It will explore the composition of rocks with the help of the world's largest reference database of minerals, housed at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
In this artist's concept of Curiosity, the Mars rover examines a rock with a set of tools at the end of the rover's arm, which extends about 2 meters (7 feet). Two instruments on the arm can study rocks up close. Also, a drill can collect sample material from inside of rocks and a scoop can pick up samples of soil. The arm can sieve the samples and deliver fine powder to instruments inside the rover for thorough analysis. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
On Aug. 5, at about 10:30 p.m., an already busy summer will kick into overdrive for University of Arizona geosciences professor Bob Downs and one of his graduate students, Shaunna Morrison. At that time provided everything goes as planned Curiosity, the most sophisticated exploration vehicle ever sent to another planet, will parachute toward the Martian surface faster than the speed of sound after a nine-month journey through space. And as soon as it sinks its six wheels into the red dust, the two scientists specializing in mineralogy will have not one, but two planets to deal with.
As ³primary data downlink leaders² designated by NASA, Downs and Morrison are part of a team of scientists tasked with the identification of rocks that Curiosity will encounter during its two-year expedition across the floor of Gale Crater near the Martian equator.
Daniel Stolte | The University of Arizona
Further information:
http://www.arizona.edu
http://uanews.org/story/taking-robotic-geologist-mars
Further reports about: > Arizona > ChemCam > Contact > Crater > Curiosity > Earth's magnetic field > Geologist > Mars > Martian Winds > Risk Taking > Robotic > Sharp > X-ray microscopy > chemical composition > scientific instruments
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