NASA’s Curiosity rover has embarked on a new mission to delve into the mysteries of Mars, specifically focusing on the disappearance of liquid water from the planet’s surface. The rover is currently exploring the Gediz Vallis channel, a winding feature believed to have been carved by an ancient river, prompting scientists to question how it was formed.
What sets the Gediz Vallis channel apart is its steep sides, ruling out wind erosion as its cause. This has piqued the interest of researchers who are eager to unravel the secrets hidden within this unique Martian landscape. Curiosity has been steadily climbing the foothills of Mount Sharp since 2014, studying the changing climate of Mars and searching for signs of water and potential ingredients for life.
Currently, the rover is investigating a layer enriched with sulfates, which are salty minerals that typically form as water evaporates. This exploration could potentially reshape our understanding of the timeline for the formation of Mount Sharp, shedding light on the history of water presence and disappearance on Mars.
Scientists believe that the boulders and debris found in the Gediz Vallis channel originated from high up on the mountain, providing critical information about the materials present there. The presence of liquid water late in Mount Sharp’s story would be a groundbreaking discovery, challenging the previous belief that Mars gradually dried out over time.
Despite facing technical issues with the Mastcam camera, Curiosity has managed to document the Gediz Vallis channel with a 360-degree black-and-white panorama, revealing sand, debris piles, and the steep slope the rover traversed to reach the area. The science team remains optimistic as they rely on navigation cameras for imaging, eagerly awaiting new insights into Mars’ complex geological history.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”