NASA’s Curiosity Rover is searching for new evidence of life on the surface of Mars – Photo: Reuters
The US space agency (NASA)’s Curiosity rover has successfully visited the Geddes Wallis Ridge – an important geological formation on Mars, indicating the existence of large water reserves on the planet in ancient times.
According to NASA, the Curiosity rover reached the said area on August 14 after several attempts. Believed to be the remains of strong currents containing water and other materials, Geddy’s Wallis Ridge is a long-desired destination for the science team of the Curiosity rover project.
Mr. Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity rover project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, shared: “After 3 years, we have finally found a place where the starfire can safely carry the Curiosity rover up the steep hill. It’s thrilling to be able to reach out and touch rocks brought from high places on Mount Sharp.”
While scientists are still analyzing data and images from the Geddes Wallis Ridge, the Curiosity rover has moved on to its next challenge: finding a way to the channel above the ridge so scientists can learn more about what once was Mount Sharp. How and where did the water flow from?
NASA says Mount Sharp, with the oldest strata at the base and the youngest strata at the top, provides scientists with a “chronology of Mars.” Thanks to this, scientists can study how Mars changed from a planet with an Earth-like humid climate and lots of water in the ancient past to the cold desert of today.
The Curiosity rover landed on the “Red Planet” on August 5, 2012. It is the largest and most sophisticated rover ever sent by NASA to conduct exploration activities on Mars.
(TagstoTranslate)Mars(T)NASA(T)Rover(T)Curiosity(T)Water on Mars
