Zara Mirmalek | Making Time on Mars: How NASA Works Across Worlds | Talks at Google

TL;DR

NASA scientist shares insights from working on Mars Rover mission, highlighting challenges and solutions of operating on Mars time.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] MATT BONGIOVI: Hey, everyone. Thanks for being here. I'm Matt Bongiovi, and I am delighted to be joined today by Zara Mirmalek. Zara is a senior research scientist at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute and NASA Ames Research Center. She's also the author of "Making Time on Mars," a fascinating examination of how the daily... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥳 Operating on Mars time poses unique challenges due to the planet's longer day, impacting work schedules and human adaptation.
• 👾 NASA recruited Zara Mirmalek based on her expertise in ethnography and human-centered computing for the Mars Rover mission, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of space research.
• 😤 The mission involved intricate coordination between teams on Earth and Mars, emphasizing the importance of communication and adaptability in interplanetary work systems.
• 🎟️ Lessons learned from the Mars Rover mission are likely to inform future missions like the Perseverance Rover, showcasing the continuity of knowledge and experience within NASA.
• 👾 Managing fatigue and stress on long-duration space missions is crucial for the well-being and productivity of individuals working in challenging environments.
• 👾 The cultural norms and values within NASA play a significant role in shaping the work experiences and approaches of personnel involved in space exploration missions.
• 🤗 The importance of open dialogue, mental health support, and practical measures to address challenges faced by individuals working on space missions cannot be understated.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did NASA recruit Zara Mirmalek for the Mars Rover mission?

Zara was initially hired for a project at the NASA Ames Research Center, leading to her involvement in the Mars Rover mission due to her background in ethnography and human-centered computing.

Q: What role did Zara Mirmalek play in the Mars Rover mission?

Zara worked as an ethnographer, studying the cultural aspects of the mission's work system design to contribute to technology development and science operations workflow.

Q: What challenges did NASA face in coordinating work across different time zones on Mars and Earth?

NASA had to adjust to Martian time, which is slightly longer than Earth's, resulting in a complex schedule for the scientists and engineers working on the mission.

Q: How did NASA address the fatigue and stress issues faced by individuals working on the Mars Rover mission?

NASA provided an employee assistance program, encouraged open dialogue, and implemented measures like blackout curtains and Mars time watches to assist individuals in managing the challenges of operating on Mars time.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Zara Mirmalek, a NASA researcher, discusses her experience working on the Mars Rover mission and the challenges of operating on Mars time.

• The mission involved coordinating work across three sites on two planets with a unique schedule based on Mars' slower rotation.

• Insights gained include the importance of adaptability, teamwork, and the impact of working on a different celestial body.