Mars Science Laboratory (MSL, or Curiosity) is a Mars rover launched by NASA on November 26, 2011.[1][3] Currently en route to the planet, it is scheduled to land in Gale Crater at about 05:31 UTC on August 6, 2012. The rover's objectives include searching for past or present life, studying the Martian climate, studying Martian geology, and collecting data for a future manned mission to Mars.[11]

Curiosity is about five times larger than the Spirit or Opportunity Mars exploration rovers,[12] and carries over ten times the mass of scientific instruments. It will attempt a more precise landing than previous rovers, within a landing ellipse of 7 km by 20 km,[13] in the Aeolis Palus region of Gale Crater. This location is near the mountain Aeolis Mons (formerly called "Mount Sharp").[14][15] It is designed to explore for at least 687 Earth days (1 Martian year) over a range of 5–20 km (3–12 miles).[16]

The Mars Science Laboratory mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort for the robotic exploration of Mars, and the project is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of California Institute of Technology. When MSL launched, the program's director was Doug McCuistion of NASA's Planetary Science Division.[17] The total cost of the MSL project is about US$2.5 billion.[18]

[edit] History

In April 2004, NASA made an 'Announcement of Opportunity' for proposals/ideas for science instruments that could be used onboard the Mars Science Laboratory rover.[19] In late 2004 Aerojet test-fired a Viking flight spare rocket engine assembly in order to help design a new engine to deliver the MSL rover to the surface of Mars. The rocket engine used in the test was originally built, tested and delivered in 1973 for the Viking program.[19] Testing continued through 2005 to support technology development for JPL. The most significant feature of the monopropellant engine is its ability to throttle from 15-100 percent thrust with a fixed propellant inlet pressure.[19] On December 14, 2004, NASA selected eight proposals to provide instrumentation and associated science investigations for the rover.[19]

In April 2008, it was reported that the project was $235 million, or 24%, over budget and that the money to compensate this overrun might have to come from other NASA Mars missions.[12] By October 2008 MSL was getting closer to a 30% cost overrun.[20][21] Development was essentially finished by November 2008, with much of the MSL hardware and software complete and testing ongoing.[22]

On December 3, 2008, NASA announced that the MSL launch would be delayed until the fall of 2011 because of inadequate test time.[23][24]

Between March 23–29, 2009, the general public had an opportunity to rank nine finalist names through a public poll on the NASA website as additional input for judges to consider when choosing the name of the MSL rover.[25] On May 27, 2009 the winning name, Curiosity was selected. It was submitted by a sixth-grader, Clara Ma, from Kansas, in an essay contest.[25][26][27][28]

On November 26, 2011, the rover was launched from an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral. It is currently in its cruise configuration[29] and is scheduled to arrive at Mars on August 5, 2012 at about 10pm in the evening PDT, the time used by the mission controllers in Pasadena, California.[6] Its radiation detector was turned on during its interplanetary cruise.

On January 11, 2012, the spacecraft successfully refined its flight path with the largest maneuver planned for the mission's journey between Earth and Mars. The three hour series of thruster-engine firings accomplished two aims: to put the spacecraft's trajectory about 25,000 miles (40,000 km) closer to encountering Mars, and to advance the time of the encounter by about 14 hours.

[edit] Goals and objectives

The MSL mission has four scientific goals:

1. Determine whether Mars could ever have supported life
2. Study the climate of Mars
3. Study the geology of Mars
4. Plan for a human mission to Mars

To contribute to these goals, MSL has six main scientific objectives:[11][30]

1. Determine the mineralogical composition of the Martian surface and near-surface geological materials.
2. Attempt to detect chemical building blocks of life (biosignatures).
3. Interpret the processes that have formed and modified rocks and soils.
4. Assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billion-year) Martian atmospheric evolution processes.
5. Determine present state, distribution, and cycling of water and carbon dioxide.
6. Characterize the broad spectrum of surface radiation, including galactic radiation, cosmic radiation, solar proton events and secondary neutrons.

