Everybody has busy lives, but you can tell people, 'Go outside and look at the night sky. We've been able to demonstrate that every star you see probably has a planet around it.' Ellen Stofan busydemonstratehave Change image and share on social
As we visit Mars multiple times, we will build up infrastructure on the surface to expand the capabilities and reach of humans on Mars. Ellen Stofan buildcapabilityexpand Change image and share on social
Prior to Magellan, due to the fact that we knew it was so hot on Venus, we thought that the rocks at the surface would behave more plastically, more like Silly Putty than like solid rock in the way that we think of it, like the rocks that I'm sitting on. Ellen Stofan behaveduefact share on social
When you look at Venus and the Earth, they formed at about the same place in the solar system. They're made of about the same materials; they're about the same size. Ellen Stofan earthformmake Change image and share on social
Mars was this water-based planet, and we know there was stable water on the surface for a long time, which is critical for life having a chance to develop. Ellen Stofan basechancecritical Change image and share on social
We're going to understand that there is life on other bodies in the solar system. Ellen Stofan bodylifesolar Change image and share on social
Every time I give a talk, I ask the audience - especially if it's kids - how many want to go to Mars. At least half raise their hands. I don't think there's going to be any shortage of volunteers. Ellen Stofan audiencegivehalf Change image and share on social
As chief scientist, it's sort of my job to look at bridges between what we do and to see the connections. But when we try to understand how are planets around other stars habitable... to looking back at the Earth - how are the changes that are taking place, how are they going to affect humanity? Ellen Stofan affectbackbridge share on social
We want to make sure we get living astronauts to the surface of Mars. Ellen Stofan astronautlivemake Change image and share on social
We have to ask, 'How can we break a huge challenge like sending humans to Mars into a series of doable, affordable steps? How can we break that problem down into chunks in order to keep making progress?' Ellen Stofan affordablebreakchallenge share on social