Doctoral Dissertation Research: When Worlds Collide: Terrestrial Places and Outer Spaces

本论文的研究探讨了行星科学家的实践和科学论据，表明地方的概念是理解地外景观的基础。为此，博士生丽莎梅塞里将研究如何三个空间科学界采用不同的实践方法，以实现同一目标：生产有关其他行星的知识。使用人种学方法，梅塞里跟踪研究活动的麻省理工学院的天文学家，美国宇航局艾姆斯行星地质学家，和火星沙漠研究站（MDRS）的模拟参与者。 她认为，地方对这些社区中的每一个都有重要的作用，并塑造了他们研究外层空间的方式。 行星作为科学研究的对象，被转化为可以探索和绘制地图的世界;这些世界更像是地球上的亲戚，而不是外星人。 麻省理工学院的天文学家研究其他太阳系中的行星，将光子的数值转换为具有大气和天气的复杂世界，将位置元素和熟悉感注入这些遥远的物体。 美国宇航局的行星地质学家和火星协会MDRS的工作人员没有在太空中创造一个类似地球的地方，而是在地球上创造了类似外星景观的空间。 位于加州莫菲特场的美国宇航局艾姆斯的行星地质学家在莫哈韦沙漠、黄石国家公园和其他地质景点进行实地研究，目的是了解更多关于火星、金星或木星卫星的特征。 在犹他州的圣拉斐尔沙漠，火星协会已经建立了一个永久的栖息地，供参与为期两周的任务的人居住。 这些参与者模拟了早期火星殖民地的一部分，负责对外星环境进行地质调查。 模拟成员想象他们是在火星上，看到他们的栖息地以外的景观作为火星的地方，而不是作为犹他州。 这个项目超越了质疑地方在科学中的作用，就实验室和领域而言，而是质疑地方制造过程如何与知识创造相结合。

This dissertation research explores the practice and scientific arguments of planetary scientists, suggesting that the concept of place is fundamental to understanding extraterrestrial landscapes. To do so, doctoral candidate Lisa Messeri will examine how three space science communities employ different methods of practice to achieve the same goal: producing knowledge about other planets. Using ethnographic methods, Messeri tracks research activities of MIT astronomers, NASA Ames planetary geologists, and Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) simulation participants. She suggests that place has an important role for each of these communities and shapes how they study outer space. Planets, as scientific objects, are transformed into worlds that can be explored and mapped; worlds that are more like terrestrial kin than alien others. Astronomers at MIT studying planets in other solar systems, transform numerical counts of photons into complex worlds with atmospheres and weather, imbuing elements of place and thus familiarity onto these distant objects. Instead of creating an Earth-like place in space, NASA planetary geologists and crews of Mars Society's MDRS create spaces on Earth that resemble extraterrestrial landscapes. Planetary geologists at NASA Ames in Moffett Field California conduct field research in Mojave Desert, Yellowstone National Park, and other locations of geologic interest with the intent of learning more about features on Mars, Venus, or the moons of Jupiter. In Utah's San Rafael Desert, the Mars Society has built a permanent habitat occupied by participants on two-week long missions. These participants simulate the experience of being part of an early Martian colony charged with conducting geologic surveys of the alien environment. Simulation members imagine they are on Mars, seeing the landscape outside their habitat as a Martian place, not as Utah. This project moves beyond questioning the role of place in science with respect to the laboratory and field, questioning instead how processes of place-making occur in conjunction with knowledge creation.