Observations on the Mars surface by Curiosity (MSL): a new insight on basalt alteration
Gilles Berger
Obervatoire Midi-Pyrénées
The Curiosity rover landed on the Gale crater (Mars) in August 2012. The objectives of the Mars Science Laboratory (NASA) will be first exposed, as well as the ten on-board scientific instruments. The mains observations acquired during the 500 first sols will be summarized, in particular the mineral and chemical data from CheMin, ChemCam, APXS and SAM: the composition of float rocks and soils in the Bradburry rise, the first drills in the mudstone at Yellowknife Bay and the rise for Mt Sharp. These observations will be then discussed in the perspective of different geologic scenarios and aqueous history, by comparing with laboratory and field study of Earth examples, including Brazilian cases.