As part of its exploration, it is measuring the radiation exposure in the interior of the spacecraft as it travels to Mars, important data for a future manned mission.[31]

[edit] Specifications

The entire spacecraft weighs 8,463 pounds (3,893 kilograms) at launch, consisting of 1,982-pound (899-kilogram) rover; 5,293-pound (2,401-kilogram) entry, descent and landing system (aeroshell plus descent stage+390kg of landing propellant); and 1,188-pound (539-kilogram) fueled cruise stage. Rover specifications:

• Dimensions: The rover Curiosity is 10 ft (3.0 m) in length, and weighs 1,984 lb (900 kg) including 176 lb (80 kg) of scientific instruments.[12] It is approximately the size of a Mini Cooper automobile,[32] much larger than the Mars Exploration Rovers, which have a length of 5 ft (1.5 m) and weigh 384 lb (174 kg) including 15 lb (6.8 kg) of scientific instruments.[12][33][34]

• Speed: Once on the surface, Curiosity will be able to roll over obstacles approaching 75 cm (30 in) in height. Maximum terrain-traverse speed is estimated to be 90 m (300 ft) per hour by automatic navigation, however, average traverse speeds will likely be about 30 m (98 ft) per hour, based on variables including power levels, terrain difficulty, slippage, and visibility. MSL is expected to traverse a minimum of 12 mi (19 km) in its two-year mission.[35]

Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are generators that produce electricity from the natural decay of plutonium-238, which is a non-fissile isotope of plutonium. Heat given off by the natural decay of this isotope is converted into electricity, providing constant power during all seasons and through the day and night, and waste heat can be used via pipes to warm systems, freeing electrical power for the operation of the vehicle and instruments.[36][37]Curiosity's RTG is fueled by 10.6 pounds (4.8 kilograms) of plutonium-238 dioxide supplied by the U.S. Department of Energy,[38] packed in 32 pellets each about the size of a marshmallow.[12]

Curiosity's power generator is the latest RTG generation built by Boeing, called the "Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator" or MMRTG.[39] Based on classical RTG technology, it represents a more flexible and compact development step,[39] and is designed to produce 125 watts of electrical power from about 2000 watts of thermal power at the start of the mission.[36][37] The MMRTG produces less power over time as its plutonium fuel decays: at its minimum lifetime of 14 years, electrical power output is down to 100 watts.[40][41] The MSL will generate 2.5 kilowatt hours per day, much more than the Mars Exploration Rovers, which can generate about 0.6 kilowatt hours per day.

• Heat rejection system: The temperatures in the potential areas at which Curiosity may land can vary from +30 to −127 °C (+86 °F to −197 °F). Therefore, the heat rejection system (HRS) uses fluid pumped through 60 m (200 ft) of tubing in the MSL body so that sensitive components are kept at optimal temperatures.[42] Other methods of heating the internal components include using radiated heat generated from the components in the craft itself, as well as excess heat from the MMRTG unit. The HRS also has the ability to cool components if necessary.[42]

• Computers: The two identical on-board rover computers, called "Rover Compute Element" (RCE), contain radiation hardened memory to tolerate the extreme radiation environment from space and to safeguard against power-off cycles. Each computer's memory includes 256 KB of EEPROM, 256 MB of DRAM, and 2 GB of flash memory.[43] This compares to 3 MB of EEPROM, 128 MB of DRAM, and 256 MB of flash memory used in the Mars Exploration Rovers.[44]

The RCE computers use the RAD750 CPU, which is a successor to the RAD6000 CPU used in the Mars Exploration Rovers.[45][46] The RAD750 CPU is capable of up to 400 MIPS, while the RAD6000 CPU is capable of up to 35 MIPS.[47][48] Of the two on-board computers, one is configured as backup, and will take over in the event of problems with the main computer.[43]

The rover has an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that provides 3-axis information on its position, which is used in rover navigation.[43] The rover's computers are constantly self-monitoring to keep the rover operational, such as by regulating the rover's temperature.[43] Activities such as taking pictures, driving, and operating the instruments are performed in a command sequence that is sent from the flight team to the rover.[43]

