Tucked away within the walls of UCLA's new Science and Technology Research Building is an inner sanctum tagged the UCLA Mars Science Operations Center -- home base for running gadgets aboard Mars Polar Lander.
The place is a busy hub of "science speak" and its attendant culture, with the center stocked with humming computer gear, large TV screens, scattered boxes of ginger snaps, a guitar and a calendar counting down to the landing. A sign also is posted that simply notes: "We Dig Mars".
Ruling this lively roost is planetary scientist David Paige, principal investigator of Mars Polar Lander's package of science instruments called the Mars Volatiles and Climate Surveyor (MVACS).
Polar Lander is headed for the layered terrain of the planet's south pole. A visit to Paige's office reveals a unique stratum of its own. Scattered tiers of electronic gadgets and tennis shoes are mixed in with stacks of books, magazines and scientific papers. Even a somewhat fresh banana peel peeks out.
"We've got about 75 people on average working here," Paige said. "There are different teams from around the world," he proudly adds.
Adjacent to the nerve center of operations, a full-scale Mars Polar Lander clone sits inside a 300-square-foot sandbox. For backdrop, Paige contributed a hand-snapped original -- a large blow-up of an Antarctic dry valley.
"We put this robot together ourselves," he said. "We use it for the simulations which are continuous. Everyone is working like crazy and it has a momentum of its own that takes you through the tough parts. It's been very impressive to see that."
Space.com recently talked with Paige at his Mars shop.
Q: What's it like to be in the thick of a space mission?
Paige: There is a tremendous amount of work involved. And it all has to be done by a particular time. We're used to working at deadlines. There is such a crushing amount of stuff to do, and it is continuous. There is no let-up. Anytime you let things slide for a little while, it always comes back to bite you.
Q: What do you consider the toughest aspect of the mission?
Paige: Especially after the Mars Climate Orbiter, it's the interfaces that are the real scary thing, making sure that everybody is really marching to the same tune here. It's because the project is distributed and there are large numbers of people involved. That is a real tough job.
Q: Due to the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter, everybody is jittery about Mars Polar Lander. Aren't you under intense scrutiny and working in a fishbowl now?
Paige: If those looking in on us find problems, it is helpful. It means more work for everybody. But we're willing to put in the extra work to make sure that we're successful. We owe it to the taxpayers to be as successful as we possibly can. I would hope that if we aren't successful that it wouldn't have dire, dire controversies. We will work very hard to try and get as successful a mission as we possibly can. That's all we can focus on.
Q: What's that first day like, once you've landed?
Paige: The lander is pre-programmed. After landing it goes through a series of steps, almost in wind-up mode. It'll open up its solar arrays, communicate with Earth, take pictures and do observations, and deploy the robotic arm. That's pretty much it for the first day. It will then sleep, making sure it survives the night.
Q: The total lifetime of Mars Polar Lander is how long?
Paige: We have three months. Could be shorter, could be a little longer. We have a mission that will become more interesting, we think, as it goes along. We are kind of racing against time, just like anybody who lives for only three months would be.
Q: What aspect of this mission is the most exciting element for you?
Paige: It's the ice. If we found water ice underneath the surface, that would be very exciting. It would tell us a lot about what the rest of Mars is like.
Q: And your views on the prospect for life on Mars?
Paige: I've got an open mind. We are exploring. We have to keep open to all kinds of possibilities.
Q: You've long pushed for this type of mission to the poles. What things are needed to open the door wider at Mars, in terms of future exploration capabilities?
Paige: We've got to vastly improve the quality of the kinds of vehicles that we send to Mars. Keeping a lander working for years and years would mean a lot more interesting science than working there for a month. We've got to work on real basic things. Things like, how do we get the power we need? How to get significant mobility on Mars, not just a little bit of crawling along the surface? Getting more capable vehicles that can really explore the planet and its science. That is where the real payoff is going to be. There are abundant opportunities for missions. It's a great time to be involved in this. I feel very lucky.
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