“Snowboarding on Mars?”

NASA research tells us that hunks of frozen carbon dioxide or dry ice can glide down some Martian sand dunes on cushions of gas similar to miniature hovercraft, plowing furrows as they go. Researchers assumed this process could explain one mysterious class of gullies seen on Martian sand dunes by examining images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Images from MRO's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera show sand dunes with linear gullies covered by carbon-dioxide frost during the Martian winter. The location of the linear gullies is on dunes that spend the Martian winter covered by carbon-dioxide frost. By comparing before-and-after images from different seasons, researchers determined that the grooves are formed during early spring. Some images have even caught bright objects in the gullies. Scientists theorize the bright objects are pieces of dry ice that have broken away from points higher on the slope. According to the new hypothesis, the pits could result from the blocks of dry ice completely sublimating away into carbon-dioxide gas after they have stopped traveling. "I have always dreamed of going to Mars," said Serina Diniega, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Now I dream of snowboarding down a Martian sand dune on a block of dry ice."

Chemistry Group:Dasmany Deniz,Melissa Cruz,Marlenys Rey

Evidence from NASA Rover’s Journey: Understanding Radiation

Radiation Assessment Detector that allows Curiosity to measure the level of radiation

The Curiosity rover is being used by NASA to conduct multiple studies that will be crucial for further missions. Scientists are aware that in order to send human explorers to the Red Planet, they have to make sure that they will be as safe as possible. That is why one of the main objectives of Curiosity is to measure the levels of radiation in Mars. As NASA is already preparing the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket to carry and shelter us in space, the findings by Curiosity will enable humans to travel safely. "As this nation strives to reach an asteroid and Mars in our lifetimes, we're working to solve every puzzle nature poses to keep astronauts safe so they can explore the unknown and return home," said William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations in Washington The instrument that allows Curiosity to measure the radiation levels is called Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD). Since Curiosity is very similar to a potential human exploration spacecraft, scientists will be able to determine how the radiation would affect humans inside a spacecraft. This also allows them to find out the effectiveness of radiation shielding. As of May, findings have demonstrated that the level of radiation could exceed NASA’s limit for astronauts if current propulsion systems are used. Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Engineering Group: Melina Borghi and Ariel Castro.

Up and Running Again

Curiosity is back on track, after being placed in “safe mode” due to a memory glitch in its A-side computer. Now scientists have activated its B-side computer on February 28th and left A-side as a back-up in case of an emergency. Curiosity now continues to investigate and test the Martian surface soil. New problems and challenges have appeared. When the Red planet is behind the sun, scientists can't connect with Curiosity. They are preparing for it by putting a moratorium (a waiting period set by an authority) in place. Scientists will then order the rover to stand-by while Mars passes behind the sun. When the Red planet reappears scientist will resume the exploration of the Mars. Curiosity will continue to test soil samples in its inner laboratories. And so the journey continues.

Engineering Group: Eduardo J. Lopez,Dasmany Deniz,Ariel Castro

Why Mars?

InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) will conduct an investigation in Mars that will explore the planet’s deep interior. This investigation will be addressing one of the most fundamental issues of planetary and solar system science. The purpose of this mission is to understand the processes that gave shape to the inner solar system rocky planets. By using sophisticated geophysical appliances, NASA will be detecting the fingerprints of the processes of terrestrial planet formation by exploring the deepest surface of Mars. The question is, Why Mars? Because previous generations have investigated the surface of the planet by investigating its rocks, volcanoes and more but no one has investigated the planet’s building blocks. Furthermore, InSight is more than a Mar’s mission, it is an investigation of terrestrial planet explorer that will go back billions of years ago, opening a new window into the change that shaped the rocky planets of the inners solar system and it will include Earth. InSight is based on the proven Phoenix Mars spacecraft and lander design with state-of-the-art avionics from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory missions.

From Glitch Side to Safe Side

Curiosity is currently using the B-side computer, which is safe to use and operating as expected. The rover is back on track with assessment and recovery from a memory issue that only affected the rover’s A-side computer. On Feb. 28, the rover’s A-side was switched to the B-side due to symptoms of a corrupted memory location. This switch put the rover in minimal-activity safe mode. On Saturday, March 2, Curiosity resumed using its high-gain antenna. "These tests have provided us with a great deal of information about the rover's A-side memory," said Jim Erickson, deputy project manager for the Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "We have been able to store new data in many of the memory locations previously affected and believe more runs will demonstrate more memory is available." The cause for the A-side's memory symptoms remains to be determined.

Sources: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-091 Engineering Group: Jesus Bohorquez, Katherine Garcia.

Ancient Watery Environment

New video with more detail about the drill and sample process in Yellow Knife Bay

Another step in the journey to find extraterrestrial life.

credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratories

NASA has released new updates have been released on the drilling experiment being done by the Curiosity rover in Mars. For the first time in history, a sample of an extraterrestrial rock has been successfully acquired from the Martian bedrock. No rover has ever collected a sample from the interior of a rock outside our planet! The next steps in the process includes the powder being enclosed inside CHIMRA (Curiosity's Collection and Handling for In-Situ Martian Rock Analysis) and then shaken, then filter out particles larger than 0.006 inches. It is the opinion of many that the process taking place in Martian land is going extremely slow. However, some advancement is better than none. As of right now, NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Project is using the rover to investigate more about life. Will it be possible that the environment could be favorable for microbial life? Neither we nor the scientists seem to know the answer yet. Hopefully, the sample acquired will help answer the question that has been asked by everyone. Is there life outside earth?

Biology group: Daniel Lazo Yoan Rodriguez Danae Soler

Mars Rock Drilling Sample Set for Analysis in Search of Life

This image shows the first sample of powdered rock extracted by the rover’s drill.

New images from the surface of Mars confirm that NASA’s Curiosity rover successfully extracted the first samples collected by drilling inside a rock on another planet and transferred the powder to the robots processing scoop. Collecting the first particles from the interior of a rock on another planet is crucial for achieving Curiosity’s goal to determine whether Mars could have supported microbial life in the past or in the present. The next step is to deliver the portions of the gray powder into the analytical chemistry labs inside the rover, for a deeper analysis of the mineral content and to look for signs of organic molecules that are the building blocks of life. Also, for the first time scientists are going to examine ancients rocks that haven’t been exposed to the Martian surface environment and weather. For that reason, the rocks preserve the environment in which they formed. This is really important because subsequent oxidation reactions can destroy organic molecules and therefore potential signs of life.

Sources: Jet Propulsion Laboratory (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-067#1)

Chemistry Group: Melina Borghi and Melissa Cruz

The Discovery of Mars: One Image at a Time

Curiosity’s MAHLI has made great achievements over the past few weeks, but what makes this piece of machinery so effective? The purpose of this camera is to facilitate scientists with the ability to distinguish minerals. MAHLI has many features like our very own digital cameras. Some of these features include: color, auto focus, and great image resolution. MAHLI’s camera has dust cover mechanisms. There is a single drive motor that adjusts the focus of the camera and opens/closes the dust cover of the lens. Undesired infrared radiation is blocked by a coating that is on the inside of the sapphire window of the camera. This blocking mechanism helps keeps away any radiation that would make it difficult for scientists to establish the identity of the minerals. The MAHLI has been such an effective tool that scientists are looking to use it for the following:

•Closeups of rocks

•Night imaging

•Observing seasonal frost; monitoring changes in frost over night

•Drill hole imaging

•Sample observation imaging

•Acquiring video sequences (e.g., grain movement on surface)

•Rover problem diagnosis imaging

Engineering group: Katherine A. Garcia and Jesus Bohorquez.