NASA Rover finds more signs of past water on Mars

Sac Bee ^ | 4/1/04 | Andrew Bridges - AP

[NormsRevenge]

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - NASA's Spirit rover discovered more evidence of past water activity on Mars, although not in as great amounts as the twin rover Opportunity found on the other side of the planet, mission scientists said Thursday.

The findings come from analysis of a rock dubbed Mazatzal in the Gusev Crater region where Spirit landed on Jan. 3. Since then Spirit has been overshadowed by Opportunity as it found signs that extensive water, possibly a salty sea, once covered its landing site on Meridiani Planum.

[NormsRevenge]

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[boomop1]

Shela Jackson Lee says one of the astronauts must have whizzed there.

[NormsRevenge]

sol 66, Apr 01, 2004: Biting into 'Bounce'

Opportunity's rock abrasion tool ground into "Bounce" for just over two hours, producing a 6.44-millimeter (0.25 inch) hole that will allow the rover's spectrometer's to analyze the rock's chemical composition.

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This is a plot of panoramic camera spectra extracted from three different regions on the rock dubbed "Bounce." The yellow spectrum is from the yellow box in the image on the left, from the dusty top part of the rock. The spectrum is dominated by the signature of oxidized "ferric" iron (Fe3+) like that seen in the classic Martian dust. The red spectrum is from the darker Meridiani Planum soils that were disturbed by the airbag when it bounced near the rock. That spectrum is also dominated by ferric iron, though the reflectivity is lower. Scientists speculate that this may be because the grains are coarser in these soils compared to the dust. The green spectrum, which is from the right side of the rock, shows a strong drop in the infrared reflectance that is unlike any other rock yet seen at Meridiani Planum or Gusev Crater. This spectral signature is typical of un-oxidized "ferrous" iron (Fe2+) in the rock, perhaps related to the presence of volcanic minerals like olivine or pyroxene. The possibility that this may be a basaltic rock that is distinctly different from the rocks seen in the Eagle Crater outcrop is being intensively explored using the rover's other instruments.

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell

Browse Image (32 kB) | Large (287 kB)

Bon Jovi's "Bounce" woke Opportunity on its 66th sol, which ended at 2:41 a.m. PST on April 1. The martian morning began with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observing a target called "Glanz2" on Bounce. Miniature thermal emission spectrometer measurements of the ground and sky followed.

The rock abrasion tool was then placed on the target dubbed "Case." After the grind, the Mössbauer spectrometer was placed on the hole for an overnight integration.

In the afternoon, the rover also had time to complete more atmospheric science with its panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

In the coming sols, Opportunity will remain parked at the intriguing Bounce rock to continue its investigations.

[blackdog]

I don't mean to be a simpleton here, but I have a question that's most likely pretty elementary, but has me wanting to know.

Just where does water go? In a planet with an atmosphere, it doesn't just go out into space thru osmosis. There is maybe a mantle system and did those oceans drain into the mantle layers like a big rocky waterbag underground?

I mean water is preumably there to stay as long as it does not get molecularly changed?

Can someone explain to me how water just goes away?

[The Other Harry]

More bullshit from NASA. It would make more sense to repair the Hubble.

[Frank_Discussion]

There is negligable atmosphere on Mars, so, yes, there is some boiloff to space. However, there is also some evidence that there is water ice bound in the soil, and perhaps, maybe, POSSIBLY, some liquid stuff in deeper aquifers of some kind.

[blackdog]

Notice the sharp defined edge of that one rock in the center of the picture? It would seem to be very unweathered and recently fractured somehow?

[The Other Harry]

Just where does water go?

The lizards drank it.

It is just absolute nonsense for us to be contemplating putting people one Mars. Balance the budget first.

[Frank_Discussion]

Why?

[Frank_Discussion]

"Balance the budget first."

hahahahaha... Abandoning space will not help balance the budget.

[The Other Harry]

Why?

Why what?

Why don't you know how to quote that to which you are responding? I have no idea.

[blackdog]

I think we might be developing a bunker buster to make a fresh hole in an area that might result in some water being exposed?

First send a nuclear tipped bunker buster to make a giant creator and then follow it a month later with a probe?

Imagine the liberals outrage if Bush Nukes Mars!

[Frank_Discussion]

You're the one being obtuse. "Why?" refers to your ENTIRE post. Hence, it was an open-ended question.

[Frank_Discussion]

MAke a little pond, eh? A spectacular show, to be sure.

[So Cal Rocket]

Even more signs that there was water on Mars:

[blackdog]

If the lizards drank it, the lizards drain it.

And if you balance a federal budget, spending will go even higher. When money is 2% cost, it's no big deal. It's almost free money.

[The Other Harry]

Abandoning space will not help balance the budget.

Sending people into space is a huge boondoggle. I cannot imagine a worse waste of money. The war in Iraq comes close, but not all that close.

The Hubble was / is productive. We could do an even better one.

[John Jorsett]

[The Other Harry]

You're the one being obtuse. "Why?" refers to your ENTIRE post. Hence, it was an open-ended question.

That's too easy on your part. Try a pointed question next time.