Recent Results from the Mars Exploration Rover Rock Abrasion Tool

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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6225 Mars

Scientific paper

The Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) serves as the sample preparation device on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) science payload. The RAT grinds a circular area 45 millimeter in diameter and to a depth of 0-15 mm into Martian rock. This is intended to remove the altered outer layers of rock as well as overlying surface fines in preparation for imaging and spectral observations. In addition to acting as a facilitator for other instruments, RAT telemetry acquired during grinding may be used to assess the physical properties of the rocks that it grinds. The most direct rock measurement extractable from the RAT grinding process is the energy expended per unit of rock volume removed. This has been termed the RAT Specific Grind Energy (SGE) and in terms of rock bulk physical properties, correlates roughly with unconfined compressive strength. Recent results from the Mars Exploration Rovers will be presented as will comparisons between Earth rocks and Martian rocks in terms of their SGEs and other physical properties. Although SGE is an uncommon metric for rock physical properties, the SGE calculated from the RAT engineering data, and linked with data from other instruments in the payload, represent the most comprehensive database yet created of the physical properties of Martian rocks. RAT SGE continues to be helpful in understanding the geologic history of Mars and will be of great value in instrument design for future Mars missions.

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