Curiosity is shown in this context mosaic view of the Yellowknife Bay basin taken on Jan. 26 (Sol 169) where the robot is currently working.
The robotic arm is pressing down on the surface at John Klein outcrop of veined hydrated minerals - dramatically backdropped with her
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ken Kremer/Marco Di Lorenzo
ultimate destination; Mount Sharp.
organisms,” said Paul Mahaffy,
principal investigator of the SAM
suite of instruments at NASA’s
Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Md.
“The rock drilling capability is a
significant advancement. It allows
us to go beyond the surface layer of
the rock, unlocking a time capsule
of evidence about the state of
Mars going back three or four billion
years,” said Louise Jandura of JPL
and Curiosity’s chief engineer for the
sampling system. “Using our roving
geologist, Curiosity, the scientists
can choose the rock, get inside
the rock and deliver the powdered
sample to instruments on the rover
for analysis.”
The high powered drill was the
last of Curiosity’s 10 state-of-the-art
instruments still to be checked out
and put into full operation.
The discovery of phyllosilicates
on the floor of Gale crater was
unexpected, and has delighted
the scientists. Based on spectral
observations from Mars orbit.
Grotzinger told me previously
that phyllosilicates had only been
detected in the lower reaches of
Mount Sharp, the three mile (5 km)
high mountain that is Curiosity’s
ultimate destination.
Finding the phyllosilicates so soon
at Yellowknife Bay is a tribute to the
team and validates the selection of
Gale Crater as the landing site.
Grotzinger said that Curiosity
The little rover that could
Opportunity still
making discoveries
Today, Opportunity celebrates a
truly unfathomable achievement,
entering Year 10 on Mars since she
rolled to a bumpy stop on January
24, 2004. Now she’s at a super sweet
spot for science loaded with clays
and veined minerals and making
the most remarkable findings yet
about the planets watery past
- building upon a long string of
unthinkable discoveries due to her
totally unforeseen longevity.
“Regarding achieving nine years,
I never thought we’d achieve nine
months!” said Principal Investigator
Prof. Steve Squyres of Cornell
University. “Every sol is a gift for our
priceless assets on Mars.”
As of April 1, Opportunity has
exceeded 3200 Sols, or Martian
days. She is now 111 months into
the three-month primary mission that’s 37 times longer than the 90
day “warranty.” The rover remains
healthy, has snapped over 178,000
images and driven over 22 miles marking the f irst overland expedition
on another planet.
By Ken Kremer
Nine years ago, NASA’s pair of
identical twin Martian sisters - Spirit &
Opportunity - bounced to daunting
airbag-cushioned
landings
on
opposite sides of the Red Planet for
what was supposed to be merely 90
day missions.
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