Curiosity finds signs that life could have existed on Mars
« Back to Article
Artist’s concept of Curiosity (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Curiosity’s robotic hand used for taking drill samples and transferring them to the laboratories (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Areas on the rock "Wernecke" that were zapped by Curiosity’s laser for analysis of potential drilling sites (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Honeybee Robotics/LANL/CNES)
First Curiosity drilling sample in the scoop (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
X-ray diffraction patterns of two different samples collected by Curiosity showing the presence of phyllosilicates and the absence of salts at John Klein (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames)
Terrestrial version in Australia of the sediment layers found by Curiosity (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames)
Sulfate-rich rock found by Opportunity (left) and fine-grained sediments found by Curiosity (right) (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/MSSS)
Major gases released from drilled samples of the “John Klein” rock (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSFC)
Chart showing the presence of chlorinated methane in the Curiosity drill sample (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Comparison of rock abraded by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (left) and the drill from NASA's Curiosity rover (right) showing unoxidized material exposed by Curiosity (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/MSSS)
NASA animation still showing solar flare that struck Mars recently (Image: NASA)
Location of John Klein drill site (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU)
Article Summary
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has discovered a rock outcropping that may have been a suitable habitat for microbes in ancient times. Based on a sample collected by unmanned rover’s drill at the John Klein area in Gale Crater and analyzed using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) and Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instruments, the findings contribute to Curiosity's primary mission of seeking out areas of the Red Planet where life may have once or still could exist.
« Back to Curiosity finds signs that life could have existed on Mars
Other Images from this Gallery
Related Articles
-
NASA confirms Curiosity's first drill sample collected
21st February, 2013
-
Curiosity collects first bedrock drill sample
10th February, 2013
-
Curiosity rover takes its first Martian soil samples
22nd October, 2012
-
Curiosity's SAM lab gets down and dirty with first soil sample
14th November, 2012
-
Update: Curiosity object probably plastic
10th October, 2012
-
Curiosity takes panoramic self-portrait on Mars
26th February, 2013