• Communications: Curiosity has two means of communication – an X band transmitter and receiver that can communicate directly with Earth, and a UHF Electra-Lite software-defined radio for communicating with Mars orbiters. Communication with orbiters is expected to be the main path for data return to Earth, since the orbiters have both more power and larger antennas than the lander.[49] At landing time, 13 minutes, 46 seconds will be required for signals to travel between Earth and Mars.[50]

• Mobility systems: Like previous rovers Mars Exploration Rovers and Mars Pathfinder, Curiosity is equipped with 6 wheels in a rocker-bogie suspension. The suspension system will also serve as landing gear for the vehicle, unlike its smaller predecessors.[51] Curiosity's wheels are significantly larger than those used on previous rovers. Each wheel has a pattern which helps it maintain traction but also leaves patterned tracks in the sandy surface of Mars. That pattern is used by on-board cameras to judge the distance traveled. The pattern itself is Morse code for "JPL" (·--- ·--· ·-··).[52]

• Curiosity rover, taken during mobility testing

• The MSL Assembly, Test and Launch Operations (ATLO) in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

• Tread pattern allows estimation of the distance to imprint. The pattern is Morse code for "JPL", one center that worked on MSL

[edit] Payload

The following instruments were selected for the MSL rover Curiosity.

1. MastCam: This system will provide multiple spectra and true color imaging with two cameras.[54] The cameras can take true color images at 1600×1200 pixels and up to 10 frames per second hardware-compressed, high-definition video at 720p (1280×720). One camera will be the Medium Angle Camera (MAC) which has a 34 mm focal length, a 15-degree field of view, and can yield 22 cm/pixel scale at 1 km. The other camera will be the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) which has a 100 mm focal length, a 5.1-degree field of view, and can yield 7.4 cm/pixel scale at 1 km.[54] Malin also developed a pair of Mastcams with zoom lenses,[63] but these were not included in the final design because of time required to test the new hardware and the looming November 2011 launch date.[64] Each camera will have 8 GB of flash memory, which is capable of storing over 5,500 raw images, and can apply real time lossless or JPEG compression.[54] The cameras have an autofocus capability which allows them to focus on objects from 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) to infinity.[57] Each camera will also have a RGB Bayer pattern filter with 8 filter positions.[54] In comparison to the 1024×1024 black and white panoramic cameras used on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER), the MAC MastCam will have 1.25× higher spatial resolution and the NAC MastCam will have 3.67× higher spatial resolution.[57]
2. Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI): This system consists of a camera mounted to a robotic arm on the rover, used to acquire microscopic images of rock and soil. MAHLI can take true color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a resolution as high as 14.5 micrometers per pixel. MAHLI has a 18.3 mm to 21.3 mm focal length and a 33.8- to 38.5-degree field of view.[55] MAHLI will have both white and ultraviolet LED illumination for imaging in darkness or imaging fluorescence. MAHLI will also have mechanical focusing in a range from infinite to millimetre distances.[55] This system can make some images with focus stacking processing.[65] MAHLI can store either the raw images or do realtime lossless predictive or JPEG compression.[55]See also Camera, hand lens, and microscope probe
3. MSL Mars Descent Imager (MARDI): During the descent to the Martian surface, MARDI will take color images at 1600×1200 pixels with a 1.3-millisecond exposure time starting at distances of about 3.7 km to near 5 meters from the ground and will take images at a rate of 5 frames per second for about 2 minutes.[56][66] MARDI has a pixel scale of 1.5 meters at 2 km to 1.5 millimeters at 2 meters and has a 90-degree circular field of view. MARDI will have 8 GB of internal buffer memory which is capable of storing over 4,000 raw images. MARDI imaging will allow the mapping of surrounding terrain and the location of landing.[56]JunoCam, for another spacecraft, is based on MARDI.[67]

• ChemCam: ChemCam is a suite of remote sensing instruments, including the first laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system to be used for planetary science and a remote micro-imager (RMI).[68][69] The LIBS instrument can target a rock or soil sample from up to 7 meters away, vaporizing a small amount of it with a 5-nanosecond pulse from a 1067 nm infrared laser and then collecting a spectrum of the light emitted by the vaporized rock. Detection of the ball of luminous plasma will be done in the visible and near-UV and near-IR range, between 240 nm and 800 nm.[68]

