Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum

Herkenhoff, K. E.; Squyres, S. W.; Arvidson, R. E.; Bass, D. S.; Bell, J. F.; Bertelsen, Preben; Ehlmann, B. L.; Farrand, W. H.; Gaddis, L. R.; Greeley, R.; Grotzinger, J. P.; Hayes, Alexander G.; Hviid, S. F.; Johnson, J. R.; Jolliff, Bradley L.; Kinch, K. M.; Knoll, Andrew H.; Madsen, M. B.; Maki, J. N.; McLennan, Scott M.; McSween, H. Y.; Ming, D. W.; Rice, James R.; Richter, Lutz; Sims, Michael H.; Smith, Peter H.; Soderblom, L. A.; Spanovich, Nicole; Sullivan, Robert; Thompson, S. D.; Wdowiak, Thomas J.; Weitz, C. M.; Whelley, P. L.

doi:10.1126/science.1105286

Cited by 144 publications

(138 citation statements)

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“…Arriving in January 2004, the MER MI cameras quickly revolutionized Mars science, ending a 30-year discussion (e.g., Sharp and Malin 1984) as to whether sand-sized, windblown particles actually occur on Mars (Herkenhoff et al 2004a). In addition to direct observation of sand, the MI cameras revealed sand-sized clasts in bedrock ) and they helped settle debates regarding the presence of water-lain sediments, aqueously altered rocks, rock coatings, and phenocrysts in igneous extrusive rocks, among many other results (Herkenhoff et al 2004b;Haskin et al 2005).…”

Section: Design Motivatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) Investigation

et al. 2012

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The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) investigation will use a 2-megapixel color camera with a focusable macro lens aboard the rover, Curiosity, to investigate the stratigraphy and grain-scale texture, structure, mineralogy, and morphology of geologic materials in northwestern Gale crater. Of particular interest is the stratigraphic record of a ∼5 km thick layered rock sequence exposed on the slopes of Aeolis Mons (also known as Mount Sharp). The instrument consists of three parts, a camera head mounted on the turret at the end of a robotic arm, an electronics and data storage assembly located inside the rover body, and a calibration target mounted on the robotic arm shoulder azimuth actuator housing. MAHLI can acquire in-focus images at working distances from ∼2.1 cm to infinity. At the minimum working distance, image pixel scale is ∼14 µm per pixel and very coarse silt grains can be resolved. At the working distance of the Mars Exploration Rover Microscopic Imager cameras aboard Spirit and Opportunity, MAHLI's resolution is comparable at ∼30 µm per pixel. Onboard capabilities include autofocus, autoexposure, sub-framing, video imaging, Bayer pattern color interpolation, lossy and lossless compression, focus merging of up to 8 focus stack images, white light and longwave ultraviolet (365 nm) illumination of nearby subjects, and 8 gigabytes of non-volatile memory data storage.

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Section: Design Motivatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The RAT helped reveal rock coatings and rinds, the presence and crystal shape of phenocrysts in basalt, and the relationship between concretions and matrix in sandstone (e.g., Herkenhoff et al 2004b).…”

Section: Impact Of De-scope Of the Msl Surface Removal Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) Investigation

et al. 2012

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“…Due to this ubiquity and metabolic diversity, Archaea are considered by some to be capable of surviving, or even thriving, on Mars (Krasnopolsky, 2006). The potential discovery of (ancient) liquid water on Mars (Herkenhoff et al, 2004) and the chemical compositions of the Martian atmosphere (Weiss et al, 2000) and crust (Fisk and Giovannoni, 1999) not only raises the possibility that life may have or may still exist there, but indicates that conditions capable of supporting terrestrial life may also be present. The prevention of contamination of Mars and other extraterrestrial environments with terrestrial biomolecules and/or life (Rummel, 1989) is therefore tremendously important to avoid confounding future life detection missions and preserve the pristine conditions of other solar bodies.…”

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confidence: 99%

Archaeal diversity analysis of spacecraft assembly clean rooms

2007

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One of the main tasks of NASA's planetary protection program is to prevent the forward contamination of extraterrestrial environments with Earth life, and in turn preserve other planets and the integrity of future life detection missions. Despite information regarding bacterial diversity in NASA's clean rooms, little is known about the presence of Archaea. Archaeal community analysis of spacecraft-associated surfaces is important, as they are considered by some to represent terrestrial life most capable of surviving on Mars. The first insights into the archaeal diversity of clean rooms where spacecraft assembled are attempted. Nucleic acid sequences clustering with uncultivable Archaea within the Eury-and Crenarchaeota were retrieved from 8 of 26 samples collected from several spacecraft assembly clean rooms. Due to their potential capability to survive and proliferate in Martian conditions, screening for Archaea on spacecraft surfaces and instruments that are associated with future life detection missions may be necessary.

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“…2) A microscopic imager that examines rock and sediment textures for clues about processes and environments of formation would also be essential. In addition, microbially induced textures are one of the key indicators of life (e.g., Herkenhoff et al, 2004).…”

Section: Nd-sagreport_v202doc Draft-subject To Revisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Science Priorities for Mars Sample Return

2008

Astrobiology

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Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum

Cited by 144 publications

References 16 publications

Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) Investigation

Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) Investigation

Archaeal diversity analysis of spacecraft assembly clean rooms

Science Priorities for Mars Sample Return

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