Opportunity begins studies of Endeavour crater
Posted: Fri, Sep 2, 2011, 2:07 PM ET (1807 GMT)
NASA's long-lived Mars rover Opportunity has started studying a large crater it recently reached, providing scientists with new insights into the planet. Among the first rocks examined by Opportunity at the rim of crater Endeavour is one scientists said is different from any other examined to date: a volcanic rock with much higher concentrations of zinc and bromine than previously seen in other rocks. Scientists are hopeful studies of the crater, much larger than previous ones visited by the rover, will provide new clues into the early history of the planet, an era when it was warmer and may have had liquid water on its surface. Opportunity, which landed on Mars in January 2004, has operated on Mars 30 times longer than originally planned and remains in good condition.
NASA's long-lived Mars rover Opportunity has started studying a large crater it recently reached, providing scientists with new insights into the planet. Among the first rocks examined by Opportunity at the rim of crater Endeavour is one scientists said is different from any other examined to date: a volcanic rock with much higher concentrations of zinc and bromine than previously seen in other rocks. Scientists are hopeful studies of the crater, much larger than previous ones visited by the rover, will provide new clues into the early history of the planet, an era when it was warmer and may have had liquid water on its surface. Opportunity, which landed on Mars in January 2004, has operated on Mars 30 times longer than originally planned and remains in good condition.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, April 6
Space Command headquarters to move 200 employees to Alabama this year, lawsuit bristles
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:50 am ET (0950 GMT) As Rocket Launches Increase, They May Be Polluting the Skies
Undark — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) SpaceX Rocket Launch Attempt Scrubbed, Team to Retry Monday
Noozhawk — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) SpaceX Heralds New Era of Mega IPOs. Buyers Beware
Bloomberg News — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) What’s the Point of Sending People Into Space? An Astronaut, Scientist and Journalist Debate.
New York Times — 5:45 am ET (0945 GMT) |
