Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Space → Remote sensing

NASA preps for groundbreaking news: has Curiosity found life on Mars?

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
November 21, 2012
in Remote sensing, Space

NASA officials are flooded with media requests from journalists recently looking to find out exactly what all the fuss is all about. Oh, haven’t you heard? Well I’m getting ahead of myself. Well, apparently scientists onboard the Curiosity rover mission have come across data that’s right “for the history books.” A monumental find, nothing less, nothing more, but until this can be 100% confirmed, the scientists have their hands tied and lips sealed.

All we know for sure so far is that the rover’s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument, or SAM for short, has picked up some incredible measurements. For the past six weeks, the rover has been testing its soil-scooping gear at a site called “Rocknest,” where it analyzed multiple samples.

“We’re getting data from SAM as we sit here and speak, and the data looks really interesting,” John Grotzinger, the principal investigator for the rover mission, says during my visit last week to his office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. “The science team is busily chewing away on it as it comes down,” says Grotzinger.

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, before it was attached to the Curiosity rover and sent to Mars. (c) NASA
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, before it was attached to the Curiosity rover and sent to Mars. (c) NASA

Like a miniature chemistry lab, SAM can “sniff” out a sample and tell you its exact chemical composition. Obviously, something important came up, maybe even something organic. The $2.5 billion Curiosity rover landed nearby Mars’ huge Gale Crater on Aug. 5, kicking off a two-year mission whose goal is that of determining whether or not Mars is capable of sustaining microbial life. Only three months in the mission, Curiosity might have struck the winning ticket already. Again, I’m getting ahead of myself. It could be anything or it could very well be nothing. This is why the scientists are extremely cautions about what they release to the world. If they indeed found something monumental, then NASA might finally get back its fabled recognition and, hopefully, attract a budget increase. On the other hand, if this discovery is found to be a mere glitch or a contamination brought back from Earth, than the whole mission’s reputation might be put at risk.

After all, this wouldn’t be the first time an exciting measurement went wrong. A while ago, Curiosity picked up methane signatures in its instruments. Methane is very common on Earth, and its primary source is living organisms. After a double check, however, the reading was gone. Still, it won’t be for another couple of weeks until we know for certain what’s going on at the NASA/JPL mission control center.

ZME readers, what do you think Curiosity found on Mars?

Rumor first heard on NPR.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. NASA Curiosity Mars Rover will pave the way for the search for life
  2. China launches its second space lab into Earth’s orbit, preps for full fledged space station in 2020s
  3. Navy preps introduction of robot fireman
  4. Mars Curiosity rover bound for Mars crater landing soon
  5. Moving closer to life on Mars: Curiosity Rover identifies its first mineral
Tags: curiosity rovernasa

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW