Not sure if it is an ongoing issue, Cumberland was one of the first samples analysed. It's taken this long to release the results, even as an abstract.But it is good they are showing appropriate caution. Many people seem to see the presence of organics on Mars (never mind life) as an extraordinary claim, requiring extraordinary evidence.
A team using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite aboard NASA's Curiosity rover has made the first detection of nitrogen on the surface of Mars from release during heating of Martian sediments.The nitrogen was detected in the form of nitric oxide, and could be released from the breakdown of nitrates during heating.
It's one measurement, so whether this is typical or a typical remains to be seen.
Curiosity’s two front wheels began accumulating damage early in the mission.That wear and tear continues, and now the rover’s two middle wheels are showing major damage, Erickson said.But “the rear wheels are still almost pristine,” he said.To help cope with the wheel situation, Curiosity engineers are looking at software changes on the vehicle, “to try and make things a little bit better,” Erickson said. “They’ve had some good tests, but it’s not ready for prime time yet.”The software could provide situational awareness to the wheels, Erickson said, matching wheel drive with electrical current, depending on what terrain the rover faces.There remain uncertainties about how much overall wheel life is left on Curiosity, Erickson said. One helpful remedy is to carefully guide the robot through less-damaging terrain, he said.
On the eve of the 3rd anniversary since her nail biting touchdown inside Gale Crater, NASA’s car sized Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover has discovered a new type of Martian rock that’s surprisingly rich in silica – and unlike any other targets found before.Excited by this new science finding on Mars, Curiosity’s handlers are now gearing the robot up for her next full drill campaign today, July 31 (Sol 1060) into a rock target called “Buckskin” – which lies at the base of Mount Sharp, the huge layered mountain that is the primary science target of this Mars rover mission.“The team selected the “Buckskin” target to drill,” says Lauren Edgar, Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and an MSL science team member, in a mission update.“It’s another exciting day on Mars!”
Curiosity Discovers Mars Rock Like None Before, Sets Drill CampaignQuoteOn the eve of the 3rd anniversary since her nail biting touchdown inside Gale Crater, NASA’s car sized Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover has discovered a new type of Martian rock that’s surprisingly rich in silica – and unlike any other targets found before.Excited by this new science finding on Mars, Curiosity’s handlers are now gearing the robot up for her next full drill campaign today, July 31 (Sol 1060) into a rock target called “Buckskin” – which lies at the base of Mount Sharp, the huge layered mountain that is the primary science target of this Mars rover mission.“The team selected the “Buckskin” target to drill,” says Lauren Edgar, Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and an MSL science team member, in a mission update.“It’s another exciting day on Mars!”http://www.universetoday.com/121597/curiosity-discovers-mars-rock-like-none-before-sets-drill-campaign/
Quote from: Star One on 08/04/2015 06:37 amCuriosity Discovers Mars Rock Like None Before, Sets Drill CampaignQuoteOn the eve of the 3rd anniversary since her nail biting touchdown inside Gale Crater, NASA’s car sized Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover has discovered a new type of Martian rock that’s surprisingly rich in silica – and unlike any other targets found before.Excited by this new science finding on Mars, Curiosity’s handlers are now gearing the robot up for her next full drill campaign today, July 31 (Sol 1060) into a rock target called “Buckskin” – which lies at the base of Mount Sharp, the huge layered mountain that is the primary science target of this Mars rover mission.“The team selected the “Buckskin” target to drill,” says Lauren Edgar, Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and an MSL science team member, in a mission update.“It’s another exciting day on Mars!”http://www.universetoday.com/121597/curiosity-discovers-mars-rock-like-none-before-sets-drill-campaign/Sixth hole in three years! Plus one scoop. People planning MSR on Curiosity performance please note the implications!
Is the low drill rate a result of a performance issue?Or is it that they only drill when they feel it is justified? As a strategy, it makes more sense to save capabilities till later in the mission.