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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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