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Home , Carbonates on Mars

OVER 10 YEARS AROUND

By Giles Sparrow Over 10 years around Mars

OVER YEARS 10AROUND

MARSOver a decade ago, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Mission objectives arrived at the Red Planet. We take Understand the present a look at its biggest discoveries Written by Giles Sparrow Work out the nature of the complex terrain

Search for evidence of aqueous and hydrothermal activity

Identify landing sites for future Mars missions

Return data from craft on the surface during relay phase

2 10 March 2006 10 March avoid a communications blackout. to November until postponed are the surface. The science operations above miles) to196 (155 kilometres to316 250 between ranges Mars around 112-minute orbit MRO’s complete in early September, fuel. thruster tosave atmosphere the with by friction provided brake natural the of advantage taking tocomplete, months five takes that manoeuvre aerobraking an begins MRO checks, initial After poles. planet’s the over orbit elliptical ahighly entering initially orbit, Martian in arrives MRO The Mars at Arrival smearing or blurring. smearing no highlighting surface, Martian the of image first its takes MRO the kilometres (1,547 miles), 2,489 of From altitude an image first The 24 March 2006 24 March

2006 is process the time the By 13 December 2006 December 13 edges of the canyons and craters. and canyons the of edges the around exposed is structure inner whose terrain, layered complex and adistinctive up building slowly behind, dust leave they spring, atmosphere. the from dust them with carrying frosts, by winter down laid ice) (dry is dioxide carbon frozen Here, pole. north Martian the to close area an is camera (HiRISE) Experiment Imaging Science High Resolution MRO’s for targets first the of one testing, instrument and aerobraking of months After Targeting alayered canyon As the upper layers of frost evaporate in in evaporate frost of layers upper the As

2007 24 March 2007 2007 24 March Curiosity rover.Curiosity NASA’s for sites landing possible dozen two than more to examine series of experiments a of part is image The region. the 2007, of area an shows March in camera HiRISE by the taken image, This colour enhanced Nili Fossae region the captures MRO Over 10 years around Mars 7 November 2007 of the planet and last for weeks or even months. even or weeks for last and planet the of swathes large envelope can summer hemisphere southern- the in 24 those hours), but lasts and miles) (310 kilometres 500 covers (this one local Planitia. Utopia in cap ice polar north retreating the of edge the on (red clouds) storm dust developing a 2007, late In captures MARCI planet. the for maps weather daily produce to MRO allowing surface, the of images lower-resolution angle, wide- delivers (MARCI) Imager Color Mars The watch Weather 19 February 2008 19 February slowly thaws. dioxide carbon frozen as collapse ice dry probably triggered when of blocks dust-laden are –they spring Martian in recur avalanches similar that confirm observations Further tall. feet) (2,296 metres 700 than more face cliff alayered down thundering avalanches separate four than fewer no capturing up ends HiRISE from image however, an when underlying sand dunes. evaporate dioxide from frosts carbon which way in the study to hope scientists spring, Martian the in cap polar north the at terrain layered the revisits MRO When Capturing avalanche an Northern-hemisphere storms tend to remain It comes as something of a surprise, asurprise, of something as comes It

2008 3 Over 10 years around Mars 4 forces push and pull on the satellite. the on pull and push forces tidal Martian as caused fractures, stress tobe thought are axis longer moon’s the with parallel run and crater the from toradiate appear that grooves curious . The called acrater is feature prominent potato-shaped moon’s most (4,200 miles),kilometres the minutes. 40 and hours seven every once planet the circling Mars, to closer orbits , moons, two the of larger The obtained. yet resolution highest the at , and Phobos satellites, two its toimage Mars away from camera HiRISE the turn team MRO The flybyPhobos

23 March 2008 March 23 2008 Seen in this image from 6,800 6,800 from image this in Seen 27 February 2008 February 27 dunes defrosting dunes sand MRO captures 15 October 2008 October 15 that has lost the majority of its ice cover. ice its of majority the lost has that by terrain surrounded being despite ice, of patch abright contains also crater crater. The impact an for unusual quite is circular, which non- is shape Its Mars. of surface the on crater asurprise captures camera HiRISE MRO’s The crater impact unusual an MRO spots 27 May 2008 May 27 shortly after its parachute opens. parachute its after shortly (eight miles), 13 kilometres about of altitude an at here shown is Lander The surface. Martian tothe descent final its on mission such one to capture they have reached the surface. once missions other tracking and orbiters, other from those observations to supplement making rovers, for sites landing interesting potentially identify to helping spacecraft, other several with conjunction in used been has MRO the Mars, at operation of time its Throughout Phoenix Flight the of In 2008, MRO uses its HiRISE HiRISE its uses MRO 2008, In more sunlight and heats up, which continues the cycle. cycle. the continues up,which heats and sunlight more absorbs it so cap, ice the darkens dust This surface. the to back falls that it with dust carrying often out, break can it where fissures or points weak way to its finds gas and surface the beneath pockets in happens This gas. into ice dioxide carbon frozen of transition direct the frost-covered bright, out across spread terrain. that tendrils dark –form starbursts as known – also patterns dark these spiders, or trees to resemblance a With cap. polar the of edge the at spring curious, organic-looking patterns that develop in the are discoveries spectacular most MRO’s of One from Mars Spiders 4 February 2009 February 4 of the Nili Fossae canyon system). canyon Fossae Nili the of image this in (appearing surface the at exposed of signs first the discovers finally CRISM imager however, 2008, In mineral MRO’s life. to hostile and acid were waters ancient its that suspect to some carbonates. dissolve to tends water acidic but weathering, through limestone and chalk as such minerals into them converts rocks on action water Earth, On past. its in surface planet’s the on run clearly had that water the of nature the was researchers for question important an arrival, MRO’s to Prior carbs Missing 18 December 2008 It is thought they are formed by sublimation – the –the by sublimation formed are they thought is It The apparent lack of carbonates on Mars has led led has Mars on carbonates of lack apparent The

2009 21 February 2009 2009 21 February recent impact craters. impact recent most by the created dents from apart smooth surface, a has and (7.5 across miles) 12 kilometres around is moon 2009. The February in MRO the onboard HiRISE camera by the captured is Deimos, moons, Mars’ of smaller The resolution high in Deimos Moon Martian EdgeCrater in 14 July 2009 at Snapping Crater 14 July 2009 14 July 2009 false colour in afternoon, in mid- Mary St. from View of Cape Over 10 years around Mars 2 March 20102 March surface dust and rocks. and dust surface of layer athin below buried be to seems ice latitudes of the northern hemisphere – the middle the in canyonlands collapsed of aregion is Mensae Deuteronilus by SHARAD. detected ice water of location the indicates the Deuteronilus region, Mensae and blue individual radar across tracks represent signal. strong aparticularly in results conductiveMartian electrically and sands the makes water of presence The beneath. soil the of properties electrical by the altered back whose reflections characteristics are send and surface the of layers upper the penetrate that beams radar emits (SHARAD) MRO’s Shallow Radar Instrument Subsurface ice Low-latitude In this image from 2010, yellow streaks streaks 2010, yellow from image this In 2010 5 25 June 2010 Over 10 years around Mars 6 forms a major component of the soil. the of component amajor forms ice suggest observations MRO where latitudes, mid-northern at is crater The contrast). the tohighlight processed have been (colours terrain surrounding the across ‘ejecta’ snowy blasting ice, of layer underlying an tohit soil red the through straight pierced has and 2008, March in photographed last was area the after here formed crater foot) (32.8- ten-metre Asmall is. really layer surface that thin how just 2010 reveals May in image HiRISE this –but surface its cover that sands Martian rusty the to nickname its owes Planet’ ‘Red The ofCraters ice 19 May 2010 May 19 perhaps 4 billion years ago. years 4 billion perhaps conditions were once global, hospitable and watery that evidence revealing below, layer ancient an to expose soil dry overlying the through tohave punctured seems crater at here Crater).shown The those as (such like minerals clay- hydrated, from signatures multiple identify and craters researchers target several spectrometer, CRISM the Using history. dry a disappointingly tohave seemed plains northern southern highlands but the the in found been already had minerals hydrated Ancient Mars' wet north 2010 20 August 2010 August 20 (-94 (-238 in the atmosphere ranging from -70in the atmosphere temperatures different coding indicates orbits’ worth of observations. Colour northern hemisphere, based on 13 the above atmosphere the of profiles wavelengths. of avariety at sections through air above the horizon by viewing atmosphere the studies (MCS) Sounder Climate Mars MRO’s Mapping the atmosphere water vapour and dust storms. dust and vapour water of accumulations clouds, ice water This MCS image shows curtain-like image shows curtain-like MCS This º F) in green, to a chilling -150 achilling to green, in F) º F) in purple. MCS can also detect detect also can MCS purple. in F) º C º C

