On tenth anniversary, Opportunity finds early Mars hospitable to life
Posted: Tue, Jan 28, 2014, 7:22 AM ET (1222 GMT)
Scientists celebrating the tenth anniversary of Mars rover Opportunity's landing on Mars late last week said the rover has confirmed the planet had conditions hospitable to life early in its history. In papers published in the journal Science, researchers analyzing data collected by Opportunity of rocks in a region called Matijevic Hill found a mineral called iron-rich smectite that formed in mild conditions that predate the formation of the crater four billion years ago where they were found. The Curiosity rover, on the other side of Mars from Opportunity, made a similar discovery earlier in its mission, although not nearly as far back in Martian history as the Opportunity finding. Opportunity, whose primary mission when it landed in January 2004 was just 90 days, remains in good condition, project officials said. Opportunity is currently studying a rock that recently appeared in front of the rover.
Scientists celebrating the tenth anniversary of Mars rover Opportunity's landing on Mars late last week said the rover has confirmed the planet had conditions hospitable to life early in its history. In papers published in the journal Science, researchers analyzing data collected by Opportunity of rocks in a region called Matijevic Hill found a mineral called iron-rich smectite that formed in mild conditions that predate the formation of the crater four billion years ago where they were found. The Curiosity rover, on the other side of Mars from Opportunity, made a similar discovery earlier in its mission, although not nearly as far back in Martian history as the Opportunity finding. Opportunity, whose primary mission when it landed in January 2004 was just 90 days, remains in good condition, project officials said. Opportunity is currently studying a rock that recently appeared in front of the rover.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, March 4
Testing ozone-monitoring satellite’s solar wings
ESA — 7:16 am ET (1216 GMT) Building a circular economy in space: ESA studies pave the way
ESA — 7:15 am ET (1215 GMT) Elon Musk’s SpaceX Is Said to Add Citigroup to IPO Bank Lineup
Bloomberg News — 7:04 am ET (1204 GMT) SpaceX $1.75 Trillion Valuation Is ‘Justifiable,’ PitchBook Says
Bloomberg News — 7:03 am ET (1203 GMT) A Plan B for space? On the risks of concentrating national space power in private hands
The Conversation — 7:03 am ET (1203 GMT) |