Using the same collection optics, the RMI provides context images of the LIBS analysis spots. The RMI resolves 1 mm objects at 10 m distance, and has a field of view covering 20 cm at that distance.[68] The ChemCam instrument suite was developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the French CESR laboratory.[68][70][71][72]

NASA's cost for ChemCam is approximately $10M, including an overrun of about $1.5M,[73] which is less than 1/200th of the total mission costs.[74] The flight model of the Mast Unit was delivered from the French CNES to Los Alamos National Laboratory and was able to deliver the engineering model to JPL in February 2008.[75]

• CheMin: CheMin is the Chemistry and Mineralogy (ChemMin) X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrument[78] ChemMin is one of four spectrometers. It will identify and quantify the abundance of the minerals on Mars. It was developed by David Blake at NASA Ames Research Center and the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[79] The rover will drill samples into rocks and the resulting fine powder will be sampled by the instrument. A beam of X-rays is then directed at the powder and the internal crystal structure of the minerals deflects back a pattern of X-rays. All minerals diffract X-rays in a characteristic pattern which allows scientists to identify the structure of the minerals the rover will encounter.

• Sample analysis at Mars (SAM): The SAM instrument suite will analyze organics and gases from both atmospheric and solid samples.[80][81] It is being developed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the Laboratoire Inter-Universitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques (LISA) of France's CNRS and Honeybee Robotics, along with many additional external partners.[80][82][83] The SAM suite consists of three instruments:

1. The Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) will detect gases sampled from the atmosphere or those released from solid samples by heating.[80]
2. The Gas Chromatograph (GC) will be used to separate out individual gases from a complex mixture into molecular components with a mass range of 2–235 u.[80]
3. The Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) will perform precision measurements of oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in the atmosphere of Mars in order to distinguish between a geochemical and a biological origin.[80][83][84][85]

The SAM also has three subsystems: The chemical separation and processing laboratory (CSPL), for enrichment and derivatization of the organic molecules of the sample; the sample manipulation system (SMS) for transporting powder delivered from the MSL drill to a SAM inlet and into one of 74 sample cups.[80] The SMS then moves the sample to the SAM oven to release gases by heating to up to 1000 oC;[80][86] and the wide range pumps (WRP) subsystem to purge the QMS, TLS, and the CPSL.

• Radiation assessment detector (RAD): This instrument was the first of ten MSL instruments to be turned on. On the route to Mars and while working on its surface, it will characterize the broad spectrum of radiation environment found inside the spacecraft. These measurements were never done before from the inside of the spacecraft and their main purpose is to determine the viability and shielding needs for human explorers.[87] Funded by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters and the German space agency, DLR, RAD was developed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the extraterrestrial physics group at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany.[87]

• Rover environmental monitoring station (REMS): Meteorological package and an ultraviolet sensor provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, with Finnish Meteorological Institute as a partner.[90][91] It will be mounted on the camera mast and measure atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind currents and direction, air and ground temperature and ultraviolet radiation levels. REMS has been designed to record six atmospheric parameters: wind speed/direction, pressure, relative humidity, air temperature, ground temperature, and ultraviolet radiation. All sensors are located around three elements: two booms attached to the rover Remote Sensing Mast (RSM), the Ultraviolet Sensor (UVS) assembly located on the rover top deck, and the Instrument Control Unit (ICU) inside the rover body. REMS will provide new clues about signature of the Martian general circulation, microscale weather systems, local hydrological cycle, destructive potential of UV radiation, and subsurface habitability based on ground-atmosphere interaction.[90]

• MSL entry descent and landing instrumentation (MEDLI): The MEDLI project’s main objective is to measure aerothermal environments, sub-surface heat shield material response, vehicle orientation, and atmospheric density for the atmospheric entry through the sensible atmosphere down to heat shield separation of the Mars Science Laboratory entry vehicle.[92] The MEDLI instrumentation suite will be installed in the heatshield of the MSL entry vehicle. The acquired data will support future Mars missions by providing measured atmospheric data to validate Mars atmosphere models and clarify the design margins on future Mars missions. MEDLI instrumentation consists of three main subsystems: MEDLI Integrated Sensor Plugs (MISP), Mars Entry Atmospheric Data System (MEADS) and the Sensor Support Electronics (SSE).

