Earth and the rest of the planets in our solar system, which makes it about 4.5 billion years old. That is a huge number and I find it hard to really appreciate how old that is.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 120 - 11:14:43 ]
EVERYONE; It is now time for Mike to get back to his REAL job. Thanks for all of your GREAT questions :-) This chat will be archived shortly for you to review. Also, join us next week on Tuesday the 28th at noon, PDT, for a chat with Peter Thomas, another Mars Global Surveyor scientist. He operates the MOC camera. Register for this chat at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/chats

[ MikeMellon/MarsGlobalSurveyor - 121 - 11:15:00 ]
RE: [AmandaDeBoer-Mrs.Marske/SiouxCenterMiddleSchool] We have been told that Mars is red because it has a lot of iron which has mixed with water and O2 to form a rust material. How can there be so much rust material when there is so little water and O2?
The iron oxide (hematite) which makes Mars reddish, can form from iron in the volcanic rocks. The water and oxygen can come from the atmosphere, but there isn't much of it. What works in our favor is that Mars is so old. Given a very very long amount of time, the small quantities of water and oxygen can do there thing and form the hematitie.