nasa calls this rover the mars science laboratory, or msl.t weighs about one metric ton, five times of mir. now, perhaps with the name science laboratory, instead of robotic geologist, the mir experience has clarified the true nature of the spacecraft as tools for the scientists. and perhaps this time they will place themselves more publicly in the driver's seat. died he will be sure there will be more poetry. like spirit and opportunity, msl has been personified by and the name, they call her curiosity. and perhaps you can already see how this will play out. thank you for your attention. [applause] >> thank you for that. we do have some of your questions already to share but we will continue to take -- were going to talk to another 20-25 minutes, added to ask if you have time constraint and need to leave, if you could do so by the back because it's much quieter that way. >> mentioned a book signing. >> the books and discussion are available in the gift shop which is why outside the door here, and you will be staying for signing. >> i will. a

these materials that are essential for life and that is -- nasa calls this the space laboratory or msl and has five times mer. perhaps with the name science laboratories. the experience has clarified the true nature if the spacecraft as tools for the scientists and perhaps this time they will place themselves more publicly in the driver's seat. they've been personified by a nickname. they call her curiosity. perhaps you can already see how this will play out. thank you for your attention. [applause] thank you for that. >> we do have some of your questions already but we will continue to take them. we are going to talk from another 20, 25 minutes if you can do so by the back because much quieter that we value to consider all the questions. >> you will be staying for signing. >> as a servant of the government i don't receive royalties so the price is very low and i hope you'll enjoy it. [laughter] >> let's talk a little bit about the idea that these machines have preceded us to mars is it still the target to put a human being there >> for short and it's surprising if you talk at all of t

>> what we would be able to do is with our increased capability on msl is we really get a sense for,ow, what kind of environment it was specifically that the water was present in. the was it there for a long period of time? we'll be able to do that a little bit better than we have in the past. but mostly we get a really good chemical assessment of how not only the water was present, but whether or not the environment can preserve organic compounds which is very important for us as a science community because when you stop short and ask the question about can you ever hope to someday find evidence for life on mars, you first have to look for the calling cards. traces, if you will. we call them chemo fossils, little bits of chemical evidence that suggest this is the kind of place you should go back to and look in more detail. and our hope is if we find such bits of chemical evidence, this would be the kind of place you'd want to go back to and do sample. you're going to want to go to progressively higher levels in your analysis. it's just the way we do it on earth. you never know kind