Rover Curiosity Finds "Abundant" Water

Rover Curiosity Finds "Abundant" Water

The first scoop of soil analysis revealed curiosity rover , concentrate on the surface of Mars may contain " rich " Water, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

Curiosity landing on Mars in August last year, a variety of Gaelic crater , which is near the Martian equator , its high-tech lasers and shovel to collect and analyze the sample 100 - day mission .

In this study , researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute rover scoop collect dust , dirt and fine-grained soils, sandy patch called "Rocknest."

The researchers then fed the fifth part of the ladle into the dashboard curiosity called Mars (SAM) sample analysis , they are heated to 835 degrees Celsius .

" Intake curious about this first solid sample one of the most exciting result is a high proportion of water in the soil, said:" The lead author Laurie Leshin Sciences, Dean .

"In the Martian surface soil about 2% is made ​​up of water , which is a great resource , and interesting science ", Leshin said.

The example also released a major carbon dioxide, oxygen , sulfur compounds, when heated , the researchers published in "Science " magazine.

Bake samples also revealed a containing chlorine and oxygen , may chlorate or perchlorate , previously only known from high latitudes on Mars location . In parts of the equator curiosity This finding suggests that more global distribution , the researchers said .

In addition , in order to determine the amount of gas released key , SAM analysis of the release of water and carbon dioxide , hydrogen and carbon isotope ratios. Isotopes of the same chemical elements and different numbers of neutrons , therefore , different variants of the atomic weight .

Previous analysis found that the isotope ratio in the soil atmosphere curiosity similar analysis indicates that a large number of surface soil interact with the atmosphere .

" Consisting of hydrogen , deuterium and carbon isotope ratios , isotopic ratios, tend to support the idea of ​​moving around the planet , such as dust , it 's some of the gas from the atmosphere react ," Leshin said .

The results reveal the composition of the Earth's surface , as well as future research directions , Leshin said.

"Mars has kind of a global surface soil layer , a layer of mix and distribute frequent sandstorms , so scoop this thing is basically a tiny Martian rock collection, said :" Leshin. "If you mix together many tablets , you may have an accurate typical Martian crust by learning about it in any one place , you know the whole earth ."

These results have some implications for the future of Mars exploration . "We now know , said:" there should be a rich, convenient transportation, water on Mars Leshin. "When we send people, they can scoop up the soil surface anywhere , it just heat a little, and get water ."

Red Planet

Mars is a small once considered to be very similar to the Earth's rocky body . Like otherterrestrial of planetsâ " Mercury, Venus, Earth ," has changed its surface by a volcano , affecting other organs , its changes in the crust , such as dust storms and atmospheric effects . It has polar ice growth and decline and seasonal changes , layered soil regions near the poles of Mars shows that the Earth's climate over time , probably in the orbits of the planets are caused by changes in the law .

Mars, the planet's tectonic movement, the formation and change, different from the Earth . Earth structure involves grinding against each other or on the seabed separate skateboard , Mars appears to be vertical structure , with red-hot lava pushed up through the surface of the crust .

Periodically, great dust storms engulf the entire planet . The impact of these storms is significant , including the giant sand dunes, wind streaks , wind-sculpted features.