Hello All!   
      
   Why Curiosity Matters   
      
   Sept. 21, 2012:  Adam Steltzner doesn't sound much like an ordinary engineer.     
      
   For instance, when we asked him if he would talk about Curiosity-and explain   
   why the Mars rover matters to ordinary people--the former rock-n-roller   
   responded "I'm totally down with that."    
      
   He really is down with it. Steltzner is the NASA engineer who helped take the   
   country's cool new Curiosity rover to the surface of Mars with moves - and   
   flair - even Evel Knievel would envy.    
      
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sT6FOIfVOI   
      
   In a new ScienceCast video, Adam Steltzner (above right) explains why   
   Curiosity matters. Play it   
      
   Steltzner begins, "I'm so thankful to Clara Ma for suggesting the name   
   'Curiosity.' It embodies a fundamental attribute that defines us as humans. "    
      
   "Why do we explore? It's our nature," he says. "Human curiosity is why you and   
   I can talk across the country by phone. It's why I'm sitting 60 feet above the   
   ground in a building made of alloys and other high-tech composite materials.   
   We dominate this planet because we wonder what's around the next corner."    
      
   When people ask Steltzner "Is the new rover worth 2 « billion dollars?" he has   
   a compelling answer:    
      
   "It's not 2 « billion dollars we stuffed in a trunk and blew into space. It's   
   thousands of high tech jobs spread over 37 states. It's honing and developing   
   our skills in science, engineering, and math."    
      
   He notes that the U.S. has slipped to 14th in science education and 18th in   
   math1 - in a world where we're competing for economic prosperity with nations   
   1 through 13.    
      
   "This mission is an investment in high tech jobs, in inspiring the youth of   
   our country, in stepping up rung by rung toward 1st place.  It's the best   
   stimulus you could imagine!"    
      
   Okay, curiosity matters--but does it matter more than rock-n-roll?  Steltzner   
   played guitar in a rock band for years, so he has the chops to answer this   
   question, too.    
      
   http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15882.html   
      
   A medallion adorned with the Stars and Stripes is attached to one of the   
   Curiosity's rocker arms. >> More information >> More photos"In some sense,   
   exploration and music are both art forms," he says. "They're both expressions   
   of our humanity. But exploration can surprise us more - or at least   
   differently - than music can. Music can surprise us only about what we find in   
   ourselves.  Exploration surprises us with what we learn of ourselves and of   
   the universe."    
      
   Steltzner says music led him to exploration. During high school he played in a   
   rock band.  One night driving home from a gig he noticed that the   
   constellation Orion was in a different place than it had been before.    
      
   But why? "I hadn't paid attention during high school classes at all. So I   
   didn't know."    
      
   His curiosity made him decide to take an astronomy class.  First, though,   
   astronomy had prerequisites such as elementary algebra and conceptual   
   physics.  He took them all. "I basically redid my high school education at the   
   community college."    
      
   The rest--which includes a bachelor's degree from UC Davis, a master's degree   
   from Caltech, a job at JPL, and a daredevil landing on Mars--is history.    
      
   After the glory of the Curiosity landing fades, what will this explorer do   
   next?    
      
   "Our solar system offers us grand challenges," says Steltzner. "I'd like to   
   see a Mars sample return. I'd like to land on the surface of Europa - the most   
   likely place in the solar system for life. And third, I'd like to float a boat   
   on the methane lakes of Titan."    
      
   "The solar system is calling out to us," he says. "The wind's at our back.    
   It's time to explore!"    
      
      
   Author: Dauna D. Coulter| Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA   
      
   More Information    
   Footnote   
   (1) Department of Education statistics for 2012 reveal that less than one   
   percent of current U.S. elementary school students will seek an advanced   
   education in the sciences, and 'Of 15 year olds in 27 countries, U.S. youth   
   ranked 18th in math and 14th in science."    
      
   Mystery Spheres on Mars -- Science@NASA    
      
   Curiosity Begins Driving at Bradbury Landing -- Science@NASA    
      
   Curiosity Zaps First Martian Rock -- Science@NASA    
      
   Strange but True: Curiosity's Sky Crane -- Science@NASA    
      
   Opportunity Runs the First Martian Marathon -- Science@NASA    
      
      
   Regards,   
      
   Roger    
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna - (1:3828/7)