As part of the support team for the Mastcam-Z on board the Perseverance rover, Eleni loves seeing Mars images that feel alien, yet oddly similar to some landscapes on Earth.

On the Perseverance rover's science team, Joseph is involved with trying to identify any organic compounds on Mars. It makes sense, since his childhood fascination was space and the search for life.

Not many people can say they've helped make oxygen on Mars, but for Michael it's one of many accomplishments in a career full of challenges that engage the mind.

Usha's childhood dream was to join the Indian Foreign Service, but a sense of wonder and a love of sci-fi put her on a path to NASA. Now she says she's a liaison not just to other countries, but to other planets!

Mary is thrilled to be part of the human tradition of exploration, especially of her favorite planet, Mars. Her view of studying other worlds: "We'll never know what we're missing until we go."

When not working at JPL, Dave enjoys taking his telescope to the streets of Pasadena — as conditions permit — to give the public a peek at some of the cosmic treasures overhead.