2011 signs of previous landslips. away wipe quickly and sands Martian the shift that winds by strong affected also are but frost from the atmosphere, dioxide carbon of evaporation and accumulation seasonal the to due partially are changes The dune. asteep-edged of rim the around place taken has erosion years)Earth shows substantial four (roughly years Martian two across area the showing images deep-freeze. of permanent astate in tobe assumed long was and cap, polar the beneath just pole north Martian the the surrounds as known sea dune vast The dunes Changing 3 February 2011 3 February However, this set of HiRISE HiRISE of However, set this often hidden beneath the red dust. red the beneath hidden often Mars, across like it glaciers more many be to thought are There walls. valley the of out carved have been that across feet) (9.8 metres three to up boulders in covered is glacier the of surface The below. plain level the on ‘snout’ eroded an to down valley mountain elevated an from ice of –aflow today present altitudes. lower to altitudes higher from move they as landscape the reshape that ice of rivers slow-moving – by glaciers created likely most were that features notice to began scientists surface, the imaging began MRO after Shortly glaciers Martian 13 September 201013 In 2010, however, HiRISE captures a glacier that is still very still is that aglacier 2010, captures In however, HiRISE water flowing just beneath the surface. the beneath just flowing water by salty caused likely most are they suggest regions these in temperatures likely of range the and slopes, facing equator- warmest, the on form only lineae, slope recurrent as known features, winter. of These onset the with away fading before summer, and spring during wall crater the down extending and forming trails dark numerous find across the Martian seasons, researchers hemisphere crater called of images a southern- Comparing Salt water flows? 4 August 20114 August 16 February 201216 February rise, creating a spinning updraft. creating a updraft. spinning rise, to allowed finally then is and air cold by overlying surface the at trapped is air warm of a pocket when devils, dust Earth’s way as same the in form to thought underlying They bedrock. are the expose they where trails dark leaving scribble-like frequently dust, of clear surface larger. much grow can others – high (2,624-foot) 800-metres and (98-foot) wide 30-metres about is devil dust small-scale relatively This action. in these tornado-like whirlwinds of stunningdelivering images by everyone surprises MRO but 1970s, the since suspected been had surface Martian the on devils dust of existence The Twister the on move

Dust devils scour the Martian Martian the scour devils Dust 2012 covered in frost in covered dunes Martian 1 April 2012 1 April seen in the centre of the photograph. the of centre the in seen be can which beneath, rock iron-rich darker the revealing surface, Martian tothe stage descent crane” “sky the during dust surface red away the blow rockets mission. The spacecraft’s Curiosity’s of rest the throughout intermittently progress rover’s the tomonitor used been has it and descent, its during probe the tracks camera HiRISE the 2008, in Phoenix with Crater. in As site landing its about data gathering in key role a 2012, in plays MRO Mars on rover NASA’s Curiosity of arrival tothe Prior Tracking Curiosity 6 September 2012 large amount of the southern hemisphere. southern the of amount large a covering snowcap summer, extensive toan through persists that cap ice residual small a from grows pole south the how explaining perhaps conditions, right the in ground the on snow deposit would crystals, ice” “dry frozen of made cloud, The pole. south the over hovering across, miles) (310 kilometres 500 some cloud, snow dioxide carbon ahuge of presence the confirming data, this of analysis cap. ice polar south Sounder to study cloud formations over the Climate to2007, Mars 2006 its uses MRO the of winter southern-hemisphere the During Winter wonderland 11 September11 2012 In 2012, a team of scientists announce a new anew announce scientists of 2012,In ateam Over 10 years around Mars Earth Mars 16 July 2013 July 16 ocean theory is correct. is theory ocean the that yet evidence strongest the It’s seas. Earth’s into flow deltas river how to similar –astructure downhill run they as out fanning ridges inverted of aseries find and map hemisphere), create an researchers elevation sits between the northern and southern (which region Dorsa Aeolis the of images HiRISE using 2013, In ocean. a shallow in covered once were plains northern the that speculated have long Scientists A coastal delta? 8 November 2013 of the Red Planet. Red the of the southern hemisphere in basin, impact Hellas the of rim western the on particular dune is located This Mars. of surface the across creep slowly to it causing time, of periods one direction for long in blows wind the when forms which a barchan, as known is dune sand This basinan impact the on rimDunes of

2013

7 Over 10 years around Mars 8 2013 beneath has only been excavated at the point of impact itself. impact of point the at excavated been only has beneath rock tougher much the while walls, outer wide crater’s the form to out hollowed been has surface the below just ice of sheet weak arelatively case, this –in strengths have different that material of different. rather is reality the crater, but earlier an of centre exact the struck has meteorite asecond though as look it makes eye structure bulls its glance, At first one. like this craters terraced unusual including Mars, on features unsuspected many have discovered cameras high-resolution MRO’s revelationsIcy 26 February 201426 February Terraced craters form when an impact penetrates through layers layers through penetrates impact an when form Terraced craters surface dust has been blasted away. blasted been has dust surface reddish where show to blue uses camera HiRISE the from image false-colour detailed more This Camera. Context MRO’s of passes imaging two between 2012, May before 2010and July after formed ‘ejecta’, or debris, impact of pattern extensive by an surrounded but (98 across feet) cratering. impact as such factors external for also but storms, dust of eruption the or caps, polar the of cycle the as such processes seasonal for just not goes This surface. planet’s the to changes of rate the see to ability the us gives Mars over watch continuous MRO’s The Spotting impact arecent 19 November 2013 This spectacular crater, which is 30 metres metres 30 is crater, which spectacular This

