No longer just pretending, Cornell students greet landing with elation -- and exhaustion

Cornell members of the rover panoramic camera, Pancam, team, review data from Spirit at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. From left, program analyst Jonathan Joseph, mission planner Jon Proton (in green shirt) and Cornell graduates Miles Johnson and Alex Hayes. Copyright © Cornell University Click on the image for a high-resolution version (1800 x 1200 pixels, 704K)

PASADENA, Calif. ---- Elation -- and exhaustion -- showed on the faces of Cornell students on the rover science team during interviews in the mission control building at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) shortly after the landing of the Spirit rover was confirmed late Saturday night.

Astronomy graduate student Zoe Learner, who has served as the science team's documentarian, said she felt "ecstatic" and "elated." Even so, she added, "I just keep thinking how I feel and trying to magnify it. I've been working on the mission for a year and a half, while others have been involved for years and years."

"This is one of the most incredible moments of my life," the rover diarist said.

Cornell astronomy professor Steven Squyres, leader of the rover science team, and his colleagues will be relying on the expertise of many graduate and undergraduate students during the Martian exploration by the rovers Spirit and Opportunity in the months ahead. Most will be working long, tense hours at JPL, the mission's manager.

The rover's landing "was the longest 12 minutes of my entire life," said Cornell physics undergraduate Chase Million who has been working on the calibration of Spirit's Cornell-developed panoramic camera, the Pancam "It was really hot in the room during those 12 minutes, but the moments were punctuated with giddiness." There was nothing he could compare it to, he added.

There was almost a sense of unreality as the rover entered the Martian atmosphere, the students agreed. They had prepared for their mission with many practices, Learner said. "In comes up on you so quick and you're there," Million added. "It silences you."

Heather Arneson, who graduated in mechanical engineering in 2002 and is a member of the Pancam operations team, said she was "really excited" to be part of the Mars mission, which is expected to send back to Earth the clearest and most detailed images yet of the planet's surface.

"We have practiced and practiced for this so much that it's difficult to believe we are actually there," said Elaina McCartney, a Cornell mission planner for the rover's science package. Agreed her colleague Jon Proton, also a Cornell mission planner, "It's weird to think we're no longer pretending."

"I've been working with Steve (Squyres) since the beginning," said astronomy staff member Diane Bollen. "I can't even begin to tell you what it feels like," she said, smiling. "There's just a rush of emotion. It feels incredibly good -- and to have it (the landing) be so perfect, too."

The Cornell students nodded in agreement. There was nothing more to say as they savored the victorious moment, and gathered their strength for the days and weeks to come when they will be living on Mars time and analyzing data that will make scientific -- and human -- history.

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