Planetary Science and Remote Sensing

Lynn Carter, a research space scientist at Goddard, discusses her work in planetary geology, comparing Earth's erosive processes with other planets like the Moon, Mars, and Venus. She explains her daily tasks, including image analysis and fieldwork in Hawaii and Arizona, using radar to study planetary surfaces. Lynn highlights the use of radar remote sensing to explore Mars' polar caps and the Moon's impact cratering. She expresses interest in future research, particularly the divergent evolution of Earth and Venus.

What is Lynn Carter's role at Goddard?

• Astronaut

• Research space scientist

• Meteorologist

• Astrophysicist

Which planet's surface is much older due to lack of erosive processes?

• Venus

• Moon

• Mars

• Earth

What tool does Lynn Carter use during fieldwork to study lava flows?

• Telescope

• Seismograph

• Ground-penetrating radar

• Spectrometer

What can radar remote sensing reveal about Mars' polar caps?

• Magnetic field strength

• Atmospheric composition

• Layering within the polar caps

• Surface temperature

What is one of the main focuses of future planetary science research?

• The size of Jupiter

• The divergent evolution of Earth and Venus

• The distance of Pluto from the Sun

• The color of Saturn's rings