MSL Curiosity - The First Week

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When Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity begins its entry, descent and landing (EDL) it will go through 7 minutes of terror, as the largest payload ever to touch down on Mars slows from over 21,000 to 3.6km/hr as it maneuvers to the surface. If all goes to plan we will get confirmation of MSL touchdown at 0131:37EDT (0531:37UT) in Gale Crater near the base of Mount Sharp, thus beginning the most heavily anticipated Mars mission since Mariner 4 first imaged the Red Planet in July 1965.

The European Space Agency's Mars Express will be in position to image MSL during the different stages of EDL. It will begin monitoring MSL 45 minutes prior to it entering the Martian atmosphere and continue to do so after touchdown. The ESA will be working extensively with NASA throughout MSL's mission. [Details of ESA-NASA cooperation]

Click for larger image with stages of MSL's Entry, Descent & Landing
Credit: ESA/Mars Express

Upon landing MSL will remain in position for approximately 5 days, during which time mission control will ensure the ground right below the rover is safe to drive on. They will also use this time to deploy the high gain antenna, mast and sampling system, while ensuring that everything else deployed properly and is in working order. To get an idea of what MSL is carrying, click the image to your right.

Following the initial system checks MSL will make its first drive through uncharted Martian terrain and begin work to determine if the conditions on Mars were or still are favorable to life.

As many scientists have proclaimed. The most exciting aspect of MSL's mission is that we really don't know what we'll find in Gale Crater! One thing is for sure; MSL's journey will be new, informative, and exciting, as exploration of the unknown always is!

So what exactly is MSL looking for on Mars?

What is Mars Science Lab Looking for?

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Below is an image pointing out clays and sulfates in the lower portion of Mount Sharp within Gale Crater. Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity is set to land in Gale Crater on Monday 6 Aug at 0100ET.  From there MSL will begin examining the surrounding terrain, with special emphasis on the clay minerals and sulfates because those were likely formed during a period when Mars was more hospitable to life as we know it.

Source: Space.com

We know this because clays and sulfates are formed in the presence of water. Orbital studies of Gale Crater have indicated that the water that once filled the crater was less acidic than in other areas previously studied on Mars. Water is more hospitable to life when it is less acidic, so scientists hope that examining the clays and sulfates formed in that water will tell them whether Mars was, or still is a conducive environment to life as we know it. 

A lot of people think that Mars Science Laboratory was sent to Mars to find life, but this isn't the case. It is landing on Mars to determine if the conditions on Mars were or still are favorable to life. That doesn't mean MSL couldn't find life, it just means that it isn't searching for it.

Source: NASA/JPL

So why does Mars Science Laboratory's mission matter? If we find out that Mars was or still is an environment that can sustain life, it will raise our hopes that it did once contain life. The mission will examine the layers in Mount Sharp, giving us a better understanding of the timeframe during which the water on Mars disappeared. If we know when the water on Mars disappeared we can better determine why and perhaps learn how to prevent such a catastrophe from happening to us on Earth!

When we determine how long ago water was abundant on Mars we can start narrowing down our search for life by only examining sediments and other material formed during those time periods since water is generally thought to be necessary for the development of life. So Mars Science Laboratory is key to understanding more about the past on Mars and in the solar system!

Learn why MSL's Entry Descent and Landing will be 7 minutes of terror!

Mars Science Laboratory Mission

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Now that we have a successful launch of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity, here is a repost about its mission!

MSL Curiosity will be the most complex and scientifically advanced robot to ever explore the surface of another planet. See below for a diagram of MSL Curiosity and all of its instruments.

For a description of everything on the payload click the image.
Source: NASA/JPL

For specifics on the launch and navigation I highly recommend you read Universe Today's How Will MSL Navigate to Mars? Very Precisely

But where on Mars with MSL Curiosity land?

Curiosity is set to land in Gale Crater on Mars between August 6 and August 20, 2012 and has an expected operation time of 668 Martian sols (686 Earth Days). Gale Crater is 150 kilometers (~93.21 miles) in diameter, so there is a lot of space for Curiosity to land, but fortunately NASA has given us a better idea! See below for approximately where in Gale Crater MSL Curiosity will land.