• Hazard avoidance cameras (Hazcams): The MSL will use two pairs of black and white navigation cameras located on the front left and right and rear left and right of the rover.[93][94] They are used for autonomous hazard avoidance during rover drives and for safe positioning of the robotic arm on rocks and soils.[93] The cameras will use visible light to capture stereoscopic three-dimensional (3-D) imagery.[93] The cameras have a 120 degree field of view and map the terrain at up to 10 feet (3 meters) in front of the rover.[93] This imagery safeguards against the rover inadvertently crashing into unexpected obstacles, and works in tandem with software that allows the rover to make its own safety choices.[93]

• Navigation cameras (Navcams): The MSL will use a pair of black and white navigation cameras mounted on the mast to support ground navigation.[94][95] The cameras will use visible light to capture stereoscopic 3-D imagery.[95] The cameras have a 45 degree field of view.[95]

[edit] Launch vehicle

MSL was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41 on November 26, 2011 at 10:02:00.0 EST (15:02:00.0 UTC) via the Atlas V 541 provided by United Launch Alliance. This two stage rocket includes a 3.8 m (12 ft) Common Core Booster (CCB) powered by a single RD-180 engine, four solid rocket boosters (SRB), and one Centaur III with a 5.4 m (18 ft) diameter payload fairing. The NASA Launch Services Program coordinated the launch via the NASA Launch Services (NLS) I Contract .

This vehicle is capable of launching up to 17,597 lb (7,982 kg) to geostationary transfer orbit. The Atlas V has also been used to launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the New Horizons probe.[4][96]

The first and second stage along with the solid rocket motors were stacked on October 9, 2011 near the launch pad.[97] The fairing containing MSL was transported to the launch pad on November 3, 2011.[98]

[edit] Landing system

Landing a large mass on Mars is a difficult challenge. The atmosphere is thick enough to prevent rockets being used to provide significant deceleration, as flying into the plume at supersonic speed is notoriously unstable.[99] Also, the atmosphere is too thin for parachutes and aerobraking alone to be effective.[99] Although some previous missions have used airbags to cushion the shock of landing, the MSL is too large for this to be an option.

Curiosity will be set down on the Martian surface using a new high-precision entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system that will place it within a 20 by 7 km (12 by 4.3 mi) landing ellipse,[100] in contrast to the 150 by 20 km (93 by 12 mi) landing ellipse of the landing systems used by the Mars Exploration Rovers.[101] For this, the MSL will employ a combination of several systems in a precise order, where the entry, descent and landing sequence will break down into four parts.[102][103]

