Results from theMars Science Laboratory
Allan TreimanMSL Science Team
6/05/2013
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Curiosity’s Science Objectives
Curiosity’s primary scientific goal is to explore and quantitatively assess a local region on Mars’ surface as a potential habitat for life, past or present
• Biological potential• Geology and
geochemistry• Role of water• Surface radiation
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/PIA16764_selfie2ndfincrop-br2.jpg
A field of approximately 54 different landing sites was ultimately narrowed down to Gale Crater
Martian Landing SitesPHOENIX
PATHFINDER
VIKING 2
VIKING 1
OPPORTUNITY
SPIRIT
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA15958
Gale is part of a family of craters with a complex history
Why Gale Crater?
Becquerel
Noachis region
Henry
Gale Crater has intriguing large-scale geomorphic features
Why Gale Crater?
• Enclosed basin at -4070 meters defined by canyon near ellipse and a prominent change in slope
Distinct changes in “base level” are suggested by channel suites
• Enclosed basin at -3510 meters defined by Grand Canyon mouth and a prominent change in slope
• Base level at -2290 meters defined by rim-breeching canyon, a change in slope, and initiation point of the Grand Canyon
• Reference point at -735 meters that marks the elevation of breech along the southern crater rim Sumner (2011) LSWG
More than 5 km of strata are preserved in the central mound
Why Gale Crater?
Why Gale Crater?
Strata show evidence for diverse sedimentary environments
HiRise Mosaic
2 km
Target: Gale Crater and Mount Sharp
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/MSSS
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Curiosity’s Science Payload
ChemCam(Chemistry)
Mastcam(Imaging)
REMS(Weather)
DAN(SubsurfaceHydrogen)
SAM(Chemistryand Isotopes)
CheMin(Mineralogy)
MARDI(Imaging)
APXS(Chemistry) MAHLI
(Imaging)RAD
(Radiation)
DrillScoopBrushSieves
THE PATH TO MARS THE PATH TO THE SURFACE
Nov. 26, 2011…
Heat shield separation capturedby Curiosity’s Mars Descent Imager
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Curiosity on parachute, imaged byHiRISE on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
Mastcam mosaic of Mount Sharp, descent rocket scours, and rover shadow
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Trek toward Glenelg andDiscovery of Conglomerate
Curiosity progressed toward Glenelg, where three distinct terrain types meet
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
The conglomerate “Link” with associated loose, rounded pebbles
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
The conglomerate reveals an ancient streambed, likely originating at the northern crater rim
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UofA
Rocknest Scooping Campaign
Sand dune (“shadow”) at the Rocknest site
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Curiosity self-portrait at Rocknest
Assembled from 55 MAHLI images
Shows four scoop trenches and wheel scuff
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSSMAHLI view of coarse (0.5 to 1.5 mm) sand from the ripple’s surface, and fine (< 0.25 mm) sand on wall and floor of trench
SAM and CheMin analyses of Rocknest
Sand made of basalt minerals (olivine, pyroxenes plagioclase), similar to soils on Mars
X-ray diffraction pattern from CheMin
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames
Gases released during SAM experiments
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Goddard
Evidence for sulfates, carbonates, and (possibly) perchlorates; lots of adsorbed water.
