NASA’s Curiosity rover has made a remarkable discovery by capturing the first close-up images of a region on Mars that provides significant insights into the planet’s watery past. Scientists assert that Mars was once home to rivers, lakes, and possibly an ocean, which eventually dried up, leaving behind the arid landscape seen today.
The newly obtained images reveal what NASA describes as “dramatic evidence” of ancient groundwater, showcased in crisscrossing low ridges exhibiting a unique “boxwork pattern” that extends over several miles on a Martian mountain. According to NASA, the bedrock below these ridges likely formed as groundwater seeped through the rock, depositing minerals in cracks and fissures that eventually hardened into a cement-like structure.
From space, these ridges resemble intricate spiderweb patterns, which had only been observed via orbit before this discovery. Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity’s project scientist, raised questions about the formation of these hardened ridges and their localized presence, indicating a mystery that could lead to further exploration as the rover continues its journey.
Additionally, the ridges contain small fractures filled with calcium sulfate, a finding that had not been recorded in this part of Mount Sharp, the three-mile-high mountain Curiosity is currently exploring. Abigail Fraeman, the rover’s deputy project scientist, expressed surprise at the return of these calcium sulfate veins, noting that they had seemingly vanished as the rover ascended the mountain.
Curiosity landed in Gale Crater in 2012 and has been climbing Mount Sharp since 2014, with its ongoing mission focused on uncovering evidence of environments that could have supported life on Mars. The excitement surrounding these new findings underscores the rover’s vital role in unlocking the planet’s ancient secrets.