Gale Crater with Landing Site Outlined
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/HiRISE

What will Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity study in Gale Crater?

Gale Crater contains an enormous mound near the center that rises even higher than the southern rim of the crater. It rises 5.5 km above the northern crater floor and 4.5 km above the southern crater floor. The mound contains many layers; it is estimated that its foundation may be as old as 2 billion years old. Curiosity will be able to examine these different layers and determine at which point, if any, Mars was able to support life. It is speculated that the mound is what remains of sedimentary layers that once filled the entire crater and that these were initially deposited on a lake bed. 

A look at the lower portion of Gale Crater's central mound
Image Source: NASA

As you can see from the labels, the lowest portion of the mound is comprised of clays and sulfates, materials which are formed in the presence of water. The overlying layers contain sulfates, but very little clay, implying they were formed in an environment in which water was evaporating and Mars was becoming drier. 

What does the MSL Team hope to find?

Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program claims that Gale Crater was chosen from all candidate landing sites because "the site holds a diversity of features and layers for investigating changing environmental conditions, some of which could inform a broader understanding of habitability on ancient Mars." He also states that "Gale gives us attractive possibilities for finding organics," but points out that it is still unlikely we will find organic life still living on Mars.

Regardless of whether Curiosity discovers past or present life on Mars it is a great step toward manned exploration of Mars. The discoveries that Curiosity makes will at the very least give us a better understanding of the Martian past and its habitability. Knowing this will enable us to plan for future missions to Mars.

Mars Science Laboratory's Launch and Mission

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NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity will launch on Saturday morning at 10:02 EST aboard a United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V. Curiosity will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at Space Launch Complex 41.

MSL Curiosity will be the most complex and scientifically advanced robot to ever explore the surface of another planet. See below for a diagram of MSL Curiosity and all of its instruments.

For a description of everything on the payload click the image.
Source: NASA/JPL

For specifics on the launch and navigation I highly recommend you read Universe Today's How Will MSL Navigate to Mars? Very Precisely

But where on Mars with MSL Curiosity land?

Curiosity is set to land in Gale Crater on Mars between August 6 and August 20, 2012 and has an expected operation time of 668 Martian sols (686 Earth Days). Gale Crater is 150 kilometers (~93.21 miles) in diameter, so there is a lot of space for Curiosity to land, but fortunately NASA has given us a better idea! See below for approximately where in Gale Crater MSL Curiosity will land.

Gale Crater with Landing Site Outlined
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/HiRISE

What will Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity study in Gale Crater?

Gale Crater contains an enormous mound near the center that rises even higher than the southern rim of the crater. It rises 5.5 km above the northern crater floor and 4.5 km above the southern crater floor. The mound contains many layers; it is estimated that its foundation may be as old as 2 billion years old. Curiosity will be able to examine these different layers and determine at which point, if any, Mars was able to support life. It is speculated that the mound is what remains of sedimentary layers that once filled the entire crater and that these were initially deposited on a lake bed. 

A look at the lower portion of Gale Crater's central mound
Image Source: NASA

As you can see from the labels, the lowest portion of the mound is comprised of clays and sulfates, materials which are formed in the presence of water. The overlying layers contain sulfates, but very little clay, implying they were formed in an environment in which water was evaporating and Mars was becoming drier. 

What does the MSL Team hope to find?

Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program claims that Gale Crater was chosen from all candidate landing sites because "the site holds a diversity of features and layers for investigating changing environmental conditions, some of which could inform a broader understanding of habitability on ancient Mars." He also states that "Gale gives us attractive possibilities for finding organics," but points out that it is still unlikely we will find organic life still living on Mars.

Regardless of whether Curiosity discovers past or present life on Mars it is a great step toward manned exploration of Mars. The discoveries that Curiosity makes will at the very least give us a better understanding of the Martian past and its habitability. Knowing this will enable us to plan for future missions to Mars.

Watch MSL Curiosity Launch Live!

I'll make sure to post a live stream of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity's launch, so check back for that on Saturday morning! Don't forget the launch is scheduled for 10:02 AM EST! This is one you won't want to miss.