Measurements of Mars’ Atmosphere and Environment
Curiosity’s Rover Environmental Monitoring Station is taking weather readings 24 × 7
REMS’ ground and air temperature sensors are located on small booms on the rover’s mast
The ground temperature changes by 90°C (170 degrees Fahrenheit) between day and night
The air is warmer than the ground at night, and cooler during the morning, before it is heated by the ground
NASA/JPL-Caltech/CAB(CSIC-INTA)
REMS pressure measurements detect local, regional, and global weather phenomena
Each day the pressure varies by over 10%, similar to the change in pressure between Los Angeles and Denver
Solar heating of the ground drives a pressure “tidal wave” that sweeps across the planet each day
NASA/JPL-Caltech/CAB(CSIC-INTA)/FMI/Ashima ResearchEarth’s atmosphere = 101,325 Pascals, or about 140 times the pressure at Gale Crater
Overall, the pressure is increasing as carbon dioxide sublimates from the southern seasonal polar cap
Curiosity’s Radiation Assessment Detector measures high-energy radiation
RAD observed galactic cosmic rays and five solar energetic particle events traveling from Earth to Mars
Mars’ atmosphere partially shields the surface from radiation. When the atmosphere is thicker (higher REMS pressure), RAD measures less radiation.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI
The SAM Tunable Laser Spectrometer and Mass Spectrometer measure atmospheric composition
SAM found that argon, rather than nitrogen is the second most abundant gas
SAM also found that Mars’ atmosphere is enriched in the heavy versions of isotopes, indicating that atmospheric loss has occurred
Methane has not been definitively detected
TLS uses infrared lasers and mirrors to measure the absorption of light by atmospheric gases
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Goddard
Atmospheric Gas Abundances
Measured by SAM
The Glenelg Regionand Yellowknife Bay
Curiosity is currently exploring Yellowknife Bay, a basin within the Glenelg region
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
Nested, hand-lens imaging of the 25-cm (10”) high rock Jake Matijevic
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Jake Matijevic studied by Mastcam (image), APXS, and ChemCam
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSSLANL/IRAP/CNES/IAS/LPGN
Composition is similar to alkaline basalts on Earth produced by partial melting of the mantle
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
0.01
0.1
1
10
BrZn
Ni
Fe
Mn
Cr
Ti
CaK
Cl
S
P
Si
Mg
Al
Na
cou
nts
pe
r se
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Energy [keV]
sol34 Caltarget 90 min sol46 JakeMatijevic 30 min
NASA/JPL-Caltech/U. Guelph
APXS Spectra
“Shaler” rocks just outside Yellowknife Bay show inclined, fine layers that indicate sediment transport
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Heading into Yellowknife BayNASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Postcards from Yellowknife Bay showing a diversity of rock types, fractures, and veins
NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
“Sheepbed” rocks contain many spherules, concretions, suggesting that water percolated though pores
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
“Sheepbed” rocks also contain 1 to 5-mm fractures filled with calcium sulfate minerals that precipitated from fluids at low to moderate temperatures
NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/IAS/LPGN/CNRS/LGLyon/Planet-Terre
ChemCam spectra from sol 125 “Crest” and 135 “Rapitan”
ChemCam Remote Micro-Imager
Drill Campaign atJohn Klein, Yellowknife Bay
John Klein drill site showing fractured bedrock and ridge-forming veins
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Targets studied to prepare for drilling
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
APXS and the dust-removing brush
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
APXS sees higher sulfur and calcium in vein-rich rock
Removing the dust results in slightly lower sulfur
NASA/JPL-Caltech/U. Guelph
Arm deployed at John KleinNASA/JPL-Caltech/D. Bouic
Curiosity’s 1.6-cm drill bit, drill and test holes, and scoop full of acquired sample
NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/IAS/LPGN
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
X-ray diffraction patterns from Rocknest (left) and John Klein (right)
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames The drill powder contains abundant phyllosilicates (clay minerals), indicating sustained interaction with water
Major gases released from John Klein sample and analyzed by SAM
NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSFC
SAM analysis of the drilled rock sample reveals water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide released on heating. The release of water at high temperature is consistent with smectite clay minerals.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
An Ancient Habitable Environment
at Yellowknife Bay
• The regional geology and fine-grained rock suggest that the John Klein site was at the end of an ancient river system or within an intermittently wet lake bed
• The mineralogy indicates sustained interaction with liquid water that was not too acidic or alkaline, and low salinity. Further, conditions were not strongly oxidizing
• Key chemical ingredients for life are present, such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur
• The presence of minerals in various states of oxidation would provide a source of energy for primitive organisms
Mount Sharp,The Ultimate Destination
Curiosity’s ultimate goal is to explore the lower reaches of the 5-km high Mount Sharp
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Layers, Canyons, and Buttes of Mount Sharp
This boulder is the size of Curiosity
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS