NASA’s Curiosity rover takes first bite of Martian soil
Nasa's Curiosity rover has analysed its first sample of Martian soil. The conclusion? That its mineralogy is similar to that of the weathered basaltic soils found in Hawaii.
The minerals were identified by Curiosity using its Chemistry and Mineralogy instrument, dubbed CheMin. The tool uses X-ray diffraction, which reads minerals' internal structure by recording how their crystals distinctively interact with X-rays.
The specific sample for CheMin's first analysis was soil Curiosity scooped up at a patch of dust and sand that the team named Rocknest. The sample was processed through a sieve to exclude particles larger than 0.006in, roughly the width of a human hair.
According to David Blake, of NASA's Ames Research Centre, the sample had at least two components: dust distributed globally in dust storms and fine sand originating more locally.
Unlike the conglomerate rocks Curiosity investigated a few weeks ago, which were several billion years old and indicative of flowing water, the soil material CheMin analysed was found to be more representative of modern processes on Mars.
"Our team is elated with these first results from our instrument," said Blake. "They heighten our anticipation for future CheMin analyses in the months and miles ahead for Curiosity."
Twice as long and five times as heavy as earlier Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity is equipped to carry a set of 10 different instruments, including cameras, lasers, a 7ft tall jackhammer, analytical instruments and laser firing equipment.
The 10ft long, 9ft wide vehicle was sent as part of a $2.5billion mission to see whether the Red Planet does in fact have what it takes to nurture microbial life.
