About this video

• Video Title: Mission to Mars with Nina Lanza
• Channel: Born to Explore Official
• Speakers: Richard Whis Scratch, Nina Lanza
• Duration: 20:55

Overview

This video features an interview with planetary scientist Dr. Nina Lanza, hosted by Richard Whis Scratch. They discuss Dr. Lanza's work on Mars exploration, particularly her involvement with the ChemCam instrument on the Curiosity rover. The conversation also touches on her early life, scientific inspirations, career journey, and her upcoming expedition to study Mars-analog environments in the Canadian Arctic.

Key takeaways

• Dr. Nina Lanza is a planetary scientist dedicated to investigating the possibility of past or present life on Mars.
• Her work on the ChemCam instrument aboard the Curiosity Mars Rover has led to significant discoveries, including the presence of a long-lasting, neutral lake of liquid water in Gale Crater, indicating a potentially habitable environment.
• Lanza's passion for space exploration was sparked by observing Halley's Comet as a child, realizing the vastness and three-dimensional nature of space.
• Growing up in a science-oriented family, with both parents having scientific backgrounds, fostered her curiosity and made science feel accessible.
• She is leading an upcoming expedition called the GRAPE (Gamma-ray Analysis Planetary Exploration) mission to Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic to test a new gamma-ray spectroscopy technique in a Mars analog environment.

Dr. Lanza looks for team members who are adaptable and easygoing. She prioritizes these traits over expertise because while skills can be taught, it's harder to help people cope with the emotional challenges of extreme environments. She values individuals who are willing to "roll with the punches" when plans inevitably change and can find solutions without becoming upset or rigidly sticking to original ideas.