NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered a mineral-rich area of Mount Sharp years before the Curiosity rover landed in 2010. Since then, scientists have eagerly awaited further examination of the terrain.
According to a NASA press release, more than a decade after landing on Mars, the Curiosity rover has finally reached the “sulfate-bearing unit” of Mount Sharp. It has been speculated that the “long-sought-after” region, rich in salty minerals, formed as Mars’ climate dried out.
When the rover landed, it found a variety of rocks and signs of past water. Additionally, there were salty minerals like magnesium sulfate (like Epsom salt), calcium sulfate (including gypsum), and sodium chloride (like table salt). Scientists hope the minerals will shed light on how and why Mars’ climate changed from Earth’s to its current desert state.
The “Canaima” drill sample
Scientists selected a rock called “Canaima” as the 36th drill sample for the project. The rover pulverized rock samples for examination using a rotary hammer drill on the end of its two-meter (seven-foot) arm. “As we do before every drill, we brushed off the dust and then dented the top surface of Canaima with the drill bit. The lack of scratches or indentations indicated that it might prove difficult to drill,” explained Kathya Zamora-Garcia, new Curiosity project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
Mission scientists will examine portions of the sample using the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument and the Chemical and Mineralogy instrument.
The Rover traveled over a month to reach the sulphate-rich area
Curiosity had to navigate rough terrain to reach the sulphate-rich region, including the sandy “Col de Paraitepuy” last August. It took more than 30 days for the rover to arrive safely at its destination.
The press release pointed out the following:
“While sharp rocks can damage Curiosity’s wheels (which still have a lot of life), and can be just as dangerous, potentially causing the rover to stall if the wheels lose traction. Rover drivers must navigate these areas with caution.
As the hills obstructed Curiosity’s view of the sky, it had to be careful while orienting itself to aim its antennas at Earth and communicate with passing orbiters. After Curiosity found its correct position, the rover’s Mast Camera, or Mastcam, was used Aug. 14 to record some of the mission’s “most inspiring” scenery.
A new phase brings new obstacles
Curiosity’s science operations coordinator, Elena Amador-French of JPL, who oversees the collaboration between engineering and science teams, said:
“We received new images every morning and were simply amazed. The sand ridges were gorgeous. You see perfect little rover tracks there. And the cliffs were gorgeous – we got really close to the walls.
However, the rover now faces a new set of difficulties. Curiosity struggles to find a location where all six wheels are on stable ground due to the rougher terrain. According to Amador-French, “the more interesting the scientific results, the more Mars seems to present us with obstacles”.
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