Curiosity rover

How do space probes (like the Curiosity rover) look for molecules on the Moon or Mars ... 

The Curiosity rover has a whole suite of chemistry tools on board. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) tool is probably the coolest. This instrument breaks down rocks and bits of soil by firing a (freaking) laser at the target. The elements that made up that rock are then detected by atomic emission spectroscopy. Curiosity also contains an alpha particle (He + ion) X-ray spectrometer (APXS), which is also used to measure what elements make up a sample. If the NASA scientists want to know more... 

X-rays can be emitted from a sample by bombarding it with electrons, alpha particles, or with other X-rays. When electrons or alpha particles are used as the excitation source, the process is called X-ray emission or particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). This is the basis of X-ray microanalysis using an electron microprobe (Chapter 14) or an SEM. An alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) is currently on the Mars Curiosity rover collecting data on Martian rock composition. 

All major modem atomic absorption and emission techniques and instrumentation are covered, including new MP-AES and triple quadrupole ICP-MS instruments. The relatively new technique of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been added to Chapter 7 and is now currently being used on Mars in the Curiosity rover, which landed on the Red Planet in August 2012. Appendices with EAAS and GEAAS conditions have been added, and the appendix with limits of detection for all the atomic spectroscopic techniques has been updated from the sixth edition. The chapter on X-ray has been significantly revised by Dr. Alexander Seyfarth, the new coauthor of the chapter, to reflect the state of the art in XRP, XRD, and related techniques. Many new graphics have been added. 

Mars is dry now, but the Curiosity rover left no doubt that the red planet was first blue with water. Mars has rounded pebbles, conglomerated sand-rocks, and alluvial... 

Figure 7.54 (a) Artist s conception of the Mars rover Curiosity, showing the raised mast head, (b) Close-up of the actual mast head with the ChemCam. (Image credits Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL, Pasadena, CA.)... 

Spectrum of the calibration target from the APXS on the Martian rover Curiosity. (Image credit NASA/JPL-Calteoh/LANL.)... 

The Mars Science Laboratory rover. Curiosity, scheduled to begin exploring Mars in 2012, features a U.S7 French laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy unit that... 

The Curiosity Mars rover is powered by a Pu02 thermoelectric battery. The rover requires more power than solar cells could provide. 

As a follow-up to the success of the original Mars Rovers, NASA sponsored and developed the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) named Curiosity. This vehicle had the high-end Uthium-ion battery providing backup power to the U.S. Department of Energy s radioisotope energy generator. The MSL was launched on November 26, 2011 and landed on the surface of Mars on August 5, 2012. The anticipated duration of Curiosity s prime mission is one Mars year (669 Sols). 

Currently, Yardney is in continuous production of secondary lithium-ion batteries, primary and secondary silver-zinc batteries and primary reserve silver-zinc batteries used on various Department of Defense applications. The primary battery applications include the Navy s Trident IID5 Fleet Ballistic Missile program, the Minuteman III ICBM, and primary power for the MK 21 re-entry vehicle. In 2012, the Trident II missile has achieved 143 successful test launches since 1989—a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle. The most prominent Li-ion batteries made by Yardney have powered the Mars Explorer Rover missions (Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity), the USAF B-2 Bomber and Global Hawk aircraft, and the US Navy Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS). One of the future applications for Yardney s Li-ion batteries is NASA s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). 

Mars didn t have the same problem as Venus—it had its own problems. We know more about Mars than Venus because probes sent to Mars aren t crushed into electronic slush, and the Martian atmosphere is helpfully transparent to our telescopes and probes. A series of rovers, culminating in the Curiosity mission, has given us a close view of Martian geology and has offered clues as to where all that water went. 

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