on Mars
NASA's Curiosity rover recently took the first samples of Martian soil for analysis and unearthed a little surprise: a bright, light-colored particle.
Among the samples that will be analyzed to determine whether the Red Planet is suitable for microorganisms, a strange particle was found in the windy and sandy region of Mars called Rocknest ( Rocknest).
Although the particle looks like something alien, scientists believe it's natural Martian material. The particle is only 1 mm in size and was discovered after the rover's mechanical bucket dug up Martian dust.
This discovery came after a light object measuring 1.3 cm was discovered on Mars on October 7, which turned out to be the wreckage of a spacecraft. However, the new tiny shiny granule is most likely not a foreign object.
The samples will be delivered to the ChemIN device, which analyzes the mineral composition of the soil. In addition, the SAM tool will be used to analyze other samples, which will help identify signs of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon, elements associated with life.
The Curiosity rover itself, which has been on the Red Planet since August 5, 2012, will explore Mars for about two more Earth years.