Students Track Data from the Gusev Crater on Mars!

Students from Washington, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and California participated in the radar astronomy investigation of the planet Mars with NASA/JPL Scientists involved with the Mars Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR) Project. The students, using the GAVRT radio telescope, were helping to collect the powerful radar signals transmitted from the 70-meter antenna at Goldstone which were directed to investigate the surface properties of Mars. On the nights of August 21 & 22, the students were assisting in the measurements of the Gusev Crater landing site which has been selected for the Mars Exploration Rover “Spirit” scheduled to land on Mars in January 2004. Over the past few years, students have used the GAVRT antenna to conduct thousands of hours of radio astronomy observations, resulting in a level of calibration that will enhance the precision of the Mars radar measurements.

Students from the Academy for Academic Excellence at the Lewis Center for Educational Research in Apple Valley participate in a Doppler Radar Lesson with Mars GSSR scientists, Dr. Albert Haldemann (left) & Dr. Chris Larson (right).

Below. Students running Cross-Scans on Mars prior to the radar imaging of Gusev Crater. A Doppler radar image of mars is showing of the screen above.