Miguel San Martin was Chief engineer for successful mission Rover Curiosity in 2012
Photo: Mariana Haupenthal
The mysteries behind Mars awakens the curiosity of millions of people all over the world. This has propelled NASA engineer Miguel San Martin to devote a long time of his career to an ambitious project: to reach the surface of the Red Planet onboard of a robotic spaceship named Rover Curiosity.
A native of Argentina, San Martin, who holds a degree from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), came to PUCRS on early June for the UniversiDia. He took part in the conference and also delivered the lecture Rover Curiosity and the Seven Minutes of Terror for School of Technology students, as he described the USD 2,5 bi spent on the mission to get the largest Rover (950 Kg) to land safely and precisely on Mars.
Unprecedented mission
After so many failed attempts to explore the surface of Mars, including several countries over so many decades, the project joined by San Martin needed to find a different solution to lower the speed from 20,000 km/h – as it entered the atmosphere of the planet –, to zero. In only seven minutes, scientists and engineers needed to carry out a sequence of autonomous actions, as they reduced the speed, in order for the Rover and its fragile instruments to arrive safely on the ground.
The mission was successfully accomplished on Aug 5, 2012 and Rover Curiosity is still a reference for important discoveries in science. A new mission is being planned for 2020.
Multidisciplinary looks
When asked about his priorities if he was to return to academic life, San Martin said he would study Mathematics and Physics even more. “This is the advice I was given as a student and I still believe it is valid”, said he.
He also stressed the importance of enthusiasm and, above all, curiosity in every area. “In each operation we perform, we need the perspective from electrical, mechanical, chemical and computer engineers as well as many other specialties. Multidisciplinary looks are very important since they allow for more comprehensive discussions involving the different stages of the operation”, said San Martin.
Dreaming is believing
As the auditorium of building 32 reached its maximum occupancy, students from the different programs of the School of Technology listened to the San Martin very carefully as he described every step they took for the successful completion of the mission. Students had the chance to ask him about the things they study in class and learned what it is like to succeed in a career that began as a dream. “We need, more than anything, to believe that it is possible”, said the engineer.
Born in his family cottage in Villa Regina, Rio Negro, Northern Patagonia, San Martin grew up in Buenos Aires. After completing High School, he headed to the USA to pursue college studies and go on with his dream of contributing to space exploration by working for NASA.
Photo: Thais Gonçalves
He graduated in Electrical Engineering with honors from Syracuse University, and was awarded with the title of Engineering Student of the Year. He worked on his Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering and Astronautics at MIT with major in Orientation, Navigation and Control for interplanetary space exploration. Once he graduated, he was hired by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the NASA center specialized in interplanetary space exploration. He served as the head engineer for orientation, navigation and control for Rover Curiosity.
San Martin, his wife Susan and the Associate Dean of the School of Technology, Dr Marcelo Yamaguti, were welcomed at the Office for International Cooperation by the New Business and Negotiation Specialist, Dr Maria Elisabete Haase-Möllmann, and learned more about PUCRS and the movement 360º.