APOD: Curiosity Rover Finds a Clay Cache... (2019 Oct 29)

[APOD Robot]

Curiosity Rover Finds a Clay Cache on Mars

Explanation: Why is there clay on Mars? On Earth, clay can form at the bottom of a peaceful lake when specific minerals trap water. At the pictured site on Mars, the robotic rover Curiosity drilled into two rocks and found the highest concentration of clay yet. The clay cache is considered addition evidence that Gale Crater once held water in the distant past. Pictured, 57 images taken by Curiosity have been combined into a selfie. The images were taken by a camera at the end of its robotic arm. Many details of the car-sized rover are visible, including its rugged wheels, numerous scientific instruments, and a high mast that contains camera "eyes", one of which can shoot out an infrared laser beam. Curiosity continues to roll around and up Mount Sharp -- in the center of Gale Crater -- in a search for new clues about the ancient history of Mars and whether or not the red planet once had conditions that could support life.

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[bystander]

Newest selfie: viewtopic.php?t=39934

[kennedy70]

It looks like Curiosity was designed by a team of engineers, and not a team of architects.

[De58te]

At first I thought this was the selfie that NASA released a couple of days ago, but then what happened to Glen Etive 2? There were supposed to be two drill holes. Then comparing this with NASA's picture, https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8536/new-sel ... /?site=msl the flat rock slabs are also different. In NASA's picture there are two distinct rectangular rock slabs on the right side of the right middle wheel. Also the horizon looks different. Then I noticed that the dates were different. NASA's selfie was taken on October 11, while this one was taken in May.

[Conrad12n]

Tongue in cheek reply to kennedy70. My daddy always told me "form follows function in design".

[BDanielMayfield]

It looks like Curiosity was designed by a team of engineers, and not a team of architects.

It was. Function is way more important than form at this point in our exploration of Mars.

[orin stepanek]

Seems like Mars has the material needed for construction!

[bls0326]

Clicking on the APOD picture, then zooming in (click the +) on it shows incredible detail of the Rover and the Martian landscape.

[neufer]

Clay bash welcomes Curiosity to Mount Sharp

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Explanation: Why is Mars made of green clay? On Earth, clay can form at the bottom of a peaceful lake when specific minerals trap water. At the pictured site on Mars, the robotic rover Curiosity drilled into two rocks and found the highest concentration of clay yet. This clay bash is considered addition evidence that Gale Crater once held water in the distant past. The images were taken by a camera at the end of its robotic arm. Curiosity continues to roll around and up Mount Sharp -- in the center of Gale Crater -- in a search for new clues about the ancient history of Mars and whether or not the green planet once had conditions that could support non-clay life as well.

[daddyo]

It looks like Curiosity was designed by a team of engineers, and not a team of architects.

It was. Function is way more important than form at this point in our exploration of Mars.

Here's how an architect would get to Mars

[BDanielMayfield]

It looks like Curiosity was designed by a team of engineers, and not a team of architects.

It was. Function is way more important than form at this point in our exploration of Mars.

Here's how an architect would get to Mars

A bridge way, way too far.

[TheOtherBruce]

Here's how an architect would get to Mars

A bridge way, way too far.

A Transspacial Tunnel, Hurrah!

[pgp566]

Astonishing. It's truly amazing what NASA has achieved. If not convinced, take a look a the full res image.

[Ann]

Clay bash welcomes Curiosity to Mount Sharp

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Explanation: Why is Mars made of green clay? On Earth, clay can form at the bottom of a peaceful lake when specific minerals trap water. At the pictured site on Mars, the robotic rover Curiosity drilled into two rocks and found the highest concentration of clay yet. This clay bash is considered addition evidence that Gale Crater once held water in the distant past. The images were taken by a camera at the end of its robotic arm. Curiosity continues to roll around and up Mount Sharp -- in the center of Gale Crater -- in a search for new clues about the ancient history of Mars and whether or not the green planet once had conditions that could support non-clay life as well.

You're killing me, Art!

Ann

[Ann]

It looks like Curiosity was designed by a team of engineers, and not a team of architects.

It was. Function is way more important than form at this point in our exploration of Mars.

Here's how an architect would get to Mars

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

It would have to be a very flexible extra-stretch bridge!

Ann