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Wind-related processes detected by the Spirit rover at Gusev crater, Mars

Wind-abraded rocks, ripples, drifts, and other deposits of windblown sediments are seen at the Columbia Memorial Station where the Spirit rover landed. Orientations of these features suggest formative winds from the north-northwest, consistent with predictions from atmospheric models of afternoon winds in Gusev Crater. Cuttings from the rover Rock Abrasion Tool are asymmetrically distributed towar
Authors
R. Greeley, S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, P. Bartlett, J.F. Bell, D. Blaney, N.A. Cabrol, J. Farmer, B. Farrand, M.P. Golombek, S.P. Gorevan, J. A. Grant, A. F. C. Haldemann, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. Johnson, G. Landis, M.B. Madsen, S.H. McLennan, J. Moersch, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, S. Ruff, R.J. Sullivan, S.D. Thompson, A. Wang, C.M. Weitz, P. Whelley

The Spirit Rover's Athena science investigation at Gusev crater, Mars

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and its Athena science payload have been used to investigate a landing site in Gusev crater. Gusev is hypothesized to be the site of a former take, but no clear evidence for lacustrine sedimentation has been found to date. Instead, the dominant lithology is basalt, and the dominant geologic processes are impact events and eolian transport. Many rocks exhibit coati
Authors
S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, J. Brückner, N.A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, M. H. Carr, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, L. Crumpler, D.J. Des Marais, C. D'Uston, T. Economou, J. Farmer, W. Farrand, W. Folkner, M. Golombek, S. Gorevan, J. A. Grant, R. Greeley, J. Grotzinger, L. Haskin, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, S. Hviid, J. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A. Knoll, G. Landis, M. Lemmon, R. Li, M.B. Madsen, M. C. Malin, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, J. Moersch, R.V. Morris, T. Parker, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, R. Rieder, M. Sims, M. Smith, P. Smith, Laurence A. Soderblom, R. Sullivan, H. Wanke, T. Wdowiak, M. Wolff, A. Yen

Basaltic rocks analyzed by the Spirit rover in Gusev crater

The Spirit landing site in Gusev Crater on Mars contains dark, fine-grained, vesicular rocks interpreted as lavas. Pancam and Mini–Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectra suggest that all of these rocks are similar but have variable coatings and dust mantles. Magnified images of brushed and abraded rock surfaces show alteration rinds and veins. Rock interiors contain ≤25% megacrysts. Chem
Authors
H.Y. McSween, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, D. Blaney, N.A. Cabrol, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J.A. Crisp, L.S. Crumpler, D.J. Des Marias, J.D. Farmer, Ralf Gellert, A. Ghosh, S. Gorevan, T. Graff, J. Grant, L.A. Haskin, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, B.L. Jolliff, G. Klingelhoefer, A.T. Knudson, S. McLennan, K.A. Milam, J.E. Moersch, R.V. Morris, R. Rieder, S. W. Ruff, P.A. De Souza, S. W. Squyres, H. Wanke, A. Wang, M.B. Wyatt, A. Yen, J. Zipfel

In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars

Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features includ
Authors
S. W. Squyres, J.P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J.A. Crisp, W. H. Farrand, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, R.V. Morris, J. W. Rice, R. Rieder, Laurence A. Soderblom

The opportunity Rover's Athena science investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars

The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has investigated the landing site in Eagle crater and the nearby plains within Meridiani Planum. The soils consist of fine-grained basaltic sand and a surface lag of hematite-rich spherules, spherule fragments, and other granules. Wind ripples are common. Underlying the thin soil layer, and exposed within small impact craters and troughs, are flat-lying sedim
Authors
S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, J. Brückner, N.A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, M. H. Carr, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, L. Crumpler, D.J. Des Marais, C. D'Uston, T. Economou, J. Farmer, W. Farrand, W. Folkner, M. Golombek, S. Gorevan, J. A. Grant, R. Greeley, J. Grotzinger, L. Haskin, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, S. Hviid, J. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, G. Landis, M. Lemmon, R. Li, M.B. Madsen, M. C. Malin, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, J. Moersch, R.V. Morris, T. Parker, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, R. Rieder, M. Sims, M. Smith, P. Smith, Laurence A. Soderblom, R. Sullivan, H. Wanke, T. Wdowiak, M. Wolff, A. Yen

Pancam multispectral imaging results from the opportunity Rover at Meridiani Planum

Panoramic Camera (Pancam) images from Meridiani Planum reveal a low-albedo, generally flat, and relatively rock-free surface. Within and around impact craters and fractures, laminated outcrop rocks with higher albedo are observed. Fine-grained materials include dark sand, bright ferric iron-rich dust, angular rock clasts, and millimeter-size spheroidal granules that are eroding out of the laminate
Authors
J.F. Bell, S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, H.M. Arneson, D. Bass, W. Calvin, W. H. Farrand, W. Goetz, M. Golombek, R. Greeley, J. Grotzinger, E. Guinness, A. G. Hayes, M.Y.H. Hubbard, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, M. J. Johnson, J. R. Johnson, J. Joseph, K.M. Kinch, M.T. Lemmon, R. Li, M.B. Madsen, J.N. Maki, M. Malin, E. McCartney, S. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, R.V. Morris, E.Z. Noe Dobrea, T. J. Parker, J. Proton, J. W. Rice, F. Seelos, J.M. Soderblom, Laurence A. Soderblom, J. N. Sohl-Dickstein, R.J. Sullivan, C.M. Weitz, M.J. Wolff

