Spirit finds more evidence of past Mars water
Posted: Tue, Jun 8, 2004, 7:31 PM ET (2331 GMT)
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has discovered additional evidence that liquid water once existed on Mars, scientists said Tuesday. A spectrometer on Spirit discovered high concentrations of magnesium and sulfur in a trench dug into Martian soil by the rover. The levels of both elements varied in lockstep in different locations of the trench, suggesting that the elements are combined into a magnesium sulfate salt. Such a salt, according to scientists, would most likely be created by groundwater dissolved minerals as it percolated through rocks below the surface, leaving behind the resulting mineral salts when the water evaporated near the surface. This source of water is different from what scientists found on the opposite side of the planet with the Opportunity rover, where bedrock outcrops showed evidence of water flowing on the surface. Spirit dug the crater during its journey to the Columbia Hills, over three kilometers from its landing site.
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has discovered additional evidence that liquid water once existed on Mars, scientists said Tuesday. A spectrometer on Spirit discovered high concentrations of magnesium and sulfur in a trench dug into Martian soil by the rover. The levels of both elements varied in lockstep in different locations of the trench, suggesting that the elements are combined into a magnesium sulfate salt. Such a salt, according to scientists, would most likely be created by groundwater dissolved minerals as it percolated through rocks below the surface, leaving behind the resulting mineral salts when the water evaporated near the surface. This source of water is different from what scientists found on the opposite side of the planet with the Opportunity rover, where bedrock outcrops showed evidence of water flowing on the surface. Spirit dug the crater during its journey to the Columbia Hills, over three kilometers from its landing site.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Roscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS
Posted: Sat, Dec 6 9:45 AM ET (1445 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, December 12
Ramon Sanchez Joins Firefly Aerospace as Chief Operating Officer
Firefly Aerospace — 6:16 am ET (1116 GMT) Firefly Aerospace Adds Volta’s Wireless Power Receiver to Blue Ghost Mission on Far Side of the Moon
Firefly Aerospace — 6:16 am ET (1116 GMT) The Exploration Company is Developing an In-Orbit Serving Vehicle
European Spaceflight — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) Draco: atmospheric reentry from the inside
ESA — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) Ariane 6 – made in Romania
ESA — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) |
