Rover finds more evidence for wet early Mars
Posted: Tue, May 22, 2007, 8:27 AM ET (1227 GMT)
One of NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers has found what scientists called Monday the strongest evidence to date that liquid water existed on the Martian surface early in the planet's history. The rover Spirit, studying soil in a range of hills located within Gusev Crater, found one sample with a content of 90 percent pure silica. Such a high concentration of silica, scientists said, can only be created in the presence of water. Project scientists are planning additional studies of that patch of soil, dubbed "Gertrude Weise", and surrounding areas. The discovery was made almost by accident: the patch of soil was studied after Spirit dug a deep track in the area created by the rover's one malfunctioning wheel.
One of NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers has found what scientists called Monday the strongest evidence to date that liquid water existed on the Martian surface early in the planet's history. The rover Spirit, studying soil in a range of hills located within Gusev Crater, found one sample with a content of 90 percent pure silica. Such a high concentration of silica, scientists said, can only be created in the presence of water. Project scientists are planning additional studies of that patch of soil, dubbed "Gertrude Weise", and surrounding areas. The discovery was made almost by accident: the patch of soil was studied after Spirit dug a deep track in the area created by the rover's one malfunctioning wheel.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force adds Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to NSSL contract
Posted: Sun, Mar 30 9:19 AM ET (1319 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 3
How a kid from Pemberton helped lead a landmark commercial Moon landing
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 6:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Eutelsat Begins OneWeb Services for the Aviation Market
ViaSatellite — 5:59 am ET (0959 GMT) Sierra Space demonstrates technology for Space Force satellite program
BizWest — 5:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Debrief: Vulcan On Deck
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) ULA Targets April 9 For First Batch Of Amazon Kuiper Satellites
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) |
