Nasa's Curiosity rover zaps Mars rock called Coronation

Nasa's Curiosity rover zaps Mars rock called Coronation

www.bbc.co.uk

Nasa's Curiosity rover has zapped its first Martian rock.

The robot fired its ChemCam laser at a tennis-ball-sized stone lying about 2.5m away on the ground.

The brief but powerful burst of light from the instrument vapourised the surface of the rock, revealing details of its basic chemistry.

(visit the link for the full news article)

So I can't wait to see what details they get for this random stone.

I have heard this stone is basalt but even though it should reveal some interesting evidence..........I hope?!

It seems strange to me why they would choose such a well known type of rock and not ones that were near the rover that looked "different" in some way?

I know they might be tuning the instruments or seeing if the result they get is one they know about, but I guess we will have to wait for the rover to start moving to get more "exciting" results.



www.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Most likely establishing some baseline reference readings and calibrating the spectroscopy instruments using known data. Can't wait til the hard science begins.

reply to post by CaptainBeno


Next thing you know Coronation Street will also be zapped in Greater Manchester (Britain)...Is this a foreshadow/conspiracy yet to come into fruition????

reply to post by CaptainBeno


I read that earlier. Great article. S/F!

-SAP-

reply to post by Skywatcher2011


Hmmmm Something in a name>..............."The Rovers Return"?

You just never know do ya?

What if theirs lil beings livin on mars n their microscopic to us so we cant see em... Maybe people outta think about that before they go around blowing things up....

reply to post by dayve


"Rovers" "With lasers on there heads"

*ZAP!*

... and this is how the first Martian - Earth war was started.

Cool article. Nice job.

reply to post by Druscilla


Ha! Yes, you are right! Could you imagine the very same happening here? Just a harmless laser, just testing a few rocks? Far out man, it would be wide spread pandemonium!!!!!

"IT'S A LASER!!!!!!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!"

"Sharks with friggen lazer beams attached to their heads" - Dr. Evil from Austin Powers

Sorry off topic.

-SAP-

reply to post by SloAnPainful


No............extremely funny!!!!

Originally posted by CaptainBeno


So I can't wait to see what details they get for this random stone.

I have heard this stone is basalt but even though it should reveal some interesting evidence..........I hope?!

It seems strange to me why they would choose such a well known type of rock and not ones that were near the rover that looked "different" in some way?

I know they might be tuning the instruments or seeing if the result they get is one they know about, but I guess we will have to wait for the rover to start moving to get more "exciting" results.



www.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Probably because they knew the stone was basalt, It would make a good "baseline" to do future comparisons against.

It would be the "control" material for the future analysis.

reply to post by Yeats


Yep, you are right I reckon. Apparently there is a large quantity of this on Mars (And Earth).

When does the Rover start to move......any date fixed yet?

Yeah will smith and his crew misinterpreted the aliens in independence day, they were doing what the rover does but on a larger scale.

I cant wait to see the results, wonder how similar the rocks will be compared with what we have at home.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

reply to post by Yeats


you cannot be talking about zombie drugs on ATS....... no more basalts......lol

reply to post by Skywatcher2011


I have a space radar mutating gun pointing at planet eeeeeaaarrrttthhh. If I push this button it will be destroyed in 300,000years........bu ha ha.........
AAAAAAHHHHHHHH what's up doc?

Originally posted by CaptainBeno
reply to post by Skywatcher2011

 

Hmmmm Something in a name>..............."The Rovers Return"?

You just never know do ya?

I just wonder if we will ever get to see this sort of transmission from Mars....here come the real aliens!!!! Run for the hills!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Druscilla

*ZAP!*

... and this is how the first Martian - Earth war was started.

Cool article. Nice job.

It's a star trek TNG episode called "home soil".

They zap a rock with a laser and it kills millions of tiny silicon-based aliens and starts a war. One of my favorite episodes, because it makes us think about what other forms life might take.

Let's hope that doesn't happen on Mars