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Steven Squyres      

Scientific Investigator, NASA

Steve Squyres' research focuses on the robotic exploration of planetary surfaces, the history of water on Mars, geophysics and tectonics of icy satellites, tectonics of Venus, planetary gamma-ray and x-ray spectroscopy. Research for which he is best known includes study of the history and distribution of water on Mars and of the possible existence and habitability of a liquid water ocean on Europa.

Prof. Squyres has participated in a number of planetary spaceflight missions. From 1978 to 1981 he was an associate of the Voyager imaging science team, participating in analysis of imaging data from the encounters with Jupiter and Saturn. He was a radar investigator on the Magellan mission to Venus, a member of the Mars Observer gamma-ray spectrometer flight investigation team, and a co-investigator on the Russian Mars '96 mission. Dr. Squyres is currently the scientific Principal Investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover Project. He is also a co-investigator on the Mars Express mission, and on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment. He is a member of the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer Flight Investigation Team for the Mars Odyssey mission, and a member of the imaging team for the Cassini mission to Saturn.

Speech Topics


Assembling the Right Team for Your Mission

Fostering Innovation Under Tight Constraints

The History of Exploration

The Spirit and Opportunity of Mars

Working in Changing Environments: Effective Decision-making

Lessons of Leadership from Mars

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From Concept to Completion: Executing a $800 Million Project

The Mars Project: How Design & Innovation Got Us There

In January of 2004, twin robotic explorers named Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars. Expected to last for 90 days, the two rovers have now been exploring the Martian surface for more than six years. The development of Spirit and Opportunity required a team of more than 4,000 highly motivated engineers and scientists who overcame a host of technical challenges – challenges that were multiplied by an extraordinarily tight schedule literally driven by the alignment of the planets. Join Dr. Squyres while he tells the fascinating story of Spirit and Opportunity's initial conception through development, and the design process that led to such extraordinary performance, launch, landing, and six years of exploration on Mars.

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