Northwestern Experts on Sending Man to Moon and Mars

Mark S. Robinson, research associate professor of geological sciences, is available to comment on President Bush's plan, once unveiled, to establish a moon base and to send humans to Mars. Robinson worked on the Clementine Mission to the Moon in 1994 that acquired the first global high-resolution digital multispectral map. More recently, through NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics research program, he has been involved in several projects interpreting the lunar surface. "I have long hoped that the U.S. would send both more robotic and manned missions to the moon to better understand lunar geology, solar system formation and the evolution of the terrestrial planets," said Robinson. Fred W. Turek, professor of neurobiology and physiology, is available to discuss sending humans to Mars. Through the National Space Biological Research Institute (NSBRI), he conducts NASA-funded research dealing with the manned space program and the effects of long-duration space travel on humans. Turek, who has served on a number of NASA-related committees, was on the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/NRC) Committee of Space Biology and Medicine from 1987 to 1994 and also was a member of the NAS/NRC Space Studies Board. He currently is a board member of the University Space Research Association.