UMass geologist helping prepare for Mars missions
As a young pilot, Christopher Condit helped transport geologists and crew members working on NASA's Apollo missions.
Now the University of Massachusetts-Amherst professor and field geologist is putting his skills to work helping train the next generation of astronauts and scientists.
Condit is spending two weeks in northern Arizona's San Francisco volcanic field working with dozens of other scientists and engineers developing manned rovers that could one day tour the surface of the moon or Mars.
Condit's role is to keep an eye on the rovers and to evaluate how the on-board geologists are succeeding.
Condit says he has no doubt that humans will continue to reach beyond their home planet, and he is glad to play a role in preparing for that time.
