Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p52a..02a&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P52A-02
Other
[5400] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets, [5470] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Surface Materials And Properties, [6225] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mars, [6620] Public Issues / Science Policy
Scientific paper
The relatively recent landed and orbital missions to Mars have focused on understanding current and past environmental conditions, whether or not Mars is or has been habitable, and whether or not life got started, evolved, and the evidence preserved. Identifying and mapping aqueous minerals and defining implications for past aqueous conditions has been a key initial element of the exploration programs. Phyllosilicate minerals have been identified from orbit, primarily in Noachian deposits. Layered, hydrated sulfate deposits have been identified and mapped. In some locations the sulfate bearing strata unconformably overlie the Noachian crust. Opaline silica has also been identified. The Opportunity rover has been exploring and characterizing layered sulfate deposits in Meridiani, whereas Spirit has been focusing on hydrothermally-produced sulfate and opal deposits in the Columbia Hills within Gusev Crater. Interestingly, neither the sulfates nor the opaline deposits investigated by the rovers can be seen from orbit due to a combination of small areal exposure, aeolian soil cover, and rock coatings. Thus, mapping of aqueous deposits determined from orbit provides only a lower bound of the inventory of the environmentally sensitive minerals contained within them. The Phoenix Lander mission focused on exploring a high northern latitude site and characterizing current and relatively recent water cycle dynamics. Water ice was found several centimeters beneath a relatively dry soil cover. Importantly, orbital observations of the Phoenix site demonstrate that the surface soil grains are covered with thin layers of quasi-liquid water. These thin layers are capable of diffusing along grain surfaces and moving solutes, with even thicker layers and enhanced mobility expected during periods of higher orbital obliquity. In summary, the combination of orbital and landed missions and results have provided new views of the role of water today and in the past on Mars. A similar integrated approach will maximize our understanding of habitability and life as the programs of exploration move from "follow the water" to determining if Mars has or had the right conditions to support life and if life exists or existed on the red planet.
No associations
LandOfFree
Importance of an Integrated Program of Landed and Orbital Missions for Understanding Mars and its Habitability 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 Importance of an Integrated Program of Landed and Orbital Missions for Understanding Mars and its Habitability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Importance of an Integrated Program of Landed and Orbital Missions for Understanding Mars and its Habitability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1774102