Ancient lakebed found on Mars
Posted: Fri, Mar 7, 2008, 6:26 AM ET (1126 GMT)
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has taken images of what scientists believe is an ancient lakebed that could have once supported life. Images of Holden Crater show old conglomerations of rocks, called megabreccia, topped by a layer of clay sediment. Planetary scientists believe that the clay was deposited over a period of thousands of years when the crater was a lake; that clay could preserve any evidence of a past habitable environment there. The crater wall was later breached in a flood, exposing those lower layers as well as boulder-strewn upper layers. The crater is one of six candidate landing sites for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, scheduled for launch in 2009, and could be considered for future sample return missions.
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has taken images of what scientists believe is an ancient lakebed that could have once supported life. Images of Holden Crater show old conglomerations of rocks, called megabreccia, topped by a layer of clay sediment. Planetary scientists believe that the clay was deposited over a period of thousands of years when the crater was a lake; that clay could preserve any evidence of a past habitable environment there. The crater wall was later breached in a flood, exposing those lower layers as well as boulder-strewn upper layers. The crater is one of six candidate landing sites for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, scheduled for launch in 2009, and could be considered for future sample return missions.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, February 26
Norway to Join Europe Starlink Rival Shortly, Minister Says
Bloomberg News — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) Satellite Operator Eutelsat Seeks €1.5 Billion to Refinance Debt
Bloomberg News — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) Space Command offers retention, relocation bonuses for civilians to move from Colo. Springs to Alabama
KOAA-TV Colorado Springs — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) UT To Enhance U.S. Space Force Detection, Response to Security Threats
Univ. of Texas Austin — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) Lab at UT is first in U.S. to work with Space Force on threats
San Antonio Express-News — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) |
