Have you ever wondered what it would be like to control a laser on another planet? Dr. Nina Lanza does exactly that as a planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she leads the ChemCam instrument on NASA's Curiosity rover.

With infectious enthusiasm, Nina takes us through her remarkable journey from a space-obsessed child who dreamed of "working on a spaceship with lasers" to a scientist who commands rovers on Mars. Her story reminds us that passion and persistence can transform seemingly impossible dreams into reality.

The conversation explores what planetary scientists actually do day-to-day and why studying Martian rocks matters. Nina explains the difference between Curiosity's mission to assess Mars' habitability and Perseverance's hunt for signs of ancient life, offering fascinating insights into how these rovers gather data using sophisticated laser technology that can analyze rocks from a distance.

Perhaps most captivating is Nina's firsthand account of the Curiosity rover's launch and landing. She vividly describes the anxiety of watching years of work blast off into space and the heart-stopping "seven minutes of terror" as the rover attempted its unprecedented landing using a sky crane system that had never been fully tested. These moments of scientific triumph come alive through her personal narrative.

Nina also dismantles stereotypes about scientists, confessing she "wasn't particularly good at school" and secured her first Mars job through relentless enthusiasm rather than perfect credentials. Her message is clear and encouraging: follow what you love learning about, and you'll find your path regardless of your starting point or age.

As we stand at the threshold of potentially discovering evidence of life beyond Earth, Nina makes a compelling case for continued investment in Mars exploration, particularly the Mars Sample Return mission. Her story exemplifies how human curiosity, persistence, and collaboration can extend our reach beyond our home planet and potentially answer one of humanity's most profound questions: are we alone in the universe?

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