1. Guided entry: The rover is folded up within an aeroshell which protects it during the travel through space and during the atmospheric entry at Mars. Atmospheric entry is accomplished using a Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) heat shield. The 4.5 m (15 ft) diameter heat shield, which will be the largest heat shield ever flown in space,[104] reduces the velocity of the spacecraft by ablation against the Martian atmosphere, from the interplanetary transit velocity of 5.3 to 6 km/s (3.3 to 3.7 mi/s) down to approximately Mach-2, where parachute deployment is possible. Much of the reduction of the landing precision error is accomplished by an entry guidance algorithm, similar to that used by the astronauts returning to Earth in the Apollo space program. This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to "fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of mass is offset from the axial centerline which results in an off-center trim angle in atmospheric flight, again similar to the Apollo Command Module. This is accomplished by a series of ejectable ballast masses. The lift vector is controlled by four sets of two Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters that produce approximately 500 N of thrust per pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift allows the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer toward the landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle must first eject the ballast mass such that the center of gravity offset is removed. Parachute will deploy at about 10 km (6.2 mi) altitude at about 470 m/s (1,500 ft/s).[101]
2. Parachute descent: When the entry phase is complete and the capsule has slowed to Mach 2 and at about 10 km altitude, the heat shield will separate and fall away. The Mars Science Laboratory will then deploy a supersonic parachute,[101] as was done by previous landers such as Viking, Mars Pathfinder and the Mars Exploration Rovers. In March and April 2009, the parachute for the MSL was tested in the world's largest wind tunnel and passed flight-qualification testing.[105] The parachute has 80 suspension lines, is over 165 feet (50 meters) long, and is about 51 feet (16 meters) in diameter.[105] The parachute is capable of being deployed at Mach 2.2 and can generate up to 289 kN (65,000 pounds) of drag force in the Martian atmosphere.[105] A camera on the bottom of the rover will acquire about 5 frames per second (with resolution of 1600×1200 pixels) below 3.7 km during a period of about 2 minutes until the rover software confirms successful landing.[106]
3. Powered descent: Following the parachute braking, at about 1.8 km altitude, still travelling at about 100 m/s, the rover and descent stage drop out of the aeroshell.[101] The descent stage is a platform above the rover with 8 variable thrust mono propellant hydrazine rocket thrusters on arms extending around this platform to slow the descent. Each rocket thruster, called a Mars Lander Engine (MLE),[107] produces 400 N (90 pounds) to 3100 N (700 pounds) of thrust and were derived from those used on the Viking landers.[108] Meanwhile, the rover will transform from its stowed flight configuration to a landing configuration while being lowered beneath the descent stage by the "sky crane" system.
4. Sky crane: The sky crane system will lower the rover to a soft landing—wheels down—on the surface of Mars.[101] This consists of 3 bridles lowering the rover and an umbilical cable carrying electrical signals between the descent stage and rover. At roughly 7.5 m (25 ft) below the descent stage the sky crane system slows to a halt and the rover touches down. After the rover touches down it waits 2 seconds to confirm that it is on solid ground and fires several pyros (small explosive devices) activating cable cutters on the bridle and umbilical cords to free itself from the descent stage. The descent stage promptly flies away to a crash landing, and the rover gets ready to roam Mars. The planned sky crane powered descent landing system has never been used in actual missions before.[109]

[edit] Landing site

[edit] Selection criteria

An essential issue when selecting an optimum landing site is to identify a particular geologic environment, or set of environments, that would support microbial life. To mitigate the risk of disappointment and ensure the greatest chance for science success, interest is placed at the greatest number of possible science objectives at a chosen landing site. Thus, a landing site with morphologic and mineralogic evidence for past water, is better than a site with just one of these criteria. Furthermore, a site with spectra indicating multiple hydrated minerals is preferred; clay minerals and sulfate salts would constitute a rich site. Hematite, other iron oxides, sulfate minerals, silicate minerals, silica, and possibly chloride minerals have all been suggested as possible substrates for fossil preservation. Indeed, all are known to facilitate the preservation of fossil morphologies and molecules on Earth.[110] Difficult terrain is the best candidate for finding evidence of livable conditions, and engineers must be sure the rover can safely reach the site and drive within it.[111]

Engineering constraints called for a landing site less than 45° from the Martian equator, and less than 1 km above the reference datum.[112] At the first MSL Landing Site workshop, 33 potential landing sites were identified.[113] By the second workshop in late 2007, the list had grown to include almost 50 sites,[114] and by the end of the workshop, the list was reduced to six;[115][116][117] in November 2008, project leaders at a third workshop reduced the list to these four landing sites:[118][119][120][121]

A fourth landing site workshop was held in late September 2010,[126] and the fifth and final workshop May 16–18, 2011.[127] On July 22, 2011, it was announced that Gale Crater had been selected as the landing site of the Mars Science Laboratory mission.[2][8][9][10]

[edit] Location and characteristics

Based on rankings of the proposed sites by investigators working on the project, the Gale Crater was selected by NASA administrators as the landing site.[8][9][10] Within Gale Crater is a mountain, named Aeolis Mons (formerly, "Mount Sharp"),[128][14][15] of layered rocks, rising about 5.5 km (18,000 ft) above the crater floor, that Curiosity will investigate. The landing site (marked by the yellow ellipse in the image) is a smooth region (part of Aeolis Palus) inside the crater in front of the mountain. The landing site is elliptical, 20 by 7 km (12 by 4.3 mi).[100] Gale Crater diameter is 154 km (96 mi).

