Not to be surpass by Curiosity , the Opportunity rover has made one of its most significant scientific discovery to date . A recent depth psychology of clay mineral indicates that neutral H2O once existed on Mars — pee that could have been suited for life .
It ’s an important discovery — and one made by an amazing little rover . Though it was only design for a 90 - day mission , Opportunity is now set about its 3,400th daytime of operation . It get in on Mars over nine years ago on January 25 , 2004 .
Recently , however , Opportunity has been overshadowed by its kid brother , Curiosity . But this latest development has once again propelled it to the limelight .
The Henry Clay minerals were found near Endurance Crater in a rock called Esperance . These mineral , which are standardized to montmorillonite , form under the influence of indifferent water — water that ’s very similar to tapdance body of water and potentially very friendly to life ( i.e. H2O impersonal in pH ) . Today , with Mars for the most part taking on the characteristic of a vast desert landscape painting , any residual body of water would have turned acid . Evaporation of the weewee has lead higher concentrations of mineral , thus contributing to its current acidity .
“ What we have here is a very different chemistry , ” mark lead scientist Steve Squyres during a press briefing on Friday , according toDiscovery News . “ This is H2O you’re able to drink . This is weewee that was credibly much more favorably in its interpersonal chemistry , in its floor of acidity , for things like pre - biotic chemistry , the kind of interpersonal chemistry that could lead to the bloodline of life . ”
“ This is the most powerful grounds for neutral chemistry H2O that has been see by chance , ” he state .
Earlier this year , Curiosity constitute grounds of neutral , slightly salty water in clay minerals at the Gale Crater website .
https://gizmodo.com/curiosity-confirms-that-mars-was-once-capable-of-harbor-453334313
Consequently , a picture is emerge of ancient Mars in which impersonal water existed at multiple locations , quite possibly rain down down from the sky . Over the trend of millions of eld , Mars has gotten progressively dry and cold , leave in highly concentrated pockets of acidic piss .
[ Sources : New Scientist , Guardian , Discovery News ]
paradigm : NASA .
wonder roverMarsSpaceWater on Mars
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