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Missions to Mars: Book Signing and Talk by Dr. Larry Crumpler

Location: 
Planetarium; Space Science Exhibits; Nature Works Store

***This event is sold out***

Museum planetary geologist Larry Crumpler will discuss some portions of his newly-released book Missions to Mars.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. for you to meet the author and tour the museum’s newest exhibition Mars: Science and Culture.  Starting at 6:30, Dr. Crumpler’s talk will also provide an update on the current Perseverance rover mission.  After the presentation, buy a copy of the book and get it signed by the author!  Book purchases can only be made by credit card at this event.

Preoder a copy of Dr. Crumpler's book by clicking here.
Consider having multiple books signed since they’ll make unforgettable gifts!  Any copy of the book purchased through the Nature Works Store, either online or in person, will include an exclusive link to see a recording of Dr. Crumpler’s talk!

Missions to Mars is a vivid insider account of NASA’s most exciting missions to the Red Planet, illustrated with full-color photographs.  This wondrous chronicle of unprecedented scientific discovery recounts the history of our understanding of Mars, from the earliest days of Earth-based telescopes to the breakthrough discoveries of today's technology.  The book also recounts the personal story of a scientist attempting to understand a brand new world.

The temporary exhibition Mars: Science and Culture shows unforgettable images taken by exploration spacecraft during the development of our understanding about Mars.  Movie posters and memorabilia interspersed throughout the exhibit show the fanciful and sometimes frightening ways in which Mars has been perceived in popular culture and science fiction.  Some of the objects come from Dr. Crumpler’s personal collection.

Any plans for this event may require changes due to public health orders and state policies at the time.  This may include postponing to a later day.  Be sure the check the museum’s website for updates: https://nmnaturalhistory.org

 

Larry S. Crumpler, Ph.D. is Research Curator of Volcanology and Space Sciences at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. He received his doctorate from the University of Arizona in Planetary Sciences and MS from the University of New Mexico in Geology.  Prior to the Museum, he worked as a research scientist at Brown University.  His research includes the geology of the inner planets of our solar system, with particular emphasis on Mars, and studies of New Mexico volcanism with an emphasis on lava flows. 

Dr. Crumpler began his work with Mars as a student intern with NASA’s Viking Mission and later worked with the Mars Pathfinder mission, Magellan radar mission to Venus, and planning for the Russian Mars 96 mission.  He has participated in landing site selection for all of the landed Mars science missions to date, and in many rover field tests.  He has published many professional papers, book chapters, and geologic maps and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. 

Currently, Dr. Crumpler is a member of the Perseverance Rover Mission science team and was a member of the development team for the Ingenuity helicopter.  Previously, he was a science team member on the Mars Exploration Rover (Spirit & Opportunity) mission, Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (HiRISE).  On the Mars Exploration Rover mission, he served as “Long-term Planning Lead” and downlinked information from the rovers on a daily basis from his office at the Museum.  On the Perseverance Mission he is responsible for geologic context mapping of the terrain traversed by the rover.

Price: 
$5 per person
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