A revered rover on the Red Planet may notice signs of drying up of the Martian climate in ancient times.
NASA’s long-running Curiosity mission, which will reach its 10th anniversary from Earth on the Red Planet this August, is climbing the slopes of Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons) to track the changing climate of Mars over the eons. During the past year of his wanderings, Curiosity noticed that the water-rich clay gave way to a transitional zone full of salt sulfate. Scientists now believe that these characteristics mark the place where streams dried up and sand dunes formed, according to a NASA statement (opens in a new section).
This means that lake sediments inhabiting the lower slopes are not as common as Curiosity reaches higher in the mountains. “Instead, we see a lot of evidence of a drier climate, such as dry dunes, around which streams sometimes flow,” said Ashvin Vasavada, a Curiosity project scientist at JPL.
Related: 12 amazing photos from the first year of the Mars rover Perseverance on Mars
In addition to more sulfates, geological features are attracting the attention of scientists. They see sediments that are likely to be deposited in piles of “scaly layers,” including one called “The Prow” by team members.
The region has a complex history, including a history of dry origin as an area full of sand dunes and some areas that appear to have had sediments carried by the water, JPL said.
“Making history richer and more complex is the knowledge that there have been many periods in which groundwater has weakened and flowed over time, leaving a puzzle mix so that Curiosity scientists can come together at the right time. line, “officials added in a statement.
NASA’s Curiosity rover captures this view of layered, scaly rocks believed to have formed in an ancient bed or small pond on June 2, 2022 (Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)
While the rover still works well, JPL noted that it shows inevitable signs of age, especially holes in its aluminum wheels that have been moving on Martian terrain over the years since Curiosity landed on August 5, 2012.
The left middle wheel, as shown in photos taken on June 2 this year, has more serious damage and gaps in its primers (protectors). JPL said the primers are unlikely to fall apart completely, but noted that ground tests show that in the worst case, the rover can move on the wheels of its wheels if necessary.
The rover Curiosity photographed rock layers on May 19, 2022 (Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)
Curiosity also had a brief incident in safe mode on June 7 after an unexpected temperature jump in the instrument’s control box. The rover came out of safe mode two Earth days later and team members are investigating the cause.
“They suspect that safe mode has been activated after a temperature sensor has provided an inaccurate measurement and there are no indications that this will significantly affect the rover’s operations, as backup temperature sensors can ensure that the electronics in the rover’s body are not heated. too much, ”said JPL.
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