First peer-reviewed science results from rovers

ToSeek · #1 (**permalink**) 06-August-2004, 12:53 AM

Rocks Tell Stories in Reports of Spirit's First 90 Martian Days

Quote:

Scientific findings from the NASA rover Spirit's first three months on Mars will be published Friday, marking the start of a flood of peer-reviewed discoveries in scientific journals from the continuing two-rover adventure.

Researchers using Spirit's toolkit of geological instruments from early January into April read the record from rocks and soils in the rover’s landing area and found a history of volcanic blanketing, impact cratering, wind effects and possible past episodes of scant underground liquid water. Evidence for the water comes from mineral alteration in the veins, inclusions and coatings of some rocks. Eleven reports with 120 collaborating authors from around the world lay out details in the Aug. 6 issue of the journal Science.

Ian Goddard · #2 (**permalink**) 06-August-2004, 04:49 PM

Here's a surprising conclusion of one of those papers just published in Science: "The terrain traversed during the 90-sol (martian solar day) nominal mission shows no evidence for an ancient lake in Gusev crater."

Cite: "Surficial Deposits at Gusev Crater Along Spirit Rover Traverses." J. W. Rice, Jr., S. Ruff, L. Richter, S. Squyres, R. Sullivan, C. Weitz, J. A. Grant, R. Arvidson, J. F. Bell, III, N. A. Cabrol, M. H. Carr, P. Christensen, and L. Crumpler. Science 6 August 2004: 807-810.

ToSeek · #3 (**permalink**) 06-August-2004, 05:32 PM

That just confirms what they've been saying - the rocks at the surface of Gusev are too recent. They're hoping that some of the outcrops in the Columbia Hills will have evidence since the large-scale topology suggests there was water there at some point.

Glom · #4 (**permalink**) 06-August-2004, 07:46 PM

So we have a yes on wet Mars.

ToSeek · #5 (**permalink**) 06-August-2004, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glom

So we have a yes on wet Mars.

The Opportunity findings clearly show that there was water on Mars, and running water at that.

RGClark · #6 (**permalink**) 07-August-2004, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Goddard

Here's a surprising conclusion of one of those papers just published in Science: "The terrain traversed during the 90-sol (martian solar day) nominal mission shows no evidence for an ancient lake in Gusev crater."

Cite: "Surficial Deposits at Gusev Crater Along Spirit Rover Traverses." J. W. Rice, Jr., S. Ruff, L. Richter, S. Squyres, R. Sullivan, C. Weitz, J. A. Grant, R. Arvidson, J. F. Bell, III, N. A. Cabrol, M. H. Carr, P. Christensen, and L. Crumpler. Science 6 August 2004: 807-810.

Note the article was written before Spirit reached the Columbia Hills.

Bob Clark

harlequin · #7 (**permalink**) 08-August-2004, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RGClark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Goddard

Here's a surprising conclusion of one of those papers just published in Science: "The terrain traversed during the 90-sol (martian solar day) nominal mission shows no evidence for an ancient lake in Gusev crater."

Cite: "Surficial Deposits at Gusev Crater Along Spirit Rover Traverses." J. W. Rice, Jr., S. Ruff, L. Richter, S. Squyres, R. Sullivan, C. Weitz, J. A. Grant, R. Arvidson, J. F. Bell, III, N. A. Cabrol, M. H. Carr, P. Christensen, and L. Crumpler. Science 6 August 2004: 807-810.

Note the article was written before Spirit reached the Columbia Hills.

But that won't stop pseudoscientists from quote mining it for years to come no matter what Spirit finds at the Columbia Hills.

Ian Goddard · #8 (**permalink**) 10-August-2004, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToSeek

That just confirms what they've been saying - the rocks at the surface of Gusev are too recent. They're hoping that some of the outcrops in the Columbia Hills will have evidence since the large-scale topology suggests there was water there at some point.

Yeah, in this report one of the authors of the afore-cited paper says about the possibility of finding Gusev-lake evidence: "I think there's a potential for a lot more in the Columbia Hills."

ToSeek · #9 (**permalink**) 16-August-2004, 05:00 PM

Dust Clears, Mars Bright

Quote:

The albedo findings are detailed in a research paper, which, along with 10 other papers resulting from Spirit's journey across the Martian surface, are published this week in a special issue of the journal Science (Aug. 6, 2004). The issue, in which 120 authors -- including several from Cornell -- participate, features a 2-foot long, eight-fold poster of Pancam views of Spirit's landing site in Gusev crater.

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