NASA Gets A Good Look At Mars Soil And A True Puzzle

Chicago Tribune/Yahoo ^ | 1-7-2004 | Jeremy Manier

[blam]

NASA gets good look at Mars soil and a true puzzle

By Jeremy Manier, Tribune staff reporter

Opening its primary digital eyes for the first time, the rover Spirit on Tuesday transmitted the most detailed photos ever sent from the surface of Mars, revealing an alien vista of deep russet sands, a mysteriously sticky form of soil and a far-off mesa in the light orange haze.

The rocky scene is about four times sharper than any previous photos from the planet, and experts said the probe should be sending even larger, three-dimensional views of its terrain within a few days. Scientists will use those photos and information from an infrared imaging instrument to choose the most promising places for the rover to start visiting next week in search of signs that Mars once had a habitat suitable for life.

It's difficult to imagine life surviving now in the barren landscape around the rover--though mission planners have said one goal of the robotic Mars expeditions is to scout out possible landing sites in case the U.S. ever sends astronauts to Mars.

But on Tuesday, researchers analyzing the new images took a moment to look at the planet with simple wonder.

"My reaction has been one of shock and awe," said Jim Bell, leader of the mission's imaging team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

The sticky-looking soil may be the first true puzzle of the mission, scientists said. Technicians believe the probe's landing airbags disturbed the dirt near the rover when they retracted back under the craft, soon after the landing. The dirt that was dragged by the airbags now looks oddly folded, almost as if it were damp clay.

"It looks like mud, but it can't be mud," said principal investigator Steven Squyres. "It's not like anything that I have ever seen before. It's very weird-looking stuff."

Researchers believe Martian soil in the rover's vicinity is bone-dry near the surface, adding to the mystery. Squyres said it's possible that moisture evaporating from below left a salty, cohesive crust at the surface.

[My Favorite Headache]

LMFAO

[Simmy2.5]

Hmmmmmmm. Mars is becoming more interesting by the minute. First this "mud", then these "trees" (though they could be something as unliving as these "star dunes" as that geologist calls them). If its the former...there might be a race to Mars! :-D

Looks like more reason to go to Mars (either with rovers...or...even better...humans).

And another conspiracy for Richard C. Hoagland to chew on. :-P

[Falcon4.0]

Good point. Maybe it requires so little water that it gets it from the atmosphere. Like the "Air Fern" , that draws it's water from the air. Or maybe like the frogs eggs that lie dormant in dried up mud holes, possibly for years until the rain comes. Then frogs pop up out of the ground. Nature, "Life" will find away.

[mewzilla]

There must be life on Mars. Why? It looks like doggie poo.

The culprit...

[Rebelbase]

FYI, heard on the news this morning that the daytime high temp on Mars is -60 below zero, nighttime low is -150 below zero.

[Jonah Hex]

...a mysteriously sticky form of soil...

Uh oh, somebody forgot to walk the Beagle.

[Mad Dawgg]

"But instead, we are treated to the latest hijinks of Brittany Spears and Pete Rose."

Get the NASA channel, no Brittany none of the time!

[Godebert]

Red Planet Bump.

[Frank_Discussion]

I thought it was Di-hydrogen Oxide? Very corrosive universal solvent, combines and reacts strongly with organic metabolic systems... dangerous stuff...

[Armed Civilian]

That's OJ's glove.

[Armed Civilian]

We landed on the moon? What proof do you have?

[Professional Engineer]

I think either is likely correct in chemistry terms.

Universal solvent. Vey series. Stay back 50ft. No smoking.

[Professional Engineer]

We could throw stones, er Moon Rocks, at the theory, right.

[Armed Civilian]

Exactly, that's what my MK-ultra secret training tells me. I have moon rocks. They are right here with my secret pictures of oswald.

[Professional Engineer]

Everybody is making fun of Mars. This is serious!

Of course it's series. I for one am enjoying the heck out of it. I'd like to visit in my lifetime. Likelyhood of that is low, but I still wanna go.

[blam]

"I'd like to visit in my lifetime. Likelyhood of that is low, but I still wanna go."

You probably won't make it...'Spider-Boy' has a chance though.

[Professional Engineer]

That's why I'm trying to make sure he is well grounded in science etc, very young.

I'd REALLY like to go to the Moon, but don't expect that either.

Pay It Forward works well for our kids.

[blam]

"That's why I'm trying to make sure he is well grounded in science etc, very young."

Yup, start'em young. Worked for me. My son, 'charge carrier,' (only child) has a PhD in physics and is working for a space related company in SOCAL. But, he probably won't make it to space either.

[Professional Engineer]

You too. Desert Rat has a son who just received an Aerospace Engineering degree.

[Eaker]

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