GRANT ENABLES MARS RESEARCH NASA emblems and photographs of Mars decorated the walls of Professor of Physical Science Dr. Ed Wilson's office. His excitement was visible as he talked about the grant that NASA provided Harding. In October 2003, NASA notified Wilson that he would be awarded money to research laser sensors for space application, and a year later Wilson received the money. For three years NASA allotted $672,000 for the research project. Wilson worked with professors from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and science students at Harding for this task. Wilson said the main goal was to develop a spectroscopy system for survey, detection and measurement of biogeniCgases at the surface of Mars. "This is the perfect laboratory for the beginning of space exploration/' Wilson said. "Mars is the only planet with a remote possibility of supportinp life." Wilson s students developed in labs a model of the chamber that was used to measure the Martian atmosphere. The instrument inside the chamber was able to detect the isotopic ratios of key gases that enabled some form of life, Wilson said. As part of his research for the project, freshman C.). Rivenbark said he fired more than 70 rockets. "1looked at the spectrum of a rocket engine and used that to calibrate our devices," he said. "We'll use that to detect gases in the atmosphere in Mars." Senior Hillary Kennington said she was glad she got to experience the art of research. "I also ran rocket tests," she said. "But the research experience was great, especially if you are going into the medical field." Wilson said the chamber and instrument would go to the Arctic where it would be tested by astrobiologists. "We will have this working model that will detect signs of life in the Arctic, which we know exist/' Wilson said. After the working model was successful. hopefully, Wilson said that a real chamber of the working model would be placed on the Rover that would go to space for a 2009 mission. Although he previously worked for the space program, Rivenbark s.:,id he was grateful to be a part of another NASA project. "It's exciting," he said. "I love working for NASA. Tha~s what! want to do when I get older, because working for NASA means you're on the cutting edge." ~BRI()(jET (LARK ACADEMICS - 184
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