APXS on Mars: Analyses of Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum

Newly developed APXS (Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometers) are part of the Athena payload of the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity [1]. The APXS determines the chemical composition of soils and rocks along the traverse of the two rovers. Spirit and Opportunity operate at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum, respectively. First results of soil X-ray spectra at both landing sites support the hypothesis of a global homogenization of the soil by large dust storms and impact processes in the northern and southern hemisphere.