Mars Curiosity's Quest for Organics: Astrobiology Update
By Alex Innanen, Atmospheric Scientist at York University, Toronto
The Red Planet's Secrets Unveiled: A Mission to Find Life's Building Blocks
Mars has emerged from its solar conjunction, and our robotic explorer, Curiosity, is back on the job, ready to uncover more of the Red Planet's mysteries. On Earth, we're eagerly awaiting the day when Curiosity will be able to resume its scientific pursuits, with a focus on a crucial experiment that could reveal the presence of organic compounds.
A Weekend of Activities and a Crucial Drill
Last Friday, Curiosity had a full weekend of tasks ahead, including a critical drill operation. The mission team carefully inspected a broken white rock using various instruments: the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS), the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and the ChemCam laser spectrometer. They also captured images of a sandy area, monitoring wind patterns during conjunction to observe any potential dust devils.
The team then made a short drive, approximately 2 meters (6 feet) away, to a location near 'Nevado Sajama,' a site they had previously drilled into in November. This strategic return to Nevado Sajama is for a unique experiment involving tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH).
Unveiling Organic Mysteries with TMAH
TMAH is a chemical compound that plays a pivotal role in the search for organic molecules. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument has a limited supply of TMAH, and this experiment is a rare opportunity to use the last container. By mixing TMAH with the sample from Nevado Sajama, scientists can gain valuable insights into the presence of organic compounds, a crucial step in understanding Mars' potential for past or present life.
The TMAH experiment demands a significant amount of Curiosity's energy, leaving limited resources for other scientific activities. However, the mission team has been diligent in documenting the area, capturing numerous images of the surroundings. This wealth of data allows them to utilize any extra time for environmental observations, especially during the dusty season.
Dusty Season Observations and Future Plans
As Mars enters its dusty season, Curiosity's role in monitoring dust becomes even more critical. The mission team is observing both nearby and distant dust phenomena. They are on the lookout for dust devils and tracking the amount of dust in the crater and the broader Martian atmosphere. These observations contribute to a comprehensive understanding of Mars' atmospheric dynamics.
The upcoming weekend will be dedicated to the TMAH experiment, a crucial step in Curiosity's quest for organic evidence. Despite the energy-intensive nature of this experiment, the mission team's dedication to scientific exploration continues, ensuring that Mars' secrets are gradually unveiled, one discovery at a time.
