News Planetary Science

Curiosity gets the dirt on Mars

Rover completes analysis of first soil collected from Gale Crater

THE INSIDE SCOOP  The Curiosity rover collected samples of Martian soil (trenches made by the rover’s scoop shown) to complete its first chemical analysis of the Red Planet’s surface. 

JPL-Caltech/NASA and MSSS

By Beth Mole

- More than 2 years ago

Whiffs of chemicals found in rocket fuel, a dark pyramid that resembles rare volcanic rocks on Earth and glassy particles bearing traces of water are among the Curiosity rover’s finds in its first chemical investigation of Martian dirt.