Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

50
Results from the Mars Science Laboratory Allan Treiman MSL Science Team 6/05/2013 NASA/JPL- Caltech/MSSS

Transcript of Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Page 1: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Results from theMars Science Laboratory

Allan TreimanMSL Science Team

6/05/2013

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 2: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity’s Science Objectives

Curiosity’s primary scientific goal is to explore and quantitatively assess a local region on Mars’ surface as a potential habitat for life, past or present

• Biological potential• Geology and

geochemistry• Role of water• Surface radiation

http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/PIA16764_selfie2ndfincrop-br2.jpg

Page 3: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

A field of approximately 54 different landing sites was ultimately narrowed down to Gale Crater

Martian Landing SitesPHOENIX

PATHFINDER

VIKING 2

VIKING 1

OPPORTUNITY

SPIRIT

Page 4: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA15958

Page 5: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Gale is part of a family of craters with a complex history

Why Gale Crater?

Becquerel

Noachis region

Henry

Page 6: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Gale Crater has intriguing large-scale geomorphic features

Why Gale Crater?

• Enclosed basin at -4070 meters defined by canyon near ellipse and a prominent change in slope

Distinct changes in “base level” are suggested by channel suites

• Enclosed basin at -3510 meters defined by Grand Canyon mouth and a prominent change in slope

• Base level at -2290 meters defined by rim-breeching canyon, a change in slope, and initiation point of the Grand Canyon

• Reference point at -735 meters that marks the elevation of breech along the southern crater rim Sumner (2011) LSWG

Page 7: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

More than 5 km of strata are preserved in the central mound

Why Gale Crater?

Page 8: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Why Gale Crater?

Strata show evidence for diverse sedimentary environments

HiRise Mosaic

2 km

Page 9: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Target: Gale Crater and Mount Sharp

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/MSSS

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Page 10: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity’s Science Payload

ChemCam(Chemistry)

Mastcam(Imaging)

REMS(Weather)

DAN(SubsurfaceHydrogen)

SAM(Chemistryand Isotopes)

CheMin(Mineralogy)

MARDI(Imaging)

APXS(Chemistry) MAHLI

(Imaging)RAD

(Radiation)

DrillScoopBrushSieves

Page 12: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Heat shield separation capturedby Curiosity’s Mars Descent Imager

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 13: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity on parachute, imaged byHiRISE on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

Page 14: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Mastcam mosaic of Mount Sharp, descent rocket scours, and rover shadow

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 15: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Trek toward Glenelg andDiscovery of Conglomerate

Page 16: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity progressed toward Glenelg, where three distinct terrain types meet

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

Page 17: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

The conglomerate “Link” with associated loose, rounded pebbles

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 18: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

The conglomerate reveals an ancient streambed, likely originating at the northern crater rim

NASA/JPL-Caltech/UofA

Page 19: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Rocknest Scooping Campaign

Page 20: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Sand dune (“shadow”) at the Rocknest site

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 21: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity self-portrait at Rocknest

Assembled from 55 MAHLI images

Shows four scoop trenches and wheel scuff

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 22: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSSMAHLI view of coarse (0.5 to 1.5 mm) sand from the ripple’s surface, and fine (< 0.25 mm) sand on wall and floor of trench

Page 23: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

SAM and CheMin analyses of Rocknest

Sand made of basalt minerals (olivine, pyroxenes plagioclase), similar to soils on Mars

X-ray diffraction pattern from CheMin

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames

Gases released during SAM experiments

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Goddard

Evidence for sulfates, carbonates, and (possibly) perchlorates; lots of adsorbed water.

Page 24: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Measurements of Mars’ Atmosphere and Environment

Page 25: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity’s Rover Environmental Monitoring Station is taking weather readings 24 × 7

REMS’ ground and air temperature sensors are located on small booms on the rover’s mast

The ground temperature changes by 90°C (170 degrees Fahrenheit) between day and night

The air is warmer than the ground at night, and cooler during the morning, before it is heated by the ground

NASA/JPL-Caltech/CAB(CSIC-INTA)

Page 26: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

REMS pressure measurements detect local, regional, and global weather phenomena

Each day the pressure varies by over 10%, similar to the change in pressure between Los Angeles and Denver

Solar heating of the ground drives a pressure “tidal wave” that sweeps across the planet each day

NASA/JPL-Caltech/CAB(CSIC-INTA)/FMI/Ashima ResearchEarth’s atmosphere = 101,325 Pascals, or about 140 times the pressure at Gale Crater

