The event that produced heat shield rock and its implications for the Martian atmosphere

Details The event that produced heat shield rock and its implications for the Martian atmosphere The event that produced heat shield rock and its implications for the Martian atmosphere

Oct 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006georl..3319201c&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 33, Issue 19, CiteID L19201

Physics

7

Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Atmospheres (0343, 1060), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Impact Phenomena, Cratering (6022, 8136), Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Meteorites And Tektites (1028, 3662)

Scientific paper

Methods developed in previous work were used to estimate the mass, trajectory, and atmospheric conditions that produced Heat Shield Rock, the iron meteorite discovered on Mars by the Opportunity rover in January, 2005. We find that Heat Shield Rock encountered Mars at high speed and shallow entry angle, probably at a time when the planet possessed a thicker atmosphere. It entered the atmosphere with a mass of more than 60 kg, underwent significant ablation during atmospheric passage, and ricocheted across the surface upon impact. We conclude that Heat Shield Rock probably represents physical evidence that Mars once had a denser atmosphere.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The event that produced heat shield rock and its implications for the Martian atmosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The event that produced heat shield rock and its implications for the Martian atmosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The event that produced heat shield rock and its implications for the Martian atmosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-906110