Blog archive
April 2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
MARS - THE RED PLANET
By Blog MasterPosted: 05/25/2021
On May 13th Louis Friedman, Director Emeritus of the Pasadena Planetary Society, presented a program on Mars for Village and community members. He began by acknowledging a special fondness for the little Red Planet; he had led the NASA Mars program in the 1970’s. He spoke with authority. He talked with the ease of a man with experience.
Mars has been subjected to an invasion from Earth. There have been many missions from many countries that have set their eyes on that planet. He questioned, “Why does Man struggle to do it? Why go to Mars?” He then answered his own question.
Mars has an irresistible appeal to humans. Although Venus is the closest planet to Earth the air there is toxic. It would be impossible for humans to survive there. Whereas Mars, on the other side of earth, draws on our search for life outside earth. And, although the air is heavily laden with carbon dioxide, the air also contains some oxygen. Mars lures us to its surface with the possibility of finding that life did at one time exist there and life may still be there near some of the water sources.
Studies indicate that at one time Mars did have water on the surface. There are rock configurations that could only have been carved out by water. The water that exists now is underground. It appears that at some point in its history, the air on Mars became too light to hold the water down against the surface allowing the water to fly off the planet into space. Underground water was not lost and is now the only water remaining on the planet.
Currently, the three major Mars explorers include the United States, United Arab Emirates and China, the only countries that have managed successful landings on Mars. The United States NASA program has a long history of missions to Mars, with many successful landings and exploration of sections of land. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), new to Mars missions, is creating a place for itself in the global community by emerging as a science and tech country in the Middle East. China, whose Mars landing took place on May 15, is using its Mars missions as a way to position itself as a world leader.
Historically, our current space age is in a period comparable to Earth’s 16th century when ships from across the many countries of Europe sailed the oceans looking for New Worlds. Countries are once again looking for new worlds, this time worlds in space. The program included beautiful pictures of the Martian landscapes, and potential landing spots for earthly visitors. Videos of the recent landing of the NASA Perseverance Rover featured descriptions of the range of robots and drones that will be used to gather samples of rocks and soil on the planet. Over time samples will be gathered and placed in piles in an organized manner where they can be packaged and brought home to earth by subsequent missions for evaluation and study, probably 10 or more years from now. Extensive protocols have been put in place to protect against contamination of Mars by our robots and tools. At this time all are sanitized before landing. When bringing materials back home to Earth in the future, similar protocols will be in place to protect Earth against any contaminants from Mars.
Humans are intrigued by the possibility that life has existed on Mars. And the search is ever on to determine whether any life continues to exist on the planet. Why the fascination with Mars?
Humans are advancing the research for life beyond the earth hoping to arrive at a conclusion to the question … will Man on Earth be limited to a life on one planet or will humans recognize the reality that there is some other space where humans can live and confirm their existence as multi-planet phenomenon? Today, man is looking for new worlds that can sustain life; looking for the possibility of life; looking for a place that could be called home to humankind.
Thank you to Louis Friedman for a remarkable presentation.
Thank you to sponsor Clifford Swan, Investment Counselors, for sponsoring this interesting and informative program for Village members and community visitors.
Esther Gillies