2014 19 October 201419 October the Earth to the Moon. tothe Earth the from distance the of one-third (86,992 –about Mars of miles) 140,000within kilometres passes however, Spring Siding end, the In across. miles or kilometres several crater anew tocreate potential the –with Mars with course collision apossible on to be thought it was discovered, Planet. Red the to approach close unusually an makes Spring Siding Comet discovered recently the as orbiters Mars other their and withtake MRO precautions agencies 2014, late In space Watching flyby acomet When the comet was first first was comet the When

2015 16 January 201516 January the surface of Mars. of surface the on deployed partially arrays solar its with by MRO uncovered is 2003, in Day Christmas on Orbiter Express Mars by the released 2,alander 2lander Beagle the locates The spacecraft 23 March 2015 March 23 changing shape with the sublimation of carbon dioxide. carbon of sublimation the with shape changing constantly is it season, summer warm each to survive manages cap the Year Although Mars of 32. summer the during cap polar south Mars’ captures orbiter The of Mars southThe polarcaps selling novel and movie, movie, and novel selling best- the in featured is which Planitia, Acidalia OrbiterReconnaissance snaps the region Mars the camera, HiRISE the Using movie site”MRO “Hollywood a snaps 17 May 2015 The Martian The . 8 June 2015 June 8 search for . on life for search the in assist could so Earth, on chemistry organic of traces preserve can glass Impact green. in here shown glass the Alga, as such craters, meteorite many that glass is widespread around awaytoprove find researchers 2015, In indistinct. is signature spectral its as Mars on detect to hard is but Earth on common is glass Impact glass. to create together grains sandy fusing often surface, the compress and heat waves shock the aplanet, hit meteorites When debris foundGlassy -70 as low as temperatures keep at water flowing natural antifreeze and as act could which salts, by perchlorate formed be to darkest. They are thought and widest are lineae the where at strongest their are signals the here), and pictured is (which Crater in those including lineae, various with association in structure). their into locked water with compounds hydrated minerals (chemical signature of formed freshly thingbest – the distinctive next the find to spectrometer CRISM the use scientists 2015 In latitudes. southern discovered at similar mid- lineae are subsequently more many However elusive. frustratingly remained Mars of surface the on water actual for 2011, evidence in lineae’ slope ‘recurring of discovery Following on from the Water last! at 28 September 2015 September 28 The minerals are found º C (-94 C amenable to the development of life. life. of development the to amenable was water surface ancient that idea the supports deposits carbonate large of presence The image. aHiRISE and data CRISM of composite this in green coloured are carbonates –exposed Fossae Nili in far so region carbonate largest the identify scientists 2015, In atmosphere. Martian the thinning in role asignificant have played could weathering so and atmosphere, the from dioxide away carbon locks also carbonates creates that process weathering The deposits. larger discover to on was hunt the 2008, in Mars on minerals carbonate of confirmation MRO’s After atmosphere lost Mars' 2 September 2015 º F).

2016 Schiaparelli's site crash found The MRO's Context Camera captured captured Camera Context MRO's The its first image of the impact sites: the the sites: impact the of image first its agency and European Space Agency Agency Space European and agency lander crashed on the surface of the the of surface the on crashed lander parachute along with the back shell. shell. back the with along parachute the planet. On 19 October 2016 the 2016 the 19 October On planet. the joint mission by the Russian space space Russian by the mission joint lander itself, its heat shield and its its and shield heat its itself, lander planet, leaving three impact sites. sites. impact three leaving planet, for Mars whilst also launching the the launching also whilst Mars for The Schiaparelli test lander was a a was lander test Schiaparelli The Trace Gas Orbiter in orbit around around orbit in Trace Orbiter Gas built to test landing technology technology landing totest built 21 Oct 201621 Oct 29 March 201729 March 300TB of scientific data. scientific of 300TB over gathering once, than more Mars of 60% than more observed has it and picture) the in (as shown planet the of 99% around covering 90,000 images took MRO the Mars of 50,000 orbits its In 50,000 orbits completed Over 10 years around Mars hasn't ruled out the possibility of water water of possibility the out ruled hasn't limited to hydrated salts, water bound bound water salts, tohydrated limited originally believed to have been water water tohave been believed originally 2017 it was more likely to be granular. This granular. This tobe likely more was it Salt water interpreted flows on the planet showed evidence that that evidence showed planet the on being on Mars but it could just be be just could it but Mars on being into crystal form which has been been has which form crystal into Further research into what was was what into research Further as flowing dry sand flowingas dry studied at other sites. other at studied 20 Nov 201720 9

© NASA; JPL-Caltech; University of Arizona; Hubble; ESA