Curiosity Rover Finds a Clay Cache on Mars
Explanation:
Why is there clay on Mars?
On Earth,
clay
can form at the bottom of a peaceful lake when specific minerals trap water.
At the
pictured site on
Mars,
the robotic rover Curiosity drilled into two rocks and found the
highest
concentration of clay yet.
The clay cache is considered addition evidence that
Gale Crater once held water in the distant past.
Pictured, 57 images taken by Curiosity have been combined into a selfie.
The images were taken by a camera at the end of its robotic arm.
Many details of the
car-sized
rover are visible, including its rugged wheels, numerous scientific instruments,
and a high mast that contains camera "eyes", one of which can shoot out an infrared
laser beam.
Curiosity continues to roll around and up
Mount Sharp -- in the center of Gale Crater --
in a search for new clues about the ancient history of
Mars and whether or not the red planet once had conditions that could
support life.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
