Curiosity has completed its second drilling on Mars - Maxisciences - Maxisciences

Curiosity robot star of the American mission to Mars Mars Science Laboratory conducted its second well on the red planet by NASA Monday, May 20 The samples obtained are analyzed on board the internal laboratory of the robot.

This is the second well that makes Curiosity Mars during its mission. NASA has announced Monday, May 20 that the robot has made a new hole that measures 1.6 cm in diameter and 6.6 deep. The first drilling date was conducted on February 20 and had collected samples of sedimentary rocks to feed its mission. Rock breakthrough with the robotic arm of Curiosity, called Cumberland is 2.75 meters west of “John Klein”, the previous perforated rock. Samples taken Sunday, May 19 will now be analyzed by instruments on board.

Next step, Mount Sharp

Curiosity’s next goal is to get to the foot of Mount Sharp, a mountain 5,500 meters high, located in the Gale Crater (impact of 155.3 km in diameter) whose foothills are formed in different sedimentary layers reporting the presence of water long ago. It should take several months to reach their destination, traveling at 0.15 km / h. The previous drilling was allowed to account for a potentially favorable environment for life on Mars in the past via the presence of micro organisms, including acid shallow water. The aim is now to dig this track and establish a reliable study on the possibility of living one day the world and to develop life, taking into account the mineralogical data but also geological.

A robot that has it all

Curiosity weighs 900 pounds, four times more than its predecessors Spirit and Opportunity. Developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA (robotic arm) he benefits from the latest technology with its six wheels and ten scientific instruments (cameras, spectrometers, radiation detectors) attended the French. “Chemchem” which determines the elemental composition of rocks is well connected with CNES and laboratory IRAP Toulouse. The robot began its mission in August and is expected to continue for another two years. It has come time for that 700 meters on Mars.

samples collected will soon reveal their secrets on the colonization potential of Martian soil that obsesses both scientists for some time. Prepare for the future by digging the past seems to be the way NASA has chosen via the Mars Science Laboratory mission.