Curiosity Rover Operations and Science

Ashwin Vasava provides an update on the Curiosity Rover's activities. The rover has been analyzing the John Klein area, collecting rock samples, and studying their chemical compositions. The ChemCam instrument has been used to examine changes in composition with depth. The SAM instrument analyzed Mars' atmosphere, finding evidence of a thicker past atmosphere. Due to solar conjunction, communication with the rover will pause, but it will continue autonomous operations. Science activities will resume in early May.

Who is the Deputy Project Scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory?

• Curiosity Rover

• Sam Kemman

• John Klein

• Ashwin Vasava

What did Curiosity do with the remaining rock powder after delivering portions to SAM and ChemCam?

• Stored it in a container

• Dumped it in two piles

• Sent it back to Earth

• Used it for fuel

What instrument on Curiosity is used to study the chemical composition of rocks?

• MastCam

• ChemCam

• Rover Arm

• SAM

What gas did the SAM instrument analyze in the Martian atmosphere?

• Oxygen

• Carbon Dioxide

• Argon

• Nitrogen

What did the analysis of argon gas reveal about Mars' atmosphere?

• It was once thicker and has thinned over time

• It has more oxygen than expected

• It is thicker than Earth's

• It is similar to Jupiter's

What is the term for the planetary alignment when Mars is behind the Sun as seen from Earth?

• Solar Eclipse

• Planetary Transit

• Solar Conjunction

• Lunar Eclipse

How often does the solar conjunction event occur?

• Every 12 months

• Every 18 months

• Every 36 months

• Every 26 months

Why are no commands sent to Curiosity during the solar conjunction?

• The rover is in maintenance mode

• The rover is powered down

• The Sun disrupts radio signals

• Mars is too far away

What will the operations team do during the solar conjunction?

• Listen for a daily signal from the rover

• Send daily commands

• Perform maintenance on the rover

• Analyze new data from Mars

When is the science operation expected to resume after the solar conjunction?

• Late May

• Mid-May

• Early May

• Late April