Curiosity’s mission was to discover whether conditions were once suitable for life on Mars. Nasa today has confirmed that a conditions inside Gale Crater on Mars hold all the necessary components for life to have existed, after drilling into Clay minerals.
Michale Meyer, lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program said this:
The patch of bedrock where the Mars Rover drilled for its first sample lies in an ancient network of stream channels descending from the rim of Gale crater. The bedrock consists of fine grain mudstone indicating previous wet conditions. In addition, curiosity found sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon contained in the clays, some of which are the key chemical ingredients for life.
What is more interesting is that scientists discovered a range of oxidized, less-oxidized, and even non-oxidized chemicals which would provide an energy gradient of the kind perfect for many microbes to have survived, and indeed is similar to what you find here on Earth. Paul Mahaffy, principal investigator of the SAM suite of instruments on Curiosity said:
The image below shows on the left the results of Curiosity’s abrasion tool, and on the right the results of the drill:
This could turn out to be one of many discoveries over the coming weeks. Curiosity is due to remain in the “Yellowknife Bay” area for several more weeks to investigate these latest results further, before heading on a long drive to Gale Crater’s central mound. The second mound will be particularly interesting, as Curiosity will have access to exposed layers of soil which should indicate the duration and diversity of the conditions on Mars. This could help narrow down the length of time that conditions on Mars were favorable for life, among other things.
We shall of course update you if there are further exciting discoveries.
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