A photo from open sources
Mars rover Curiosity sent the first portion of Martian soil into its “belly” – located inside its body CheMin Chemical and Mineralogical Laboratory, NASA reports.
“Starting CheMin with the first sample is an important milestone during missions. This tool is based on the most accurate method. mineralogical analysis that has ever been used on Mars – X-Ray Diffraction, “says Researcher mission John Grotzinger (John Grotzinger).
“Accurate identification of minerals is important because mineral the composition reflects the environmental conditions under which they formed “, – he noted.
The first soil sample for a CheMin tablet aspirin was obtained after the third of a series of “warm-up” attempts collect sand with a pickup device on the manipulator Mars rover.
In previous attempts, the rover cleared with portions of soil the surface of the channels through which samples are transported inward rover, from possible terrestrial pollution.
Previously, the rover went out of work due to light fragments, discovered around the apparatus. One of them is about 1.3 centimeter turned out to be a piece of plastic that protected electronic components from damage during flight and landing.
Other light objects 0.5 to 2 millimeters in size, standing out against the background of sand, are, according to scientists, Martian a mineral.
“We expect to find out more about the fragment of the rover, and about these bright particles, “said Curiosity program manager Richard Cook
Mars rover work continues despite lack of “support from above “- MRO probe (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter), which Relays data to Earth with Curiosity, about one Martian day ago went into safe mode.
Scientists have successfully returned the probe to normal mode, and now he is getting ready to return to the repeater.
Curiosity rover landed on the surface of Mars 6 august. Onboard Curiosity installed ten scientific instruments total mass of 75 kilograms, which will allow the rover to carry detailed geological and geochemical studies, study the atmosphere and climate of the planet, look for water and its traces, organic substances and determine whether Mars was once habitable, and are there any places suitable for living now.
Life Mars Mars Rover Curiosity
