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72-506: Prior to the selection of Gale Crater for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover mission, Mawrth Vallis was considered as a potential landing site because of the detection of a stratigraphic section rich in clay minerals. Clay minerals have implications for past aqueous environments as well as the potential to preserve biosignatures, making them ideal targets for the search for life on Mars. Although Mawrth Vallis

144-456: A Sun-synchronous orbit , it passes over Curiosity ' s location twice per day, enabling regular contact with Earth. On February 11, 2014, mission control accelerated Odyssey ' s drift toward a morning-daylight orbit to "enable observation of changing ground temperatures after sunrise and after sunset in thousands of places on Mars". The orbital change occurred gradually until November 2015. Those observations could yield insight about

216-490: A cross-bedded or clinoform sandstone, though in places the base is a conglomerate. Thus, the formation is interpreted to have been deposited in a lacustrine environment adjacent to a fluvial-deltaic one. The Murray Formation is overlain by clay and sulfate-bearing strata. An unusual feature of Gale is an enormous mound of "sedimentary debris" around its central peak, officially named Aeolis Mons (popularly known as "Mount Sharp" ) rising 5.5 km (18,000 ft) above

288-405: A hole in the terrain, and the subsequent explosion ejected rocks and soil that landed around the crater. Layering in the central mound (Aeolis Mons) suggests it is the surviving remnant of an extensive sequence of deposits. Some scientists believe the crater filled in with sediments and, over time, the relentless Martian winds carved Aeolis Mons, which today rises about 5.5 km (3.4 mi) above

360-570: A lake existed inside Gale shortly after the formation of the crater. The NASA Mars rover Curiosity , of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, landed in "Yellowknife" Quad 51 of Aeolis Palus in Gale at 05:32 UTC August 6, 2012. NASA named the landing location Bradbury Landing on August 22, 2012. Curiosity is exploring Aeolis Mons and surrounding areas. Gale, named for Walter F. Gale (1865–1945), an amateur astronomer from Australia, spans 154 km (96 mi) in diameter and holds

432-457: A landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory , which ultimately landed at Gale Crater . Clay minerals easily preserve microscopic life on Earth, so perhaps traces of ancient life may be found at Mawrth. It was considered a potential landing site for the Mars 2020 rover, but did not make the final cut. The region is well studied with more than 40 papers published in peer-reviewed publications. Near

504-525: A large outflow channel which stretches over 400 miles and 9 miles wide. The evidence for past water documented by Odyssey generated interest in landing the Mars Science Laboratory within Mawrth. Although Gale Crater was chosen, there is still interest in landing a rover at Mawrth Vallis and it had been suggested for the future 2020 rover landing site. Mars Express was a two-part mission consisting of

576-601: A large solar event bombarded the Odyssey spacecraft on October 28, 2003. Engineers believe the most likely cause is that a computer chip was damaged by a solar particle smashing into the MARIE computer board. About 85% of images and other data from NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers , Spirit and Opportunity , have reached Earth via communications relay by Odyssey . The orbiter helped analyze potential landing sites for

648-440: A lower spectral resolution (10 bands compared to TES's 143 bands) but has an increased spatial resolution (100 m compared to 3 x 6 km on TES) Odyssey is searching for terrains that represent past water, so the increased special resolution and narrow spectral resolution are targeting hydrated minerals. The GRS is used to measure the abundance of elements on the surface of Mars. Gamma rays can be measured when cosmic rays hit

720-409: A mountain, Aeolis Mons (informally named "Mount Sharp" to pay tribute to geologist Robert P. Sharp ) rising 18,000 ft (5,500 m) from the crater floor, higher than Mount Rainier rises above Seattle. Gale is roughly the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The crater formed when an asteroid or comet hit Mars in its early history, about 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago. The impactor punched

792-662: A relay for communications between the Curiosity rover , and previously the Mars Exploration Rovers and Phoenix lander , to Earth . The mission was named as a tribute to Arthur C. Clarke , evoking the name of his and Stanley Kubrick 's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey . Odyssey was launched April 7, 2001, on a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , and reached Mars orbit on October 24, 2001, at 02:30 UTC (October 23, 19:30 PDT , 22:30 EDT ). On May 28, 2002 (sol 210), NASA reported that Odyssey ' s GRS instrument had detected large amounts of hydrogen ,

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864-536: A safer place to land and explore. Gale Crater Gale is a crater , and probable dry lake , at 5°24′S 137°48′E  /  5.4°S 137.8°E  / -5.4; 137.8 in the northwestern part of the Aeolis quadrangle on Mars . It is 154 km (96 mi) in diameter and estimated to be about 3.5–3.8 billion years old. The crater was named after Walter Frederick Gale , an amateur astronomer from Sydney , Australia, who observed Mars in

936-469: A sign that there must be ice lying within a meter of the planet's surface, and proceeded to map the distribution of water below the shallow surface. The orbiter also discovered vast deposits of bulk water ice near the surface of equatorial regions. By December 15, 2010, it broke the record for longest serving spacecraft at Mars, with 3,340 days of operation. Odyssey has also served as the primary means of communications for NASA's Mars surface explorers in

1008-511: A spokesman for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory stated that Odyssey could continue operating until at least 2016. This estimate has since been extended to the end of 2025. By 2008, Mars Odyssey had mapped the basic distribution of water below the shallow surface. The ground truth for its measurements came on July 31, 2008, when NASA announced that the Phoenix lander confirmed the presence of water on Mars, as predicted in 2002 based on data from

1080-482: A surface holds heat. Objects with high thermal inertia (hold more heat) are either highly indurated, very dense, or have a large particle size while low thermal inertia represents fine grain particles such as dust. Mawrth Vallis has a thermal inertia that indicates the size of surface particles range from dusty to larger rocks. Odyssey is currently NASA 's longest serving spacecraft at Mars and has been orbiting Mars since October 2001. Odyssey ' s primary purpose

1152-489: Is MRO's second spectrometer and uses visible and near infrared light and take measurements in 5 km strips which are compiled into daily maps used to monitor weather conditions on Mars. CRISM's mission is to detect aqueous and hydrothermal deposits while mapping the geology, stratigraphy, and composition of the Martian surface. Mawrth Vallis is a prime target because of the clay minerals previously detected by OMEGA. CRISM has

1224-420: Is a mineralogical mapping spectrometer that has channels to detect visible (0.5–1.0 µm) and infrared (1.0–5.2 µm) wavelengths with a special resolution of 100 m. Both channels have a telescope, a spectrometer, and an optical device which focuses light. Visible light is focused onto a charge coupled device and infrared is focused to an InSb multi detector. OMEGA was designed to work in collaboration with

1296-413: Is about 4,400 m (14,400 ft) below Martian "sea level" (defined as the average elevation around the equator). The expected near-surface atmospheric temperatures at the landing site during Curiosity ' s primary mission (1 Martian year or 687 Earth days) are from −90 to 0 °C (−130 to 32 °F). Scientists chose Gale as the landing site for Curiosity because it has many signs that water

1368-734: Is estimated to have enough propellant to function until the end of 2025. In August 2000, NASA solicited candidate names for the mission. Out of 200 names submitted, the committee chose Astrobiological Reconnaissance and Elemental Surveyor, abbreviated ARES (a tribute to Ares , the Greek god of war). Faced with criticism that this name was not very compelling, and too aggressive, the naming committee reconvened. The candidate name "2001 Mars Odyssey" had earlier been rejected because of copyright and trademark concerns. However, NASA e-mailed Arthur C. Clarke in Sri Lanka, who responded that he would be delighted to have

1440-617: Is not the case–water stayed for some time. Also, with water coming and going on a regular pace, there is a better chance of more complex organic compounds being produced. As water evaporates chemicals are concentrated and have a better chance of combining. For example when amino acids are concentrated they are more likely to link up to form proteins. Curiosity found features that computer simulations show could be caused by past streams. They have been called benches and noses. The "noses" stick out like noses. Computer simulations show that these shapes can be produced by rivers. In July 2024

1512-496: Is to map the mineralogy of martian surface but is also used to assess potential landing sites for rovers and landers. Odyssey consists of three instruments for measuring the surface of Mars; a Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), a Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), and Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE). MARIE was damaged in 2003, most likely by a solar particle, and GRS is not in use after Odyssey changed its orbit in 2008 to increase THEMIS sensitivity. In addition to

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1584-488: Is used in conjunction with visible images and elevation data recorded by MRO, detailed maps of the surface mineralogy have been produced. These maps show a nontronite and hectorite are found commonly in the lower elevations of Mawrth Vallis while montmorillonite and other hydrated silicates are at higher elevations surrounding nontronite and hectorite. These observations suggest nontronite and hectorite were formed as alteration products in an aqueous environment but montmorillonite

1656-492: Is used to identify the composition of the surface of Mars. TES has a resolution of 3 x 6 km, this is a much larger field of view when compared to future orbiters. This resolution does not provide detailed composition maps but does serve as a good baseline for understanding the makeup of martian rocks. TES was able to provide thermal inertia information at Mawrth Vallis despite the low resolution. Thermal inertia compares daytime and nighttime infrared data to determine how well

1728-776: The Curiosity rover will continue to explore higher and younger layers of Mount Sharp in order to determine how the lake environment in ancient times on Mars became the drier environment in more modern times. On August 5, 2017, NASA celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Curiosity rover mission landing, and related exploratory accomplishments, on the planet Mars . (Videos: Curiosity 's First Five Years (02:07) ; Curiosity 's POV: Five Years Driving (05:49) ; Curiosity 's Discoveries About Gale Crater (02:54) ) On June 7, 2018, NASA 's Curiosity made two significant discoveries in Gale. Organic molecules preserved in 3.5 billion-year-old bedrock and seasonal variations in

1800-550: The Curiosity rover, that there was plenty of water on early Mars . In January 2020, researchers have found certain minerals, made of carbon and oxygen, in rocks at Gale, which may have formed in an ice-covered lake during a cold stage between warmer periods, or after Mars lost most of its atmosphere and became permanently cold. On November 5, 2020, researchers concluded based on data observed by Curiosity rover that Gale experienced megafloods which occurred around 4 billion years ago, taking into consideration antidunes reaching

1872-660: The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, which was launched November 26, 2011 and landed on Mars inside the crater Gale on the plains of Aeolis Palus on August 6, 2012. Gale was previously a candidate landing site for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover mission, and has been one of four prospective sites for ESA 's ExoMars . In December 2012, scientists working on the Mars Science Laboratory mission announced that an extensive soil analysis of Martian soil performed by Curiosity showed evidence of water molecules , sulphur and chlorine , as well as hints of organic compounds . However, terrestrial contamination, as

1944-403: The Odyssey orbiter. The science team is trying to determine whether the water ice ever thaws enough to be available for microscopic life, and if carbon-containing chemicals and other raw materials for life are present. The orbiter also discovered vast deposits of bulk water ice near the surface of equatorial regions. Evidence for equatorial hydration is both morphological and compositional and

2016-430: The density of Mount Sharp in Gale, thereby establishing a clearer understanding of how the mountain was formed. Gale is located at about 5°24′S 137°48′E  /  5.4°S 137.8°E  / -5.4; 137.8 on Mars. Numerous channels eroded into the flanks of the crater's central mound could give access to the layers for study. Gale is the landing site of the Curiosity rover, delivered by

2088-782: The Mars Express Orbiter and Beagle 2 lander launched in June 2003. While the lander portion of the mission failed, the orbiter is still in use. The Mars Express Orbiter consists of three instruments with the purpose of analyzing the surface and subsurface of Mars: the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC), Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité (OMEGA), and the Mars Advance Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS). Additionally there are three instruments used for atmosphere analysis. OMEGA

2160-491: The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are montmorillonite and kaolinite , alunite , and nontronite . Since some clays seem to drape over high and low areas, it is possible that volcanic ash landed in an open body of water. On Earth such clays occur in (among other environments) weathered volcanic rocks and hydrothermal systems, where volcanic activity and water interact. Mawrth Vallis was at one point considered as

2232-539: The Mawrth channel is a 200 meter high plateau with many exposed layers. Spectral studies have detected clay minerals that present as a sequence of layers. Clay minerals were probably deposited in the Early to Middle Noachian period . Later weathering exposed a variety of minerals such as kaolin , alunite , and jarosite . Later, volcanic material covered the region. This volcanic material would have protected any possible organic materials from radiation. Mars Global Surveyor

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2304-505: The Rover cracked open a rock with its wheel and found crystals of sulfur . Minerals containing sulfur were discovered, but never the pure element. It was found in Gediz Vallis. 2001 Mars Odyssey 2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars . The project was developed by NASA , and contracted out to Lockheed Martin , with an expected cost for

2376-691: The Stimson formation is the only stratigraphic unit within the Siccar Point group which has been investigated in-detail by Curiosity . The Stimson formation represents the preserved expression of a dry aeolian dune field , where sediment was transported towards the north, or northeast by palaeowinds within the crater. In the Emerson plateau area (from Marias Pass, to East Glacier), the outcrops are characterised predominantly by simple cross-sets, deposited by simple sinuous-crested dunes, with heights up to ~10 m. To

2448-532: The ability to map these clay minerals at a higher resolution, providing more detailed maps of aqueous minerals detected on Mars as well as detection of minerals which are undetectable at OMEGA's resolution. Fe/Mg-smectites are the dominant spectra detected by CRISM at Mawrth Vallis with spectra falling between nontronite, an Fe-smectite, and hectorite , a Mg-smectite. Montmorillonite, an Al-smectite, and hydrated silica have similar infrared reflectance spectrums and both were detected by CRISM at Mawrth Vallis. CRISM data

2520-531: The amounts of methane in the atmosphere of the planet Mars ; in addition, organic chemicals were detected in powder drilled from a rock . Also, based on deuterium to hydrogen ratio studies, much of the water at Gale on Mars was found to have been lost during ancient times, before the lakebed in the crater was formed; afterwards, large amounts of water continued to be lost. On October 8, 2015, NASA confirmed that lakes and streams existed in Gale 3.3 to 3.8 billion years ago delivering sediments to build up

2592-602: The composition of the ground and about temperature-driven processes, such as warm seasonal flows observed on some slopes, and geysers fed by spring thawing of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) ice near Mars' poles. On October 19, 2014, NASA reported that the Mars Odyssey Orbiter, as well as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN , were healthy after the Comet Siding Spring flyby. In 2010,

2664-619: The crater completely, possibly originally deposited on a lakebed. Evidence of fluvial activity was observed early on in the mission at the Shaler outcrop (first observed on Sol 120, investigated extensively between Sols 309-324). Observations made by the rover Curiosity at the Pahrump Hills strongly support the lake hypothesis: sedimentary facies including sub mm-scale horizontally-laminated mudstones, with interbedded fluvial crossbeds are representative of sediments which accumulate in lakes, or on

2736-443: The entire mission of US$ 297 million. Its mission is to use spectrometers and a thermal imager to detect evidence of past or present water and ice, as well as study the planet's geology and radiation environment. The data Odyssey obtains is intended to help answer the question of whether life once existed on Mars and create a risk-assessment of the radiation that future astronauts on Mars might experience. It also acts as

2808-542: The floor of Gale—three times higher than the Grand Canyon is deep. At 10:32 p.m. PDT on August 5, 2012 (1:32 a.m. EDT on August 6, 2012), the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity landed on Mars at 4°30′S 137°24′E  /  4.5°S 137.4°E  / -4.5; 137.4 , at the foot of the layered mountain inside Gale. Curiosity landed within a landing ellipse approximately 7 km (4.3 mi) by 20 km (12 mi). The landing ellipse

2880-611: The height of 10 meters (33 ft), which were formed by flood waters at least 24 meters (79 ft) deep with a velocity of 10 meters per second (22 mph). Research published in August, 2023 found evidence that liquid water may have existed for a long time and not just when an impact or volcano erupted. Shapes in a field of hexagonal ridges revealed that water appeared and then went away many times. The water did not just result from ground ice melting from something like an asteroid impact. To make these ridges many cycles of water saturating

2952-405: The highest abundance of phyllosilicates on Mars and has up to 65% of smectites in volume. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter consists of radar, three cameras, and two spectrometers. The Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) is a visible and near infrared spectrometers that is designed to map the surface mineralogy of Mars at a resolution of 18m. The Mars Climate Sounder (MCS)

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3024-473: The late 19th century. Mount Sharp is a mountain in the center of Gale and rises 5.5 km (18,000 ft) high. Aeolis Palus is the plain between the northern wall of Gale and the northern foothills of Aeolis Mons. Peace Vallis , a nearby outflow channel , 'flows' down from the hills to the Aeolis Palus below and seems to have been carved by flowing water . Several lines of evidence suggest that

3096-532: The level of methane in the atmosphere further support the theory that past conditions may have been conducive to life. It is possible that a form of water-rock chemistry might have generated the methane, but scientists cannot rule out the possibility of biological origins. Methane previously had been detected in Mars' atmosphere in large, unpredictable plumes. This new result shows that low levels of methane within Gale repeatedly peak in warm, summer months and drop in

3168-431: The lower layers of Mount Sharp . On June 1, 2017, NASA reported that the Curiosity rover provided evidence of an ancient lake in Gale on Mars that could have been favorable for microbial life ; the ancient lake was stratified , with shallows rich in oxidants and depths poor in oxidants; and, the ancient lake provided many different types of microbe-friendly environments at the same time. NASA further reported that

3240-569: The margins of lakes which grow and contract in response to lake-level. These lake-bed mudstones are referred to as the Murray Formation , and form a significant amount of the Mount Sharp group. The Siccar Point group (named after the famous unconformity at Siccar Point ) overlies the Mount Sharp group, and the two units are separated by a major unconformity which dips toward the North. At present,

3312-474: The mission named after his books, and he had no objections. On September 20, NASA associate administrator Ed Weiler wrote to the associate administrator for public affairs recommending a name change from ARES to 2001 Mars Odyssey . Peggy Wilhide then approved the name change. The three primary instruments Odyssey uses are the: Mars Odyssey launched from Cape Canaveral on April 7, 2001, and arrived at Mars about 200 days later on October 24. Upon arrival,

3384-474: The mission to be launched on a Delta II 7925 launch vehicle, rather than a larger, more expensive launcher. Aerobraking ended in January 2002, and Odyssey began its science mapping mission on February 19, 2002. Odyssey ' s original, nominal mission lasted until August 2004, but repeated mission extensions have kept the mission active. The payload's MARIE radiation experiment stopped taking measurements after

3456-402: The northern crater floor and 4.5 km (15,000 ft) above the southern crater floor—slightly taller than the southern rim of the crater itself. The mound is composed of layered material and may have been laid down over a period of around 2 billion years. The origin of this mound is not known with certainty, but research suggests it is the eroded remnant of sedimentary layers that once filled

3528-471: The onboard spectrometers, Odyssey serves as a communication relay between Earth and the rovers and landers on Mars’ surface. THEMIS detects infrared reflectance of ten spectral bands which are used for identifying the composition of the martian surface. Using multiple-spectra allows Odyssey to better characterize the minerals found on Mars. THEMIS is similar to TES on the Mars Global Surveyor but has

3600-643: The other instruments on Mars Express, specifically the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS). OMEGA has been used to identify the mineralogy and understand the stratigraphy of Mawth Vallis. Large outcrops of phyllosillicate -rich units have been discovered and are exposed throughout the Mawrth Vallis region at a meter scale. OMEGA has distinguished two types of phyllosilicates which are likely to be montmorillonite and nontronite based on known spectra. From OMEGA's perspective, Mawrth Vallis contains

3672-660: The overlying Mount Sharp Group. Formations within the Bradbury Group include the Yellowknife and Kimberley, while the Murray Formation is at the base of the Mount Sharp Group. The Bradbury Group consists of fluvial conglomerates , cross-bedded sandstones , and mudstones reflecting a basaltic provenance . Sandstone clinoforms indicate deltaic deposits . The Murray Formation is a laminated mudstone overlain by

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3744-573: The past decade, up to the Curiosity rover . It currently holds the record for the longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth, ahead of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (served 14 years ) and the Mars Express (serving over 20 years), at 23 years, 1 month and 6 days. As of October 2019 it is in a polar orbit around Mars with a semi-major axis of about 3,800 km or 2,400 miles. It

3816-535: The past, including: Pancake Delta, Western Delta, Farah Vallis delta and the Peace Vallis Fan. Orbital THEMIS and topography data, plus visible and near-infrared images, were used to make a geologic map of the crater. CRISM data indicated the lower bench unit was composed of interstratified clay and sulfates . Curiosity explored the stratigraphy of the crater consisting of the Bradbury Group and

3888-597: The pediment capping unit. Observations made during the ascent of the Greenheugh pediment between Sols 2665-2734 demonstrated that the pediment capping unit has sedimentary textures, facies and architecture that are consistent with the rest of the Stimson formation. Furthermore, analysis of sedimentary facies and architecture provided evidence which indicates fluctuating wind directions, from a seasonal temporal scale - recorded by interstratified windripple and avalanche strata, through to millennial time scales recorded by reversal of

3960-518: The presence of phyllosilicate (clay) minerals which form only if water is available, first identified in data from the OMEGA spectrometer on the European Space Agency 's Mars Express orbiter. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter 's Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars has identified aluminium-rich and iron-rich clays, each with a unique distribution. Some of the clays recently discovered by

4032-564: The rovers and performed the same task for NASA's Phoenix mission , which landed on Mars in May 2008. Odyssey aided NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter , which reached Mars in March 2006, by monitoring atmospheric conditions during months when the newly arrived orbiter used aerobraking to alter its orbit into the desired shape. Odyssey is in a Sun-synchronous orbit , which provides consistent lighting for its photographs. On September 30, 2008 (sol 2465)

4104-458: The sediment transport direction. These wind reversals suggest variable and changeable atmospheric circulation during this time. Observations of possible cross-bedded strata on the upper mound suggest aeolian processes , but the origin of the lower mound layers remains ambiguous. In February 2019, NASA scientists reported that the Mars Curiosity rover had determined, for the first time,

4176-534: The source of the organic compounds, could not be ruled out. On September 26, 2013, NASA scientists reported that Curiosity detected "abundant, easily accessible" water (1.5 to 3 weight percent) in soil samples at the Rocknest region of Aeolis Palus in Gale. In addition, the rover found two principal soil types: a fine-grained mafic type and a locally derived, coarse-grained felsic type . The mafic type, similar to other martian soils and martian dust ,

4248-561: The south, at the Murray buttes, the outcrop are characterised by compound cross-sets, with a hierarchy of bounding surfaces migration of small dunes superimposed on the lee-slope of a large dune known as a " draa ". These draas have estimates heights of ~40 m, and migrated toward the north, while superimposed dunes migrated toward the east-northeast. Further to the south, at the Greenheugh pediment, compound and simple cross-sets consistent with aeolian depositional processes have been observed in

4320-597: The spacecraft altered its orbit to gain better sensitivity for its infrared mapping of Martian minerals. The new orbit eliminated the use of the gamma ray detector, due to the potential for overheating the instrument at the new orbit. The orbiter's orientation is controlled by a set of three reaction wheels and a spare. When one failed in June 2012, the fourth was spun up and successfully brought into service. Since July 2012, Odyssey has been back in full, nominal operation mode following three weeks of 'safe' mode on remote maintenance. Mars Odyssey ' s THEMIS instrument

4392-551: The spacecraft's main engine fired in order to decelerate, which allowed it to be captured into orbit around Mars. Odyssey then spent about 76 days aerobraking , using aerodynamic drag from the upper reaches of the Martian atmosphere to gradually slow down and reduce and circularize its orbit. By planning to use the atmosphere of Mars to slow the spacecraft in its orbit rather than firing its engine or thrusters, Odyssey did not need an additional 200 kilograms (440 lb) of propellant on board. This reduction in spacecraft weight allowed

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4464-436: The surface and cause elements to emit identifiable signatures of energy (gamma rays). Measuring these gamma rays allows for the calculation of various element abundances. Water has been inferred by calculating the abundance of hydrogen . The GRS is separated from the main body of Odyssey by a 20 ft boom to reduce interference caused by the orbiter. THEMIS detected hydrated minerals at Mawth Vallis and also provided images of

4536-473: The surface and then drying were required. Chemicals were deposited by mineral-rich fluids in cracks. The minerals hardened such that they were harder than the rock around them. Later, when erosion took place, ridges were exposed. This discovery is significant. Much evidence exists to show that impacts and volcanic activity could melt ground ice to make liquid water. However, that water may not last long enough for life to develop. This new finding shows here it

4608-427: The way to Glenelg , was a mugearite and very similar to terrestrial mugearite rocks. On December 9, 2013, NASA reported that, based on evidence from Curiosity studying Aeolis Palus, Gale contained an ancient freshwater lake which could have been a hospitable environment for microbial life . On December 16, 2014, NASA reported detecting, by the Curiosity rover at Gale, an unusual increase, then decrease, in

4680-463: The winter every year. Organic carbon concentrations were discovered on the order of 10 parts per million or more. This is close to the amount observed in Martian meteorites and about 100 times greater than prior analysis of organic carbon on Mars' surface. Some of the molecules identified include thiophenes, benzene, toluene, and small carbon chains, such as propane or butene. On November 4, 2018, geologists presented evidence, based on studies in Gale by

4752-409: Was associated with hydration of the amorphous phases of the soil. Also, perchlorates , the presence of which may make detection of life-related organic molecules difficult, were found at the Curiosity landing site (and earlier at the more polar site of the Phoenix lander ) suggesting a "global distribution of these salts". NASA also reported that Jake M rock , a rock encountered by Curiosity on

4824-404: Was likely to form at a later time during a separate aqueous event. In the year 2020 NASA plans to land a rover based on the Mars Science Laboratory that landed at Gale Crater. A landing site has not been chosen but will rely on orbiter data to choose a site that can contribute to NASA's overall goal of understanding the potential for life on Mars. Mawrth Vallis was considered as a landing site, but

4896-554: Was not among the final three potential landing sites. Orbiter observations have shown that there are hydrated minerals at Mawrth Vallis which indicate an aqueous past. Mawrth Vallis was also one of two finalists in the landing site selection process for the European Space Agency's future ExoMars Rover. As Exomars Rover will look for past life indicators, it was a good candidate, but it was deemed that Oxia Planum site would provide an equally interesting science ground while being

4968-460: Was not chosen as a landing target, there is still interest in understanding the mineralogy and stratigraphy of the area. Until a rover mission is committed to exploring Mawrth Vallis, orbiters remain the only source of information. These orbiters consist of a number of spectrometers that contribute to our knowledge of Mawrth Vallis and the rest of the Martian surface. One of the oldest valleys on Mars , Mawrth Vallis holds special interest because of

5040-464: Was present over its history. The crater's geology is notable for containing both clays and sulfate minerals, which form in water under different conditions and may also preserve signs of past life. The history of water at Gale, as recorded in its rocks, is giving Curiosity many clues to study as it pieces together whether Mars ever could have been a habitat for microbes. Gale contains a number of fans and deltas that provide information about lake levels in

5112-819: Was the first orbiter launched by the US since 1976 when the Viking lander was sent to Mars. The purpose of Global Surveyor was to map the surface of Mars using the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), and a Magnetometer . MOC could capture high resolution images ranging from 1.5 to 12 m per pixel. MOLA was used to provide topographic maps of Mars. TES uses six detectors to measure both thermal infrared and visible near infrared data which

5184-403: Was used to help select a landing site for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Several days before MSL's landing in August 2012, Odyssey ' s orbit was altered to ensure that it would be able to capture signals from the rover during its first few minutes on the Martian surface. Odyssey also acted as a relay for UHF radio signals from the (MSL) rover Curiosity . Because Odyssey is in

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