The landing site contains material washed down from the wall of the crater, which will provide scientists with the opportunity to investigate the rocks that form the bedrock in this area. The landing ellipse also contains a rock type that is very dense and very bright colored; it is unlike any rock type previously investigated on Mars. It may be an ancient playa lake deposit, and it will likely be the mission's first target in checking for the presence of organic molecules.[129]

However, the area of top scientific interest for Curiosity lies at the base of the mound, just at the edge of the landing ellipse and beyond a dark dune field. Here, orbiting instruments have detected signatures of both clay minerals and sulfate salts.[130] Scientists studying Mars have several hypotheses about how these minerals reflect changes in the Martian environment, particularly changes in the amount of water on the surface of Mars. The rover will use its full instrument suite to study these minerals and how they formed. These rocks are also a prime target in checking for organic molecules, since these environments may have been able to support microbial life.

Two canyons were cut in the mound through the layers containing clay minerals and sulfate salts after deposition of the layers. These canyons expose layers of rock representing tens or hundreds of millions of years of environmental change. Curiosity may be able to investigate these layers in the canyon closest to the landing ellipse, gaining access to a long history of environmental change on the planet. The canyons also contain sediment that was transported by the water that cut the canyons;[131] this sediment interacted with the water, and the environment at that time may have been habitable. Thus, the rocks deposited at the mouth of the canyon closest to the landing ellipse form the third target in the search for organic molecules.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

1. ^ a b NASA – Mars Science Laboratory, the Next Mars Rover
2. ^ a b c d Guy Webster. "Geometry Drives Selection Date for 2011 Mars Launch". NASA/JPL-Caltech. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-171. Retrieved September 22, 2011. 
3. ^ a b Allard Beutel (November 19, 2011). "NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Launch Rescheduled for Nov. 26". NASA. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1185. Retrieved November 21, 2011. 
4. ^ a b Martin, Paul K.. "NASA’S MANAGEMENT OF THE MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY PROJECT (IG-11-019)". NASA OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. http://oig.nasa.gov/audits/reports/FY11/IG-11-019.pdf. 
5. ^ Rover Fast Facts
6. ^ a b MSL Update (accessed December 8, 2011)
7. ^ MSL Science Corner: Landing Site Selection
8. ^ a b c Webster, Guy; Brown, Dwayne (July 22, 2011). "NASA's Next Mars Rover To Land At Gale Crater". NASA JPL. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-222#1. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
9. ^ a b c Chow, Dennis (July 22, 2011). "NASA's Next Mars Rover to Land at Huge Gale Crater". Space.com. http://www.space.com/12394-nasa-mars-rover-landing-site-unveiled.html. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
10. ^ a b c d e Amos, Jonathan (July 22, 2011). "Mars rover aims for deep crater". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14249524. Retrieved 2011-07-22. 
11. ^ a b "Overview". JPL. NASA. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
12. ^ a b c d e Watson, Traci (April 14, 2008). "Troubles parallel ambitions in NASA Mars project". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2008-04-13-mars_N.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
13. ^ "NASA Mars Rover Team Aims for Landing Closer to Prime Science Site". NASA/JPL. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120611.html. Retrieved 2012-05-15. 
14. ^ a b Agle, D. C. (28 March 2012). "'Mount Sharp' On Mars Links Geology's Past and Future". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20120328.html. Retrieved 31 March 2012. 
15. ^ a b Staff (29 March 2012). "NASA's New Mars Rover Will Explore Towering 'Mount Sharp'". Space.com. http://www.space.com/15097-mars-mountain-sharp-curiosity-rover.html. Retrieved 30 March 2012. 
16. ^ "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission". NASA/JPL. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/. Retrieved 2010-03-12. 
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[edit] Further reading

M. K. Lockwood (2006). "Introduction: Mars Science Laboratory: The Next Generation of Mars Landers And The Following 13 articles" (PDF). Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 43 (2): 257–257. Bibcode 2006JSpRo..43..257L. DOI:10.2514/1.20678. http://pdf.aiaa.org/jaPreview/JSR/2006/PVJA20678.pdf. 

[edit] External links