Space Science and Technology (Part-V)- Discoveries of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)

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What did Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) discovered in Mars?

Here we continue with the last part of our blog on space science and technology. Those who have missed our fourth blog can read it from Here. It will help to connect with this last part of the blog discussing about the amazing discoveries made by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Let us explore the blog to find out these in more details. 

"Remember this: once the human race is established on more than one planet and especially, in more than one solar system, there is no way now imaginable to kill off the human race." "Earth is too small a basket for mankind to keep all its eggs in." "Once you get to earth orbit, you're halfway to anywhere in the solar system".

Some of the amazing discoveries made by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) are as follows-

Measurement of Water Ice in Ice Caps 

Results published in 2009 of radar measurements of the north polar ice cap determined that the volume of water ice in the cap is 821,000 cubic kilometres (197,000 cu mi), equal to 30% of the Earth's Greenland ice sheet.

Exposing Ice in New Craters

An article in the journal Science in September 2009, reported that some new craters on Mars have excavated relatively pure water ice. After being exposed, the ice gradually fades as it sublimates away. These new craters were found and dated by the CTX camera, and the identification of the ice was confirmed with the Compact Imaging Spectrometer (CRISM) on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The ice was found in a total of five locations. Three of the locations are in the Cebrenia quadrangle. These locations are 55.57°N 150.62°E; 43.28°N 176.9°E; and 45°N 164.5°E. Two others are in the Diacria quadrangle: 46.7°N 176.8°E and 46.33°N 176.9°E.

Ice in Lobate Debris Aprons

Radar results from SHARAD suggested that features termed Lobate Debris Aprons (LDAs) contain large amounts of water ice. Of interest from the days of the Viking Orbiters, these LDA are aprons of material surrounding cliffs. They have a convex topography and a gentle slope; this suggests flow away from the steep source cliff. In addition, lobate debris aprons can show surface lineations just as rock glaciers on the Earth. SHARAD has provided strong evidence that the LDAs in Hellas Planitia are glaciers that are covered with a thin layer of debris (i.e. rocks and dust); a strong reflection from the top and base of LDAs was observed, suggesting that pure water ice makes up the bulk of the formation (between the two reflections). Based on the experiments of the Phoenix lander and the studies of the Mars Odyssey from orbit, water ice is known to exist just under the surface of Mars in the far north and south (high latitudes).

Other Aqueous Minerals

In 2009, a group of scientists from the CRISM team reported on 9 to 10 different classes of minerals formed in the presence of water. Different types of clays (also called phyllosilicates) were found in many locations. The physilicates identified included aluminium smectite, iron/magnesium smectite, kaolinite, prehnite, and chlorite. Rocks containing carbonate were found around the Isidis basin. Carbonates belong to one class in which life could have developed. Areas around Valles Marineris were found to contain hydrated silica and hydrated sulphates. The researchers identified hydrated sulphates and ferric minerals in Terra Meridian and in Valles Marineris. Other minerals found on Mars were jarosite, alunite, hematite, opal, and gypsum. Two to five of the mineral classes were formed with the right pH and sufficient water to permit life to grow.

Avalanches

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CTX and HiRISE cameras have photographed a number of avalanches off the scarps of the northern polar cap as they were occurring.