Dr. Arvidson's LAB at Washington University - St. Louis
See the latest NASA images for Spirit and Opportunity MER mission
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sts107/index.html

Dr. Arvidson describing the Gustav Crater landing site while pointing it out on a MOLA elevation map. (The red is high, the blue is low)	Students sitting in front of the full scale MER model.	One of the students looking through a stereoscope at an image of the Viking Lander 2 landing site. By using two identical images and a stereoscope you can kind of see the pictures in 3-D	One of the students looking at a piece of coated Egyptian Gabbro through the microscope.
Gayla Rothermich looking at a hand sample of Hawaiian basalt.	Full scale rover model with labeled poster.	Students using 3-D glasses to look at a 3-D image of themselves taken minutes earlier with a stereo pair of digital cameras.	MER simulated on Mars surface.

TRIP EVALUATION

What you liked most about the trip?

I liked the two pictures of us they took; how we got to see a lot of cool rocks from Mars and have our picture done in thermal image like the rover will do on Mars; the thermal and 3-D pictures taken of us; I liked how we got to see the rocks up close and the slide show. I especially liked the 3-D picture of us.

What my parents liked most about the trip?

Seeing the rover and the simulation of the rover on screen; the chance for the students to meet scientists who are currently working with space research; 

What you remember most about the Presentation by Dr. Arvidson, Gabby and Nigel?

I remember the different types of rock we looked at under the telescope;  all the actions were simulated on the computer first; activities:  looking through the microscope at the various types of rocks, seeing the simulation of the Rover (I was amazed at how slow it goes), seeing the Rover, and the maps of Mars; I remember the slide show, rocks, pictures, and the rover model.

What my parents remember most about the Presentation by Dr. Arvidson?

The ways the Rover gathers data and the computer simulations of rover action;  how Dr. Arvidson emphasized to the kids the various types of scientists involved in putting the Mars mission together; emphasis on the need for testing and adjusting the equipment to make the Mission successful; that Dr. Arvidson and his assistants took time to answer questions from the students and adults alike, including the kids in the Project; my mom liked seeing the Rover and hearing about Dr. Arvidson's upcoming trip to Pasadena and the research he would be doing with the Mars data. She also liked seeing our group picture through the 3-D glasses; my mom remembered the information about the landing sites and the research that Dr. Arvidson was going to do in Pasadena. When she saw the news about Mars, she remembered the information we talked about at Washington University.

What 3 or more things did you learn and remember from this Presentation?

One of the things I learned from the presentation was that there are more rovers that NASA is sending in the future.  Secondly,  the wheels have sensors so that it knows when it is going up, down, flat, and what degree it is moving up or down.  Thirdly, that it is going to take 3-D and heat sensor pictures; if they find certain rocks, that would mean some sort of liquid water existed; they test every obstacle with a model on Earth before it happens on Mars; 4 rovers were built and 2 went to Mars; about the rover and how it works; about how Mars looks and why it's important to look for water/signs of water there; about the type of information they are trying to find out and why; I learned the 2 landing sites for Spirit and Opportunity; I learned how big the rover was and about different types of rocks.

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What would you like to learn more about from Dr. Arvidson?

I would like to know what he got his college degree in;  how much it would cost to send a crew to Mars; nothing, I learned a lot; how does all the gear on the rover work? Is there any signs of life on Mars?

Write a descriptive sentence about how this trip made you feel.

I was thankful that they took time out of their day to do this for us; it made me feel more excited about the Mars mission;  I was a little disappointed that the model wasn't motorized when I thought it would be; it made me feel proud that I got to be apart of the mission and that I got to meet famous people and I got to talk to them; I learned a lot of things from the trip.

THANK YOU DR. RAY ARVIDSON, GABBY IZSAK AND NIGEL DAVIES

Thank you for showing us the model of the Mars rover.  Everything was so detailed and it was so cool.  I really liked how you did the picture where you could tell which person was the hottest and which person was the coldest.  I liked the slide show and the 3-D pictures.  I also like the samples of rock that we got to look at.  It was very fun and interesting.  I liked how you volunteered your time out of your busy day to do a presentation.  Thanks a lot!

Thank you a lot for letting us come to Washington  University and taking the time to teach us more.

Thanks for thinking of us at such a busy time for you. Now I think of how blessed I am for having kind adults teach me.  I know I still have a lot to learn. Because of how cool your job seems, maybe I will get a job like yours when I grow-up.

Thanks for helping make the production great.  I loved it.  It was one of my favorite things the whole entire month.  I think that all of you do a wonderful job and are great.

Thank you for letting us come to your lab.  It was very cool to see the rover, slides, and rocks.  I felt like I was in a lab on Mars!  I liked how you showed us how the rover moves; only 1 football field each day.  I liked how you showed us exactly where they planned to land the rover.  I really liked the thermal picture too.  We can't wait to see how Spirit and Opportunity will do.  Thanks again. 

Thank you so much for everything you do to us.  You take time out of your very busy day to send us an E-mail or come and talk to us even though you have a ton of work to do.  It's so cool that a famous man like you can talk to Elementary school kids like us.  Thanks again!

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