Mars Exploration

Op-Ed

Mars Exploration

Dear Friends,

In the midst of my work to expand the zero tolerance policy for illegal aliens all the way to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and to open up drilling and production of domestic oil and gas fields, I am also working this week on the Appropriations Bills for Homeland Security and for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, NASA and Science. I am very passionate about balancing the budget while focusing our limited resources on the essentials like national security, border security, and critical infrastructure, but I never forget the vital importance of investing in medical and scientific research, including our nation's space program.

I am sending you this second e-mail in case you want to witness a very interesting event on Monday morning. At 10 a.m. CDT, if you log onto http://qik.com/johnculberson you will be able to watch me broadcast a portion of the weekly meeting of the Mars Rover scientists and engineers as they decide where and when they will drive the Opportunity Rover on the surface of the Red Planet. The Rover is on the edge of a huge crater which has exposed multiple layers of ancient Martian soil. The Mars Science Operating Working Group, led by Principal Investigator Steve Squyres, will review the latest data and photographs, decide and design the next moves of the spacecraft, and then run simulations with computer graphics to ensure the spacecraft can perform the movements without getting into trouble. (See marsrover.nasa.gov/home/index.html, look at the Opportunity Rover).

I will have the privilege of helping the scientists pick a target for the Rover to examine and analyze. In the weeks ahead I will be using the live video capabilities of this new cell phone technology to conduct live interviews around Capitol Hill with Members of Congress, and to take you into our magnificent Capitol building for architectural and historical tours. I am also using telephone town hall meetings, and beginning Tuesday, live Internet town hall meetings, to expand my communications with you so I can better represent you. I am trying to shine sunlight into as many corners of our Capitol as possible.

I hope you will be able to monitor my work with the Mars science team Monday morning, even for a few minutes, on your laptop or desktop computer, and join me on Tuesday for the nation's first live, interactive Internet town hall meeting. Thank you again for the privilege of representing you in Washington, D.C.

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