NASA. The ‘rover’ Curiosity landing on Mars in August 2012 and since then, the space agency has been reporting on time for each of their progress, which has alternated with various anecdotes about his trip to the Red Planet. Some of the first results of his mission have already been released have been preceded by rumors and great expectations, which led to some disappointment. The trickle of information about the mission of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), your full name, perhaps eclipse the importance of the results presented this week the journal Science.
special, meets five investigations in which two hundred participating researchers and which contains the main scientific achievements during his exploration rover Gale Crater. Some of them are confirmations ‘in situ’ of results obtained earlier missions had not robotic.
‘rover’ has been, for example, able to determine the percentage of water in the first sign that the instrument analyzed using SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). “One of the most exciting results of the first solid sample of ‘Curiosity’ is the high percentage of water in the soil. About 2% of the soil in the area is water , which is a data source and scientifically interesting, “explains the study’s lead author, Laurie Leshin, adding that these results are” just the beginning “.
sample analyzed in this study, involving 34 researchers, is made up of dirt and dust collected in a sandy area known as Rocknest. The sample was heated to a temperature of 835 ° C, allowing to determine which also contains chlorine and oxygen, probably chlorate or perchlorate, which was detected in other areas of Mars. Analysis also suggests presence of carbonaceous materials, which are formed in the presence of water .
The finding of ‘Curiosity’, says Leshin, will have implications for future human explorers on Mars: “Now we know that there should be abundant and easily accessible water on Mars . When we send people there, could dig into the surface to take samples and get warm water, “suggests the researcher.
Water for astronauts
and other
Although previous studies have suggested the presence of water on Mars (even this mission researchers presented interim analysis of samples taken by the ‘rover’) “and the result was expected” Alberto G. Fairén, program scientist for NASA’s Mars vehicles and Cornell University, highlights “how important it is to confirm the predictions with analysis ‘in situ’, especially when it comes to planetary exploration.”
Jake_M rock sample. | NASA
“Most previous studies were based on orbital observations, geomorphological and geochemical both. ‘Curiosity’ has analyzed materials collected directly from the surface . probe ‘Phoenix’ did something similar years ago but SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) is a much more precise instrument to perform these measurements. And is important to differentiate between the results presented at a conference and the results published in a magazine under review “details Fairén to ELMUNDO.es via email.
Scientists believe
frequent dust storms on Mars have made in the layer covering the surface of Mars are mixed materials of different areas so that a sample as analyzed by ‘Curiosity’ is like a microscopic collection of rocks around the globe: “Finding out information in an area get information from around the globe,” said Leshin.
Origin
basaltic
Two other studies
collected in ‘Science’ are focused on the source material basaltic ‘Rocknest’. The team led by David Bish suggests that 71% of this material has a basaltic origin while the study led by David Blake using an X-ray technique suggests that the percentage would be 55%.
“The basaltic origin of the surface materials of Mars was already known from previous research. ‘Curiosity’ confirms this trend, pointing either to a similar origin Gale’s surface relative to other sites discussed above , or because the surface materials are very mixed evenly throughout the planet. The second option is consistent with what we know about the surface processes on Mars, “explains Fairén.
Rock Jake_M
The second sample analyzed by NASA’s vehicle is a rock named in honor of the engineer Jake_M Jake Matijevic. As detailed in another study, this is the first time to discover this type of rock on Mars, which is similar to mugearitas there on our planet: “Jake_M is an igneous rock formed from magmas that were subjected to great pressure and in the presence of water, ie, very similar to the magmas of oceanic islands of the Earth “, explains the Spanish scientist.
regarding life on Mars, Fairén not believe that these results reinforce the idea that Mars was habitable “We knew that Mars was habitable for a long time at the beginning of your story . much discovery is highlighted by ‘Curiosity’ in an aqueous environment is not overly acidic or salty Gale Crater, as opposed to the land that has been studying the rover ‘Opportunity’ for the past nine years at Meridiani, which themselves are acids. But we know many places on Earth with similar characteristics to Meridiani that are inhabited by dense and diverse communities. Therefore, the study of Meridiani, and the discovery of aqueous environments there in the past, but they were acid, it was sufficient proof of the habitability of Mars early in its history, “he explains.
scientist also highlights how effective it is proving combine operations of the two rovers’ , ‘Opportunity, which is still in operation, and’ Curiosity ‘: “During the last half a year’ Opportunity ‘land has been looking very similar to Gale crater, and acid or salt. Another important point is the dating of both places, for two reasons: both are contemporary, Hesperian period, indicating a high diversity and environmental variability on Mars during that time, and that diversity is very important from the point of view of habitability . Moreover, Mars had enclaves with circumneutral pH water for long periods at the beginning of its history. This is a result of enormous importance, “he concludes.
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