Your current location:HOME >health >Curiosity mars rover begins studying "Vera Rubin Ridge" 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 09:40:41 Source: Internet compilationEdit:health
After a journey of five years, Curiosity rover has begun its long-anticipated study of an iron-beari
After a journey of five years, Curiosity rover has begun its long-anticipated study of an iron-bearing ridge, informally named "Vera Rubin Ridge", forming a distinctive layer on the mountain's slope.
According to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Curiosity's science team said in its twitter on Wednesday that "I'm starting my investigation of hematite-bearing 'Vera Rubin Ridge' on #Mars."
Commemorating astronomer Vera Cooper Rubin (1928-2016), Curiosity's science team informally named the feature "Vera Rubin Ridge", which has been recognized as one of four unique terrains on lower Mount Sharp before Curiosity's landing five years ago and therefore a key mission destination.
According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, the car-size NASA rover is now near the downhill face of the ridge, which forms an impressive wall for much of the ridge's length of about 6.5 kilometers.
"Our Vera Rubin Ridge campaign has begun," Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada said in a statement. "Curiosity is driving parallel to the ridge, below it, observing it from different angles as we work our way toward a safe route to the top of the ridge."
Vera Rubin Ridge stands about eight stories tall, with a trough behind it where clay minerals await. A major appeal of the ridge is an iron-oxide mineral, hematite, which can form under wet conditions and reveal information about ancient environments of the red planet, according to NASA.
Studies of Mount Sharp with the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars, on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, identified hematite in the ridge and also mapped water-related clay and sulfate minerals in layers just above it.
Curiosity landed near Mount Sharp in the Gale Crater in August 2012 and reached the base of the mountain in 2014. It has since traversed through a diversity of environments where both water and wind have left their imprint.
The rover began to drive toward uphill destinations on Mount Sharp since its second two-year mission extension commenced on Oct. 1, 2016. The upcoming exploration provides opportunities to learn even more about the history and habitability of ancient Mars.
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age2024-05-21 09:38
China unveils data of technically recoverable oil and gas resources2024-05-21 09:36
Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks tonight with up to 18 shooting stars overhead every hour2024-05-21 09:34
China's Liaoning Ballet to debut new adaptation of Notre Dame de Paris2024-05-21 08:34
Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia2024-05-21 08:09
Seattle hospital won't turn over gender2024-05-21 08:04
Small Chinese town goes big with magic of animation2024-05-21 07:39
China's new quality agricultural productive forces to be fully developed: report2024-05-21 07:36
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world2024-05-21 07:30
Exhibition on Italian art, design opens in Chongqing2024-05-21 07:15
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates2024-05-21 09:31
Aho, Martinook cap Hurricanes' late rally to beat the Islanders for a 22024-05-21 09:00
Fury over 'rip2024-05-21 08:52
UN's commission on science and technology elects new chair2024-05-21 08:46
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri2024-05-21 08:42
Chinese readers find new passion for scientific literature2024-05-21 07:56
Haiti health system nears collapse as medicine dwindles, gangs attack hospitals and ports stay shut2024-05-21 07:56
China details regulations on non2024-05-21 07:44
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky2024-05-21 06:57
US House Judiciary Committee chair seeks details from ATF on airport director shooting2024-05-21 06:54