JPL is Source of Local, National Pride
Outer space has seemed a little closer to home recently, thanks to the outstanding work of the folks at the La Canada Flintridge-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). I had the pleasure and honor of being in the room at JPL when the Phoenix Lander touched down on the surface of Mars to begin its Mars Exploration mission. It was a thrilling moment, one that was the culmination of years of preparation. But the work has just begun.
The Phoenix Lander Mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program which has the following long term goals: determine whether life ever existed on Mars, characterize the climate on Mars, characterize the geology of Mars, and prepare for human exploration. What we do know is that Mars is a cold, desert-like planet that lacks liquid on its surface. A previous JPL-sponsored mission, the Odyssey Orbiter discovered in 2002 what appeared to be large amounts of sub-surface water in the northern arctic plain of the planet. The Phoenix Lander mission has landed in this region in order to gather soil and ice so that it can be analyzed for evidence of a habitable zone and a potential for life. In mid-June we received word from JPL that the Phoenix Lander had successfully filled its first oven with Martian soil and the analysis is underway. You can actually see the Phoenix Lander at work by visiting the JPL web site - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
Back here on earth, Congress is working to support the work going on at JPL. The House recently approved H.R. 6063, the NASA Authorization Act of 2008. The legislation provides necessary funding to advance current missions and recognizes the significance of outer planet and Mars exploration. The bill authorizes $486.5 million for the Mars Exploration program and implements the Earth Science Decadal plan, which includes missions to be carried out by JPL.
With the ongoing success of the Phoenix Lander mission, JPL has once again proven to be a bright spot for NASA and a genuine source of pride for the Foothills. Every time I visit there, I am impressed by the focus and dedication of the people who make JPL work. What’s more, it’s the sense of wonder and what is possible that makes each experience unique. Thanks to 21st century technology, I will continue tracking the progress of the Phoenix Lander this summer, even if I can’t be at JPL. I hope you and your family will too.
