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New Adventures of the Curiosity and Perseverance Rovers on Mars, by Professor Sanjeev Gupta

Writer's picture: Bobby ManooBobby Manoo

Professor Sanjeev Gupta visited the Flamsteed Astronomy Society for a second time, leaving us with a thought-provoking statement about Mars exploration: "This endeavour is not about the search for life but rather an investigation into our own history!"


Space News Update

Before the main talk, Manish Patel provided an update on recent developments in space exploration. Reflecting on his previous presentation a year ago, he revisited key topics to offer the latest insights.


Manish highlighted the continued success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which landed on the Moon’s south pole. The mission remains active, collecting and analysing valuable data. Additionally, ISRO has successfully trialled a new space docking manoeuvre with its satellites, paving the way for advanced space exploration.


Manish presenting the Sky News
Manish presenting the Sky News

He concluded his segment by emphasizing Venus as the best planet for night-sky observation this month. He also pointed out a notable celestial event on January 18th, when Venus and Mars will be in close proximity - an excellent opportunity for astrophotography enthusiasts.


JPL and the LA Fires

After a warm welcome, Professor Gupta opened his lecture with a sobering update on the recent wildfires near the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Los Angeles. Many of his colleagues lost their homes, and operations at the lab were severely disrupted. The facility was evacuated for two weeks, during which time signals to Mars rovers had to be relayed through an emergency site to maintain communication.


Sanjeev pointing to the JPL Team in LA
Sanjeev pointing to the JPL Team in LA

The Curiosity Rover: A Window into Earth’s Past

Professor Gupta explained the extensive scientific investigations involved in studying planetary geological structures. While many assume Mars exploration is solely about searching for life, the real objective is to understand Earth’s history. Mars hosts geological formations far older than those on Earth, with some rocks dating back 3.9 - 4 billion years. The analysis of these rocks can give valuable insights into Earth’s early formation and also the formation of the Solar System itself. This type of investigation cannot realistically be done on Earth.


The Curiosity Rover continues to operate efficiently, with an estimated 10 years of functional life remaining. Despite being coated in dust, its instruments still deliver excellent results. Professor Gupta showcased recent images and a collage of drill samples, demonstrating the diverse chemical compositions of the Martian surface.


Ripple Crest formations taken by the Rover
Ripple Crest formations taken by the Rover

One particularly fascinating discovery involved the formation of dunes on sedimentary rocks near Mount Sharp. Analysis of ripple crests provided compelling evidence of past water activity, indicating that the area once contained a lake approximately one metre deep. Wind-driven ripples on the lake’s surface contributed to the formation of the dune structures observed today.


The Perseverance Rover: Uncovering Mars' Geological Secrets

Perseverance was deployed to explore Jezero Crater, an area thought to have once held water in a large lake just within the crater. Though not as extensively equipped as Curiosity, it has successfully gathered soil and rock samples, which are securely stored for future analysis on Earth. However, returning these samples will require a mission costing an estimated $7 billion, and funding has yet to be confirmed.


A particularly exciting revelation came when the rover identified a layer of bright rocks featuring distinct “leopard spots.” Initial analysis suggests these could be biosignatures - possible remnants of organic matter from an ancient lake. Professor Gupta expressed his enthusiasm, hinting that this may be one of the most significant Martian discoveries to date, with an official press release forthcoming.


Curious spots on bright rocks
Curious spots on bright rocks

Conclusion

The evening concluded with a sense of awe and appreciation for the ongoing Mars missions. Professor Gupta’s talk was both insightful and inspiring, leaving attendees eager to follow future developments. We extend our sincere thanks to him for sharing his expertise and passion for planetary exploration.


Images by Mike Meynell, Gurinder Lall, Bobby Manoo



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