Synthesis Paper The Geology Of Martian

Rocks Essay, Research Paper

On July 4, 1997 the Mars Pathfinder finally came to rest after ninety minutes of bouncing around on the Martian surface. The purpose of the mission was to explore the Martian surface, collect and analyze the chemical makeup of Martian rocks, and test the new technology and software put into this mission. Scientists back on Earth hoped to advance their knowledge of the Martian surface and from that data, reconstruct past surface features. Using this important data, scientists can determine the habitat of Mars. Also, technologists hoped to advance their knowledge on new software and electronics to be used for future space exploration. All the time and effort put into this mission has paid off because the mission was a success. The Pathfinder successfully carried out all of its duties. It collected various rocks, analyzed the geological structure of the rock, recorded the data and that data was sent to the scientists back on Earth. Many new facts were uncovered about the Martian surface; such as water laid in masses all over the surface, volcanoes were present and other significant features. Studying the geological traits of the Martian rocks, progression of technology is indicated, the past geological features of Mars can be postulated by scientists, and how this new technology/geological knowledge can further the future of mankind.

Presented in Mechanical Engineering entitled Roving over Mars, by Donald Bickler, is the Mars mission from the technological view. Much time and effort was put into developing this advanced technology. The Pathfinder was equipped with the latest technology so that it will fulfill its purpose. The engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) took into account all the physical features of Mars so that the Pathfinder does not encounter any problems. Problems that the team perceived were the surface s features and temperature (Bickler). The team equipped the Pathfinder with a six-wheeled base, spider legged type. With a base of seventy-nine millimeters combined with the wheels, that enabled the Pathfinder to explore the Martian surface with ease. The team also took into account the below freezing temperature of Mars, so they implemented the Pathfinder with a high-tech aerogel-insulated, fiber reinforced-plastic composite body heated by three radioisotope-heating units. This prevented the Pathfinder s components from freezing when the temperature dropped down to negative seventy-three degrees Celsius, even though this new device was designed to take temperatures up to negative one-hundred degrees Celsius (Kasting, Squyres). Most components required separate heating units to ensure total protection in the case of a disaster. Significant other devices included the Imager for Mars Pathfinder Camera (IMP), the eye of the Pathfinder and the eye for scientists into Mars past and present. The Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) was used in analyzing the Martian rock samples (Bell). With the new technology put into effect, the Pathfinder was able to carry out all of its tasks which were to probe the Martian surface, collect and analyze rock samples. The devices aboard the Pathfinder enabled scientists to analyze, record the data and send the information back to Earth, without scientist physically being on Mars. This is the biggest accomplishment to date for mankind. This new technology will be helpful for future missions not just to Mars, but also to other planets waiting to be studied and maybe even discovered.

None the less, the geological view of the Mars mission was perceived in: Mars Pathfinder (Space Probe), written by Jim Bell, and the article Possible Glimpse of Earth-like Geology in Mars. Richard A. Kerr. One difficulty encountered in interpreting the Pathfinder s data was that the rocks were coated with fine red dust. Volcanic rocks are fine-grained or glassy, sedimentary rocks tend to be layered, and rocks formed by an impact are commonly breccias, composed of angular fragments. Rock shape is sometimes related to texture, because the way a rock breaks into smaller pieces usually reflects its internal features (Kerr). Most of the rocks collected and analyzed by the Pathfinder were unbroken, which told scientist that they were molded and shaped by prevailing winds and erosion. Presence of vesicles indicated some of the rocks were volcanic. Abrasions on the samples concluded to scientists that there was, or still is, wind present on Mars (Bell). One group of rocks, that excited the Pathfinder scientists soon after landing, had a bright pink color and tabular shape to it. These rocks raised hopes of identifying sedimentary rocks. A rough chronology for rocks at the landing site has been proposed based on the observed spectral features. The oldest rocks at the site were the large, rounded boulders with maroon coatings, deposited by floods and likely stained by reactions with liquid water (Bell). Scientist have a firm belief, about two billion years ago, based on the density of crater samples, the landing site of the Pathfinder was flat a area in the middle of a plain due to a massive flood. This fact can be concluded from the Image for Mars Pathfinder camera (IMP). Shots of the landing site included stacks and piles of pebbles, appeared as if rushing water had acted upon, causing them to pile up. Other rocks consisted of volcanic rock fragments that have been eroded and deposited by wind, water or impacts, but