1. Planetary Geology Spring 2017

2. Planetary Geology http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/hurtado/planetary
Assignments 30%
Participation                     20%
Final  Exam                     30% 
Final Project 20%
When, where, attendance, etc.
Who’s who & contact information
Web site and grading
Text, notes, etc.
Process…
Discussion, assignments, quizzes…
In-class participation…
Final exam

3. In-class Discussion

5. Why Study The Planets?
Challenger disaster: Jan 28, crew members lost
Columbia disaster: Feb 2, crew members lost

6. Why Not Study The Planets?
Challenger disaster: Jan 28, crew members lost
Columbia disaster: Feb 2, crew members lost

7. Why Study The Planets? Risky
Challenger disaster: Jan 28, crew members lost
Columbia disaster: Feb 2, crew members lost

8. Why Study The Planets? Risky Expensive… ~ BILLION$
Source: National Academies, 2008

9. Why Study The Planets? Risky Expensive Boring (even NASA said so)
“…Moon is …scientifically uninteresting”, Ed Weiler (2001)

10. Why Study The Planets? Risky Expensive Boring Irrelevant
South-East Asia Tsunami from Sumatra earthquake, December 2004
Hurricane Katrina September 2005

11. Why Study The Planets?
Risky
Expensive
Boring
Irrelevant
Complicated

12. Risks of space exploration
PEOPLE: 21 astronauts & cosmonauts killed since 1967
18,000 DUI-related deaths in US annually
MONEY: e.g., NASA & Mars exploration….
Mars Observer ($900m)
Mars Climate Orbiter ($125m)
Mars Polar Lander ($165m)
ENVIRONMENT: nuclear power, rockets, etc.
11,000,000 gallons crude oil from EXXON Valdez, March 1989, spread 500 miles. Clean-up: 3 yrs, $2.1b
2010 BP oil spill…

13. Cost ($s) of space exploration
MISSIONS:
Apollo $28b (total, 2006 dollars)
Space Shuttle $145b (total, 2006 dollars)
Constellation** $20b++ ( )
Golden Spike $2b per mission (2018-)
Compare:
Hollywood’s “Waterworld” at $200m (December, 1997)
Global war on terrorism: up to $1.8 trillion ( )

14. Irrelevant / Too Complicated?
Geopolitics
Practical developments
Technological developments
Learning about other planets helps us understand the Earth
Venus and greenhouse gases
Mars, Europa and studying life in extreme terrestrial environments

15. Boring space exploration….?
STS:
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo:
Magellan:
Galileo:
Cassini: 1997-now
MER, MSL, 2003-now
Phoenix, 2009
LRO-LCROSS, 2009
SpaceShip2, 2014

16. Boring space exploration….?
Mars Exploration Rovers
Mars Science Laboratory:
January > present
This image mosaic taken by the panoramic camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the rover's landing site, the Columbia Memorial Station, at Gusev Crater, Mars. This spectacular view may encapsulate Spirit's entire journey, from lander to its possible final destination toward the east hills. On its way, the rover will travel 250 meters (820 feet) northeast to a large crater approximately 200 meters (660 feet) across, the ridge of which can be seen to the left of this image. To the right are the east hills, about 3 kilometers (2 miles) away from the lander. The picture was taken on the 16th martian day, or sol, of the mission (Jan. 18/19, 2004). A portion of Spirit's solar panels appear in the foreground. Data from the panoramic camera's green, blue and infrared filters were combined to create this approximate true color image.
MER Opportunity - traveling 722 feet (220 m) (March 20, 2005) -- today at 4 miles each

17. Boring space exploration….?
Mars Express: NOW
Cassini-Huygens: NOW
MESSENGER: NOW

18. Boring space exploration….?

19. Why Study The Planets?
Challenger disaster: Jan 28, crew members lost
Columbia disaster: Feb 2, crew members lost

20. 2. Appreciate science and planetary exploration
Goals of This Class
1. Understand Earth (its place & processes) better by learning about the solar system as a whole
How to distinguish fact from fiction?
“Moon Hoax”, Face on Mars, etc
Bona fide observations and their limitations