San Diego Represented on Mars

Local scientists help land NASA’s Curiosity Rover on Mars Sunday night

Six local scientists will join NASA on what’s being called its most ambitious mission yet – landing a robot on the planet Mars.

The $2.5 billion Curiosity Rover mission project was made possible in part by researchers and scientists who attended SDSU. The alum are participating in tasks ranging from mechanical engineers to a spacecraft navigator.

Jordan Evans, for example, studied aerospace engineering at SDSU and will be in master control when the rover lands on Mars Sunday night at about 10:30 p.m.

Mark Ryne received his bachelor’s degree in astronomy and has worked at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory in Pasadena for 25 years.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center will be showing a live stream of the Mars Rover Landing on Sunday, in addition to other Mars-themed events throughout the weekend.

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