Did they find the Martians from the new Diet Pepsi ad?
Posted on 03/22/2004 2:44:11 PM PST by ElkGroveDan
NASA will announce a "major scientific finding" from its Mars rover mission on Tuesday, March 23 at 2 p.m. ET, the agency said in a statement.
The last time NASA promised something like this involving Mars, the result was the revelation that the Opportunity rover's landing site had once been soaked with water, providing the first evidence gleaned from the surface for past liquid water on Mars.
Spherules found at Meridiani Planum are composed largely of hematite mineral - another piece of the puzzle that points to a watery past at this location. The image above is a false-color composite of three images captured by the Panoramic Camera through infrared, green, and violet filters. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/Cornell. Click to enlarge.
A triplet of connected spheres, dubbed blueberries, is seen in this Opportunity image, released March 18. Scientists said connected BB-sized spheres like this on Earth is a strong indication they formed in the presence of water, not in volcanic eruptions or meteor impacts. The photo is a close-up of the "Berry Bowl" on the surface of the landing site. NASA/JPLCornell/USGS
This sphere is eroding out of a rock. The rock's layers don't deform around the sphere, indicating the sphere didn't drop in but was formed in the presence of water along with the rock. NASA/JPL/Cornell/USGS
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A spokesperson for NASA told SPACE.com that the big announcement Tuesday would again involve a discovery by the Opportunity rover and not its twin, Spirit. The agency did not provide detail regarding the science involved, and the spokesperson would not elaborate.
Rover scientists have said they were eagerly pursuing whether the water that once existed at the rover landing site was groundwater or might have been a lake or ocean. In fact, as of late last week they did not agree on what the most recent evidence revealed.
Experts have said they might learn the answer to that question with further investigation, but that they were not certain the answer would become clear.
One of the scientists that will help present the findings is Dave Rubin, a sedimentologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
The rock outcropping studied in the shallow depression at the landing site was formed long ago as layers of sediment, scientists have said previously. But they've not yet been able to say how long ago, or for how long water was present.
The persistent presence of water is thought to be a prerequisite for life, though the fact that there was water does not mean there was biology. Biologists say life could work its magic either above or below the ground. But clearly the idea of a Martain lake would capture more public fancy.
All signs point to something important in the announcement, as NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe will make opening remarks. He is typically not involved in science announcements and did not participate in the previous blockbuster presentation of Opportunity's water discovery.
Other speakers include Cornell University professor Steve Squyres, the principal investigator for the overall rover mission, and John Grotzinger, co-investigator for rover team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rounding out the presentation will be Jim Garvin, NASA lead scientist for Mars and the Moon, and Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator in the Office of Space Science.
The announcement will be made at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and carried live on NASA TV.
Martians. It's Martians. They've found Martians. Woohoo! What a world!
Fortunately, the rover has been equipped with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
Naw! They found his brain.......
(Which has been notably for missing for many years)
They found Hillary's old jock strap at the bottom of a dried-up canal.
Did they find the Martians from the new Diet Pepsi ad?
No wonder Jimmy Carter is so vocal today!
He heard that the bunny can swim and he's deathly afraid of it returning to earth.
Such a brave Nobel Prize "winner"
The affirmative action winner.
Ever seen the movie Hangar 18? Totally grade B, but interesting concept.
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