Martian Meteorite Hunters Prepare for ExoMars Mission
Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London are testing tools to help the ExoMars rover identify meteorites on Mars, aiming to enhance future space exploration.
A team at the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London is working to support future Mars rovers in their search for meteorites. Using the museum's vast meteorite collection, the researchers are testing spectral instruments that will be used on the ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin. Their work aims to develop tools that can identify meteorites on the Martian surface, as presented at the National Astronomy Meeting 2021.
Despite the challenging terrain, Mars rovers have a higher success rate in finding meteorites than Earth-based hunts. For every kilometer traveled, a Mars rover typically finds one meteorite, even without a specific focus on them. The ExoMars mission, set to launch in 2023, will see the Rosalind Franklin rover drill into the Martian surface, analyze soil composition, and search for signs of past or present life.
Meteorites are crucial for understanding Mars' history. They offer insights into atmospheric conditions, climate changes, and potential delivery of organic materials. Sara Motaghian, a PhD student at NHM and Imperial College London, emphasized the importance of meteorites as a record of Mars' long geological history. The team is exploring multispectral imaging with the PanCam instrument and pattern recognition techniques to identify meteorite features.
The ExoMars rover's launch was delayed from 2020 to 2023 due to technical issues and pandemic-related concerns. Once on Mars, the rover will benefit from the team's research, allowing it to study meteorites for longer and contribute to a deeper understanding of the planet's surface and potential for life.
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