Dr. James Rice
In today’s episode we speak with Dr. James Rice of the Planetary Science Institute. Check out his bio!
“Dr. Jim Rice is interested in the geomorphology/geology and history of water on Mars. He is a Co-Investigator and Geology Team Leader on the Mars Exploration Rover Project (Spirit and Opportunity) and also has mission experience working on the Mars Odyssey Orbiter and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Projects. Additionally, he has extensive geological field experience (over 20 years experience in Antarctica, High Arctic, Iceland, Hawaii) studying a wide variety of Mars analog environments and geologic processes including volcanism and impact cratering, glacial, fluvial, periglacial, aeolian, and lacustrine geomorphology and surface physical processes. He has also organized and led several NASA sponsored field conferences to Mars analog sites around the world. He has been a team member on numerous international geological field expeditions around the world including a 6 month long joint NASA/Russian expedition to Antarctica. This work included being a member of the SCUBA diving team to first investigate the perennially frozen lakes of eastern Antarctica.”
In this interview, Bill and Jim discuss the Artemis/Moon 2024 program, the future of space exploration, the new space race with commercial and government space agencies, recent methane discoveries by Curiosity, saying goodbye to Opportunity, and much more!
Follow up quote from James on the methane-detecting instrument on the Mars 2020 rover. “SHERLOC: Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals. It’s mounted on the rover’s robotic arm, SHERLOC uses spectrometers, a laser and a camera to search for organics and minerals that have been altered by watery environments and may be signs of past microbial life. The Principal Investigator is Luther Beegle.”
Find out more about Dr. Rice at the Planetary Science Institute link here!
Link to listen to our interview in iTunes: RPR 25: Dr. James Rice
Or Listen here:
Today’s host is Bill Hargenrader, Founder of I Love Mars Media.
The show and its contents are presented by The Mars Society and co-produced with I Love Mars Media.
Find out more at: Marssociety.org and www.ILoveMars.info