Curiosity collects Martian soil sample by measuring instrument

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The Collection Process (Image source: BBC News)

The Curiosity spacecraft collected the first block of soil from Mars for analysis. The process took place in two stages: material collection and preparation for testing (in which the rock was crushed). Then the debris was applied to the instrument called “CheMin” (which serves to analyze the chemical and mineral composition).

According to John Gortzinger, one of the scientists involved in the project, "CheMin uses a much more accurate and detailed method than any other employee for the analysis before." Still according to Gortizinger, "the safe identification of minerals is important to analyze the conditions under which they were formed."

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Sample processed for analysis (Image source: BBC News)

In practice, the instrument is capable of accurate mineral identification by x-ray diffraction. Thus, it is possible to recognize and quantify the mineral components present in the rock material “swallowed” by Curiosity. Still, the NASA team involved in the sample collection process feared that contamination might occur.

This could have been because there is some remnant of terrestrial soil from the tests done before sending Curiosity to Mars. Therefore, a “cleaning” routine was created during the procedure: the probe should collect two samples and deposit them in appropriate processing chambers to remove any “intruder” debris that might be present in the content.

Sample that was discarded for fear of contamination. Scientists later believed that it was not actually contaminated (Image source: BBC News)

Still, a sample was discarded, thinking it was contaminated. However, NASA engineers received confirmation last Thursday that recently collected material was accepted by the measuring instrument. Now just wait for the details of the analysis, which should be available next week.

Source: BBC News