Martian water played a major role in creating intriguing surface features on miniature sand dunes, scientists say.
harbored abundant liquid water about three billion years ago. But dramatic climate changes froze much of it as ice now locked in poles and left the bulk of the planet parched.
When Zhurong ventured close to its target dunes, which are pint-sized compared to the massive two-story ones NASA's Curiosity roverelsewhere on Mars, the laser-induced breakdown spectrometer instrument onboard the rover zapped sand grains into millimeter-sized particles. Their chemical makeup revealed hydrated minerals like sulfates, silica, iron oxide and chlorides.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China finally admits its hibernating Mars rover may never wake upThe Zhurong Mars rover never woke up from a planned hibernation, and the head of the mission team has now revealed why.
Read more »
1st-ever close-up photo of Mars' moon Deimos reveals the Red Planet's violent pastA satellite from the United Arab Emirates revealed that Mars' moon Deimos is made of the same material as the Red Planet itself, hinting at an ancient collision.
Read more »
China possibly adding helicopter, 6-legged robot to its Mars sample return missionIt's not yet clear whether China or the United States and Europe will be the first to bring a piece of the Red Planet back to Earth.
Read more »
China says 'red line' system to protect nature is completeChina has completed work on a nationwide ecological protection 'red line' aimed at preserving its ecosystems and reversing some of the damage from rapid urbanisation and industrial growth, a government official said on Thursday.
Read more »
Incredible Aerial Photo of Mars Shows Blue Sky and Perseverance RoverNASA's Ingenuity drone captured a stunning photo of Mars, complete with an unusually blue sky and the Perseverance Rover photobombing in the background.
Read more »
Name a better duo than NASA's hard-working Mars rover and helicopterIn uncharted Martian territory, Ingenuity has proven to be a trusty sidekick to Perseverance and engineers at home.
Read more »