NASA Gets A Good Look At Mars Soil And A True Puzzle

Chicago Tribune/Yahoo ^ | 1-7-2004 | Jeremy Manier

[blam]

NASA gets good look at Mars soil and a true puzzle

By Jeremy Manier, Tribune staff reporter

Opening its primary digital eyes for the first time, the rover Spirit on Tuesday transmitted the most detailed photos ever sent from the surface of Mars, revealing an alien vista of deep russet sands, a mysteriously sticky form of soil and a far-off mesa in the light orange haze.

The rocky scene is about four times sharper than any previous photos from the planet, and experts said the probe should be sending even larger, three-dimensional views of its terrain within a few days. Scientists will use those photos and information from an infrared imaging instrument to choose the most promising places for the rover to start visiting next week in search of signs that Mars once had a habitat suitable for life.

It's difficult to imagine life surviving now in the barren landscape around the rover--though mission planners have said one goal of the robotic Mars expeditions is to scout out possible landing sites in case the U.S. ever sends astronauts to Mars.

But on Tuesday, researchers analyzing the new images took a moment to look at the planet with simple wonder.

"My reaction has been one of shock and awe," said Jim Bell, leader of the mission's imaging team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

The sticky-looking soil may be the first true puzzle of the mission, scientists said. Technicians believe the probe's landing airbags disturbed the dirt near the rover when they retracted back under the craft, soon after the landing. The dirt that was dragged by the airbags now looks oddly folded, almost as if it were damp clay.

"It looks like mud, but it can't be mud," said principal investigator Steven Squyres. "It's not like anything that I have ever seen before. It's very weird-looking stuff."

Researchers believe Martian soil in the rover's vicinity is bone-dry near the surface, adding to the mystery. Squyres said it's possible that moisture evaporating from below left a salty, cohesive crust at the surface.

[RightWhale]

I'm suggesting biological origin of the textured material. Wishful thinking, probably.

[BobS]

"a mysteriously sticky form of soil"

Now look for the toilet paper, guys!

[Frank_Discussion]

Several hundred scientists would have a mass faint! I might just get a bit wobbly, myself.

[jaz.357]

A mysteriously sticky form of soil?

Look for the BLUE DRESS!

[Frank_Discussion]

I don't think iron oxide is magnetic. Along the same lines, though, a really fine dust might stick via static electricity. I am not really seeing that as the cause of this, however.

It looks darker than the surrounding soil, as if it is wet. We may have found a covered layer of liquid slightly below the dust.

I AM INTRIGUED!!

[null and void]

Damm you! We want life! Pond scum, fungus, algae, anything!

[null and void]

Wishful thinking, probably.

Probably, maybe...

[ChefKeith]

a mysteriously sticky form of soil

Queso Dip?

After all the Moon is made of cheese so maybe the Moon came from Mars.

[Frank_Discussion]

Hey, if it's water, then we've gone straight from hugh to HUGE! Water is a very good thing to find this easily, if this is the case. If it's biomass, well, WOW.

[mewzilla]

It looks kinda like a fat snake's skin, like something molted.

[Frank_Discussion]

Heh... nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure?

[mewzilla]

LOL. Remember The Andromeda Strain...

[Falcon4.0]

"It looks like mud, but it can't be mud,"

I love this kind of thinking. When they went to the volcanic vents on the Ocean floor they said "no life could survive there", but it teams with life. When they went 7 miles to the ocean bottom they said "no life could survive there", but as soon as they turned on the lights, a fish swam away.

[Frank_Discussion]

It's been a loooong time...

[RightWhale]

There should be a magnet on the end of the geology arm. I forget what's supposed to be in any geology field kit. Streak plate, magnet, scratcher . . .

[Ichneumon]

Damm you! We want life!

I give you... life!

[null and void]

It looks kinda like a fat snake's skin, like something molted.

Sandworm?

[Batrachian]

It's 100 degrees below zero there, even in daytime. Ice crystals mixed with sand wouldn't produce any stickiness under those conditions, would they? Unless they melted from the impact and residual heat of the lander and instantly froze in those shapes. I guess Spirit will find out in a few days.

BTW, have you seen the full video (10 minutes worth) of this mission at www.maasdigital.com? It's amazing. Unfortunaterly it's down now because of the traffic.

[RightWhale]

Spice bloom!

[ElkGroveDan]

Damm you! We want life! Pond scum, fungus, algae, anything!