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The Water-Wheel IR (WIR): A Contact Survey Experiment for Water and Carbonates on MarsMinimum requirements for life include water and accessible carbon. Mars has both in its polar caps and atmosphere. Water (or water-equivalent hydrogen) is present at shallow depths (approx. 10-20 cm) at latitudes =60 and is heterogeneously distributed in other parts of Mars [1]. Mars may have once had surface water that could plausibly have produced carbonate deposits [2-5]. Mars shows signs of hydrothermal activity [6-8] that may have affected soil composition [9, 10]. The Thermal Emission Spectrometer on the Mars Global Surveyor found large and small patches of hematite that may have been water-borne or water-derived [11, 12]. Current orbiting spacecraft (MGS & Odyssey) have not found massive carbonate deposits, however [13]. Shales and limestones, which we associate with moist and benign environments on Earth, are apparently not abundant on Mars. Both carbonate and organic carbon occur as alteration products in Martian meteorites of igneous origin [14]. One study of MGS-TES data suggests 2-5 wt% carbonates (mainly MgCO3) in surface dust, but found no concentrated source [15]. Carbonates and H2O/OH bearing minerals will be sought by the mini-TES and Mossbauer experiments on the Mars Exploration Rovers, one of which landed successfully on Mars on January 3.
Document ID
20040062526
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wang, Alian
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Haskin, Larry A.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Freeman, John
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Dong, Edward X.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Kuebler, Karla E.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Missions and Instruments: Hopes and Hope Fulfilled
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-12114
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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