2023-09-23 07:00:00
Tristan Bergen 23/09/2023 09:00 6 min
After three years and several failed attempts, the Curiosity robot has finally managed to reach the ridge of Gediz Vallis near Mount Sharp, a rock formation that might teach us more regarding geology and Martian history.
A difficult mission for Curiosity
Mount Sharp is an area particularly interesting in the study of the planet Mars, in particular because it is full of clues allowing scientists to evaluate the past climate of the red planet, in particular by studying the geological formations found there. Since the rover landed on the planet, it has, for example, discovered on the slopes of Mount Sharp traces of ancient lakes and streamshaving made it possible to affirm that water had flowed in the past on the red planet.
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3 years ago now, the researchers in charge of the Curiosity mission chose to climb the lower part of this mountain 5 kilometers high, in order to discover new potential traces of water passing on Mars but also to have an overview of the region. They therefore chose the Gediz Vallis ridge which offers a culminating view of a sector of particular interest for scientists.
Nothing better than stopping for a pic (or 136) following a challenging hike
To create this immersive panorama, my team stitched together 136 images of this region called Gediz Vallis Ridge. It might have taken me 3 years and 4 attempts to get here, but the science is worth it. pic.twitter.com/FthK2VFnkJ
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) September 19, 2023
However, arriving on this ridge was particularly difficult for the rover piloted from Earth. Indeed, several attempts were necessary to access it and all have failed so far due in particular toparticularly rugged terrain with many protruding rocks that are difficult to avoid and slopes too steep so that the robot can climb them.
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However, following 3 unsuccessful attempts, NASA scientists managed to find a passable route for Curiosity, which finally arrived at the top of this ridge on August 14, 2023, following 3 years of trying to climb it. According to the engineers, this climb was one of the most difficult of the mission to datea mission which began in 2012.
The Gediz Vallis ridge, a very interesting sector in the study of Mars
This sector is, as mentioned previously, particularly interesting in the study of the planet Mars. Indeed, this ridge is one of the last mountains formed in the areawhich makes it a real time capsule geological. As Curiosity climbed this steep slope, each layer the rover encountered provided a part of Martian history.
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Thanks to the numerous photographs and analyzes carried out by Curiosity on its journey, scientists were able to define that this very rugged part of the area was actually an ancient fan-shaped debris flow. In other words, this sector contains numerous rocks and boulders that have fallen away from Mount Sharp in the past and which descended its slopes to end up in the area and thus form the ridge of Gediz Vallis.
Scientists already knew that this type of phenomenon occurred on Mars, just like on Earth, but its discovery and rise are a boon in the study of the region. Indeed, the rocks that compose it come from much higher altitudes than the rover would never have been able to reach and their study might potentially provide new data on the geological history of the planet.
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This can also be used to explain the mechanisms generating this type of phenomena in order to better understand them, which might also be used for their study and anticipation directly on Earth. However, while analyzes are still underway on the Gediz Vallis Ridge, the journey will continue for Curiosity and the rover’s next challenge will be to find a path to the channel above the ridge to learn more regarding how and where water once flowed over Mount Sharp.
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