Terrain physical properties derived from orbital data and the first 360 sols of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover observations in Gale Crater

Autor: Matthew Heverly, R. V. Morris, John A. Grant, Fred Calef, Juergen Schieber, F. Thuillier, Olivier Gasnault, S. Le Mouélic, J. Vizcaino, Ashwin R. Vasavada, K. A. Iagnemma, P. Bellutta, Victoria E. Hamilton, John P. Grotzinger, Roger C. Wiens, Raymond E. Arvidson, Nilton O. Renno, Nathaniel Stein, Abigail A. Fraeman, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Nina Lanza, Horton E. Newsom, David M. Rubin, R. S. Sletten, James B. Garvin, N. Mangold, D. W. Ming, Manish Mehta
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 119:1322-1344
ISSN: 2169-9100
2169-9097
Popis: Physical properties of terrains encountered by the Curiosity rover during the first 360 sols of operations have been inferred from analysis of the scour zones produced by Sky Crane Landing System engine plumes, wheel touch down dynamics, pits produced by Chemical Camera (ChemCam) laser shots, rover wheel traverses over rocks, the extent of sinkage into soils, and the magnitude and sign of rover‐based slippage during drives. Results have been integrated with morphologic, mineralogic, and thermophysical properties derived from orbital data, and Curiosity‐based measurements, to understand the nature and origin of physical properties of traversed terrains. The hummocky plains (HP) landing site and traverse locations consist of moderately to well‐consolidated bedrock of alluvial origin variably covered by slightly cohesive, hard‐packed basaltic sand and dust, with both embedded and surface‐strewn rock clasts. Rock clasts have been added through local bedrock weathering and impact ejecta emplacement and form a pavement‐like surface in which only small clasts (
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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