Curiosity and Beyond: Exciting Developments in NASA's Unmanned Space Program

Lecture delivered at Humboldt State University on September 6, 2012 by Dr. Greg Davis, Chief Technologist for the Mechanical Systems Division. Part of the Sustainable futures speaker series sponsored by the Schatz Energy Research Center and the Environment and Community Program.There have been many exciting developments in NASA's unmanned space program recently, the most recent of which being Curiosity's impressive Martian landing on August 5, 2012. In this seminar, Dr. Davis will share the latest news regarding Curiosity's nascent explorations, as well as recount highlights from over the last 24 months of the two planetary encounters and five new missions that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, NASA's lead center for unmanned robotic exploration of the solar system and beyond has managed. This talk will provide an overview of the key science, engineering, and technology features of these exciting missions, and conclude with some of the speaker's perspectives on future directions in space exploration