....from across the nation the chance to work with the scientists of the Mars Exploration Rover Project (MER). Their mentor is Steve Squyres from Cornell University, the Principal Science Investigator for MER. The NASA New York Space Grant supported their trip to Pasadena for the Landing of Spirit Mars Exploration Rover.

"The experience of being with the Mars Exploration Rover science team on landing night left us with several recollections...Being in the midst of 150 scientists who have been working on this project for several years was awe-inspiring. There was sweat, tears, applause, and lots of smiles and twinkling eyes. Everyone was stunned," says Marilou Bebak, a biology teacher at Nardin Academy. She continues, "The first thrill was witnessing entry, descent and landing of Spirit, and getting the signal from the rover that it landed safely. The second thrill was getting spectacular images from the surface of Mars just two hours later."

Above is a picture of Marylou, Kristen, and Katie with a model of the Mars Rover (picture by Emily Dean). Thanks to the Cornell Athena Website for pictures and content.

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