First off, hello! Welcome to the second incarnation of my blogging adventures – a look into space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth. If you’re at all interested, previous entries can be found here. Needless to say, I’d love to hear your thoughts / views / complaints about anything I discuss, so feel free to let loose!
When people ask me what I do, I generally mention the scientific questions I’m trying to answer and the related applications. It goes a little something like this: “well, I’m looking at how to best extract organic molecules from soil in order to develop the protocol for a life-detection instrument that’s going to Mars.” It’s a fine line between the ever-dangerous “science-speak” and the equally dangerous oversimplification and sensationalization. But after a few moments of explanation and/or confused looks, my questioner usually gets quite excited: “you’re looking for life on Mars!?”
It’s true – that is the goal, but needless to say it’s never quite that simple. For example, our lab is just one of several working on this particular instrument (named Urey). Also, launch date isn’t until 2013! Space missions take more than a decade to plan, build, test, and fly, and a lot can happen during that time. Funding can be pulled or re-allocated. Politics can change. Components can fail. It’s a very “fluid situation” (one of my favorite euphemisms) and very rarely does the spacecraft design going in resemble the finished product. Interplanetary missions are risky enough as it is, and it’s always frustrating when “artificial” factors like political changes of heart and unforseen budget cuts rear their ugly heads.
Last week, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) committed more money to Urey, and the project is still on schedule. This is surprisingly rare; in fact, ESA is running short on money for this mission (called ExoMars) becuase they had assumed one or two potential instruments would be hopelessly behind schedule by this point. A brief summary of the funding decision and Urey’s goals can be found here.
(Side note: my office is conveniently next door to London’s Royal College of Music, meaning I get some nice impromptu concerts through the window. Right now a rehersal of the 2001 Space Odyssey theme is going on. Rather fitting.)
Anyway, Urey is looking good, and we are well-poised to continue our leading role in the instrument’s development and testing. We’ve survived this far on the bumpy road to Mars, but the next five years will undoubtedly bring many potholes.