Kai asks: Can you see Earth at night, even just as a point of light?

Normally, Earth would appear as a small star-like object in the Martian sky. However since it is now summer on Mars (June 25th was the summer solstice on Mars), the sun does not set in the northern polar region where the Phoenix Lander is located. Therefore, Steve cannot spot Earth at the current time.

None-the-less, Steve hopes that everyone back on Earth is looking up at Mars while he is there.  Right now (late June 2008), on Earth, Mars is low in the west at dusk.  Click here for tips on observing Mars.

In March of 2004, the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit returned the first image of Earth ever taken from the surface of another planet.  

Earth from Mars, as viewed from the
Mars Exploration Rover Spirit.

Sherrie asks: What is happening with oven 4?

Oven 4 had an issue with clumpy soil clogging the protective screen covering the port that leads to the oven.  The screen is designed to prevent larger bits of soil from clogging the narrow port so that fine particles fill the oven cavity.  Since Steve was brought up using clumping litter, he was very familiar with the phenomenon and was able to free the clump and get the sample into the oven.  Steve commented that this is exactly why cats are better than machines for exploring the universe!

Clumpy martian soil rests on the screen over an open sample-delivery
door of Phoenix's Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA). The screen
is designed to prevent clogging a pathway to a tiny oven inside.

Almas asks: How did you learn to read English?

Steve was home schooled by his humans.   Since his humans did not completely understand cat language (none do), Steve decided to learn English.

Did you enjoy the astrocat training?

Steve loved the challenge of his astrocat training.  It was a lot of hard work but the result is that he is now fulfilling his dream on Mars. 

Harriet Asks:  Did you bring books to keep yourself busy on the trip?

Steve has always been an avid reader.  Early favorites were Puss in Boots, The Cat in the Hat, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  In the preparation for his trip he digitized some of his current favorites including The Cat Who… series by Lillian Braun, which is a mystery series that has 2 Siamese cats that help solve crimes.

Bridget asks:  How many languages do you speak?

Steve’s primary language is English, although he does know some Russian.  Part of his astrocat training involved learning the basics of piloting a Soyuz spacecraft, along with his Shuttle training. 

Steve helps with the hatch during a flight
simulation in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Do you get messages from lots of countries?

When Steve landed on Mars he received messages of congratulations from 87 different countries.

Jeanett asks: Did you have movies to watch on your trip?

Yes, Steve brought many of his favorite movies including the classic cat tale Born Free, The Aristocats, Duma, That Darn Cat, Thomasina, The Lion King, and The Cat From Outer Space. He also brought along the entire Star Trek series, including the Next Generation episodes with the character Data and his cat named Spot.

 

Makayla asks: Was the trip hard and was it scary?

Steve trained for several hard years for the Phoenix mission. It was, however, a labor of love for him since he has always wanted to visit Mars.  Following your dreams is more a matter of commitment than hardship. 

The mission did have its scary moments.  Steve commented that liftoff was more frightening than a vacuum cleaner, and he actually extended his claws while landing on Mars. 

ML asks: You mentioned that the Martian surface resembles a litter box. How are you disposing of your kitty "poop" inside the Phoenix Lander?

Very carefully, since the delicate science instruments on Phoenix must not be contaminated with organic material.  Steve has an additional oven on board to incinerate his waste products.  The heat produced is used to warm his living space and generate electricity.

Cecilia asks:  Is it cool up in space?

Yes, it is very cool in space.  In the polar region of Mars where Steve is located the daily temperature ranges from -20 degrees Fahrenheit to well under -100 degrees Fahrenheit! 

The Canadian weather station on Phoenix is measuring pressure and
temperature, assessing local climate patterns as well
as dust, clouds, and fog in the lower atmosphere.

On the other hand, being on Mars is the most incredible experience that a cat could ever ask for, which is VERY cool!

How old were you when you became an astrocat?

Steve was 2 years old when he started his astrocat training.     

Reggie asks: How about hitting a golf ball toward Earth?

Since Alan Sheppard did the golf ball thing on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission, Steve has elected to do his own unique stunt on this trip.  Stay tuned!

Beau & Ruby ask: Steve, on a more serious note, we (my sister and I) would appreciate any information you could give us regarding the training you received, the cost associated with this training, where the training took place, what did they give you to eat and the sleeping arrangements. It sounds like the purrfect occupation for both my sister and I. Thank you in advance for this information

Steve trained in Houston at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), in California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and in Arizona at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.  Academic study included classes in space systems, rocket propulsion, mouse dynamics, geology, meteorology, sea food preparation, guidance & navigation, orbital dynamics, biology, napping, astronomy, physics and behavior of cats in a vacuum.  Steve also trained in simulated weightlessness aboard a KC-135 jet aircraft and built up aircraft hours by flying in NASA's fleet of T-38 jets.   He also spent long hours at the Lockheed Martin Plant in Denver while the Phoenix Lander was being built, serving as a consultant for spacecraft systems and litter box integration. 

Steve applied for, and was awarded, a Feline Training Grant which was designed for “any cat that could actually be trained to take instructions from a human.”  The grant paid for every bit of his training.  12,328 cats applied for the funding and Steve beat them all because he actually followed the instructions.

During his training Steve slept in standard NASA issued kitty beds.

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