Localization and physical properties experiments conducted by Spirit at Gusev crater

The precise location and relative elevation of Spirit during its traverses from the Columbia Memorial station to Bonneville crater were determined with bundle-adjusted retrievals from rover wheel turns, suspension and tilt angles, and overlapping images. Physical properties experiments show a decrease of 0.2% per Mars solar day in solar cell output resulting from deposition of airborne dust, cohes
Authors
R. E. Arvidson, R. C. Anderson, P. Bartlett, J.F. Bell, D. Blaney, P. R. Christensen, P. Chu, L. Crumpler, K. Davis, B.L. Ehlmann, R. Fergason, M.P. Golombek, S. Gorevan, J. A. Grant, R. Greeley, E.A. Guinness, A. F. C. Haldemann, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. Johnson, G. Landis, R. Li, R. Lindemann, H. McSween, D. W. Ming, T. Myrick, L. Richter, F.P. Seelos, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, A. Wang, Jim Wilson

Soils of eagle crater and Meridiani Planum at the opportunity Rover landing site

The soils at the Opportunity site are fine-grained basaltic sands mixed with dust and sulfate-rich outcrop debris. Hematite is concentrated in spherules eroded from the strata. Ongoing saltation exhumes the spherules and their fragments, concentrating them at the surface. Spherules emerge from soils coated, perhaps from subsurface cementation, by salts. Two types of vesicular clasts may represent
Authors
Laurence A. Soderblom, R. C. Anderson, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, N.A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, T. Economou, B.L. Ehlmann, W. H. Farrand, D. Fike, Ralf Gellert, T.D. Glotch, M.P. Golombek, R. Greeley, J.P. Grotzinger, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, D.J. Jerolmack, J. R. Johnson, B. Jolliff, C. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, Z.A. Learner, R. Li, M. C. Malin, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, R.V. Morris, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, R. Rieder, D. Rodionov, C. Schroder, F.P. Seelos, J.M. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R. Sullivan, W.A. Watters, C.M. Weitz, M.B. Wyatt, A. Yen, J. Zipfel

Surficial deposits at Gusev crater along Spirit Rover traverses

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has traversed a fairly flat, rock-strewn terrain whose surface is shaped primarily by impact events, although some of the landscape has been altered by eolian processes. Impacts ejected basaltic rocks that probably were part of locally formed lava flows from at least 10 meters depth. Some rocks have been textured and/or partially buried by windblown sediments less
Authors
J. A. Grant, R. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, N.A. Cabrol, M. H. Carr, P. Christensen, L. Crumpler, D.J. Des Marais, B.L. Ehlmann, J. Farmer, M. Golombek, F.D. Grant, R. Greeley, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, R. Li, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, J. Moersch, J. W. Rice, S. Ruff, L. Richter, S. Squyres, R. Sullivan, C. Weitz

Pancam multispectral imaging results from the Spirit Rover at Gusev crater

Panoramic Camera images at Gusev crater reveal a rock-strewn surface interspersed with high- to moderate-albedo fine-grained deposits occurring in part as drifts or in small circular swales or hollows. Optically thick coatings of fine-grained ferric iron-rich dust dominate most bright soil and rock surfaces. Spectra of some darker rock surfaces and rock regions exposed by brushing or grinding show
Authors
J.F. Bell, S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, H.M. Arneson, D. Bass, D. Blaney, N. Cabrol, W. Calvin, J. Farmer, W. H. Farrand, W. Goetz, M. Golombek, J. A. Grant, R. Greeley, E. Guinness, A. G. Hayes, M.Y.H. Hubbard, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, M. J. Johnson, J. R. Johnson, J. Joseph, K.M. Kinch, M.T. Lemmon, R. Li, M.B. Madsen, J.N. Maki, M. Malin, E. McCartney, S. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, J.E. Moersch, R.V. Morris, E.Z.N. Dobrea, T. J. Parker, J. Proton, J. W. Rice, F. Seelos, J. Soderblom, Laurence A. Soderblom, J. N. Sohl-Dickstein, R.J. Sullivan, M.J. Wolff, A. Wang

Morphometric properties of Martian volcanoes

Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data have been used to construct Digital Elevation Models (DEM) of the Martian volcanoes in order to determine height, flank slope, caldera depth, and volumes. Summit elevations range from 21.1 km to −0.5 km, and relief varies from 1.0 km to almost 22 km. Average flank slopes are in the range of <1° to ∼10°, consistent with basaltic shield volcanism. The very lo
Authors
J. B. Plescia

Athena Mars rover science investigation

Each Mars Exploration Rover carries an integrated suite of scientific instruments and tools called the Athena science payload. The primary objective of the Athena science investigation is to explore two sites on the Martian surface where water may once have been present, and to assess past environmental conditions at those sites and their suitability for life. The remote sensing portion of the pay
Authors
Steven W. Squyres, Raymond E. Arvidson, Eric T. Baumgartner, James F. Bell, Phillip R. Christensen, Stephen Gorevan, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Göstar Klingelhöfer, Morten Bo Madsen, Richard V. Morris, Rudolf Rieder, Raul A. Romero