Overall, the pressure is increasing as carbon dioxide sublimates from the southern seasonal polar cap

Page 27: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity’s Radiation Assessment Detector measures high-energy radiation

RAD observed galactic cosmic rays and five solar energetic particle events traveling from Earth to Mars

Mars’ atmosphere partially shields the surface from radiation. When the atmosphere is thicker (higher REMS pressure), RAD measures less radiation.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI

Page 28: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

The SAM Tunable Laser Spectrometer and Mass Spectrometer measure atmospheric composition

SAM found that argon, rather than nitrogen is the second most abundant gas

SAM also found that Mars’ atmosphere is enriched in the heavy versions of isotopes, indicating that atmospheric loss has occurred

Methane has not been definitively detected

TLS uses infrared lasers and mirrors to measure the absorption of light by atmospheric gases

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Goddard

Atmospheric Gas Abundances

Measured by SAM

Page 29: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

The Glenelg Regionand Yellowknife Bay

Page 30: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity is currently exploring Yellowknife Bay, a basin within the Glenelg region

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

Page 31: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Nested, hand-lens imaging of the 25-cm (10”) high rock Jake Matijevic

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 32: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Jake Matijevic studied by Mastcam (image), APXS, and ChemCam

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSSLANL/IRAP/CNES/IAS/LPGN

Composition is similar to alkaline basalts on Earth produced by partial melting of the mantle

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

0.01

0.1

1

10

BrZn

Ni

Fe

Mn

Cr

Ti

CaK

Cl

S

P

Si

Mg

Al

Na

cou

nts

pe

r se

con

d

Energy [keV]

sol34 Caltarget 90 min sol46 JakeMatijevic 30 min

NASA/JPL-Caltech/U. Guelph

APXS Spectra

Page 33: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

“Shaler” rocks just outside Yellowknife Bay show inclined, fine layers that indicate sediment transport

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 34: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Heading into Yellowknife BayNASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 35: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Postcards from Yellowknife Bay showing a diversity of rock types, fractures, and veins

NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 36: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

“Sheepbed” rocks contain many spherules, concretions, suggesting that water percolated though pores

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 37: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

“Sheepbed” rocks also contain 1 to 5-mm fractures filled with calcium sulfate minerals that precipitated from fluids at low to moderate temperatures

NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/IAS/LPGN/CNRS/LGLyon/Planet-Terre

ChemCam spectra from sol 125 “Crest” and 135 “Rapitan”

ChemCam Remote Micro-Imager

Page 38: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Drill Campaign atJohn Klein, Yellowknife Bay

Page 39: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

John Klein drill site showing fractured bedrock and ridge-forming veins

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 40: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Targets studied to prepare for drilling

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 41: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

APXS and the dust-removing brush

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

APXS sees higher sulfur and calcium in vein-rich rock

Removing the dust results in slightly lower sulfur

NASA/JPL-Caltech/U. Guelph

Page 42: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Arm deployed at John KleinNASA/JPL-Caltech/D. Bouic

Page 43: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity’s 1.6-cm drill bit, drill and test holes, and scoop full of acquired sample

NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/IAS/LPGN

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 44: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

X-ray diffraction patterns from Rocknest (left) and John Klein (right)

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Ames The drill powder contains abundant phyllosilicates (clay minerals), indicating sustained interaction with water

Page 45: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Major gases released from John Klein sample and analyzed by SAM

NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSFC

SAM analysis of the drilled rock sample reveals water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide released on heating. The release of water at high temperature is consistent with smectite clay minerals.

Page 46: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

An Ancient Habitable Environment

at Yellowknife Bay

• The regional geology and fine-grained rock suggest that the John Klein site was at the end of an ancient river system or within an intermittently wet lake bed

• The mineralogy indicates sustained interaction with liquid water that was not too acidic or alkaline, and low salinity. Further, conditions were not strongly oxidizing

• Key chemical ingredients for life are present, such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur

• The presence of minerals in various states of oxidation would provide a source of energy for primitive organisms

Page 47: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Mount Sharp,The Ultimate Destination

Page 48: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Curiosity’s ultimate goal is to explore the lower reaches of the 5-km high Mount Sharp

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

Page 49: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Page 50: Curiosity talk summer_interns_jun2013

Layers, Canyons, and Buttes of Mount Sharp

This boulder is the size of Curiosity

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS