'Curiosity' - NASA Mars Rover - Due to land 5th Aug 2012
Discussion
JPL said:
Chlorinated Compounds at 'Rocknest'
The first examinations of Martian soil by the Sample Analysis at Mars, or SAM, instrument on NASA's Mars Curiosity rover show no definitive detection of Martian organic molecules at this point. Organic molecules are carbon-containing compounds essential for life on Earth. The soil grains were acquired from a wind drift named "Rocknest."
The instrument did detect simple chlorinated carbon compounds, represented by ball and stick models on the graph. These compounds contain hydrogen and carbon as well as chlorine. More work is needed to determine if the carbon in these molecules is of terrestrial or Martian origin. The chlorinated compounds were likely created from a reaction with perchlorate or a perchlorite-like phase and carbon-containing molecules.
Future experiments will further address the question of the observed carbon's origins, and the rover will continue to search for organics in both rocks and sands in other environments of Gale Crater.
RealSquirrels said:
it's a bit of a joke though, they';ve approved the mission but don't yet have any science in mind.
backwards way to do it - identify the scientific need first, and then decide on what mission to have.
I think this is a naiive comment.backwards way to do it - identify the scientific need first, and then decide on what mission to have.
If you had an unlimited budget then of course you'd choose your science and then just make it happen.
In the real world you'll get a budget, which will determine the payload capacity which in turn places limitations on what experiments you can take up there.
So now the mission is approved they can work on prioritising what experiments to send up there, and how to make best use of their budget.
but for the same budget there could be better science to do elsewhere.
there is no reason not to put the budget figure out there and then invite proposals.
the point isn't to spend X amount of money - it's to do science. so to approve a mission before the science is figured out (i.e. how do you know there is good science to do?) is stupid.
there is no reason not to put the budget figure out there and then invite proposals.
the point isn't to spend X amount of money - it's to do science. so to approve a mission before the science is figured out (i.e. how do you know there is good science to do?) is stupid.
How do you define "better science"?
How do you know what budget is required for (say) a second Mars rover versus a brand new vehiocle for exploring Europa. I very much doubt you would get much of a Europa probe for the cost of a second Mars rover.
Don't you think that it is a good use of limited resources to make use of already developed technolgy to expand our knowledge base of a planet?
For far too long, NASA has invented brand new, specific craft for each separate mission. I think, in restrained times, it is better to devise a standard exploration vehicle for a given planet - such as a base line rover - and then kit it out with the specific instruments needed for that mission.
How do you know what budget is required for (say) a second Mars rover versus a brand new vehiocle for exploring Europa. I very much doubt you would get much of a Europa probe for the cost of a second Mars rover.
Don't you think that it is a good use of limited resources to make use of already developed technolgy to expand our knowledge base of a planet?
For far too long, NASA has invented brand new, specific craft for each separate mission. I think, in restrained times, it is better to devise a standard exploration vehicle for a given planet - such as a base line rover - and then kit it out with the specific instruments needed for that mission.
PD9 said:
Any interesting updates or progress reports?
Every week there's a two minute update video on the NASA JPL Youtube channel, last one was on the 10th explaining how they'd used their brush to clear dust off a rock before sampling it and were looking for a suitable rock to drill (which will happen in the next few days).http://www.youtube.com/user/JPLnews/videos?view=0&...
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