Ancient Organics Discovered on Mars - Broadcast Graphics

  • Released Thursday, June 7, 2018
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NASA-TV graphics illustrating Curiosity's findings on Mars, broadcast on June 7, 2018 from Goddard Space Flight Center. All clips are formatted in 1280x720 or higher resolution. Learn more about this discovery.

MOLECULECuriosity has discovered ancient organic molecules in Gale Crater using its SAM instrument.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

MOLECULE

Curiosity has discovered ancient organic molecules in Gale Crater using its SAM instrument.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

SEASONALCuriosity has detected seasonal changes in methane at Gale Crater using its SAM instrument.Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

SEASONAL

Curiosity has detected seasonal changes in methane at Gale Crater using its SAM instrument.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

THIOPHENE

SAM detected the organosulfur compound thiophene by analyzing its mass spectrum.

MACROMOLECULE

The small hydrocarbons discovered on Mars are thought to be part of larger macromolecules.

AIR INTAKES

Intake valves on the side of Curiosity allow SAM to ingest Martian air for analysis.

TLSCuriosity detected atmospheric methane with SAM's Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS).

TLS

Curiosity detected atmospheric methane with SAM's Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS).

TOUR

A panorama around Gale Crater, the Curiosity rover's location on Mars.

ROVER ARM

Curiosity moves its arm to drill a sample of a Martian rock.

GALE CRATERA panorama of Gale Crater, taken by the Curiosity rover on Mars.

GALE CRATER

A panorama of Gale Crater, taken by the Curiosity rover on Mars.

SAM ACTION

This animation shows the SAM instrument in action.

CRATER DRYPresent-day Gale Crater, with Curiosity's landing site indicated.

CRATER DRY

Present-day Gale Crater, with Curiosity's landing site indicated.

CRATER WETGale Crater was the site of a lake on ancient Mars.

CRATER WET

Gale Crater was the site of a lake on ancient Mars.

SAM UNCOVEREDThe Sample Analysis at Mars instrument (SAM) was built at Goddard Space Flight Center.

SAM UNCOVERED

The Sample Analysis at Mars instrument (SAM) was built at Goddard Space Flight Center.

SAM INSTALLTechnicians integrate SAM into the Curiosity rover.

SAM INSTALL

Technicians integrate SAM into the Curiosity rover.

HOLESSAM detected ancient hydrocarbons in the "Mojave 2" target rock.

HOLES

SAM detected ancient hydrocarbons in the "Mojave 2" target rock.

ROVERSNASA's Mars 2020 rover and ESA's ExoMars rover will usher in a new era of exploration.

ROVERS

NASA's Mars 2020 rover and ESA's ExoMars rover will usher in a new era of exploration.

GLOBE

Beauty shot of Mars rotating.

URL

Slate with NASA's Mars Exploration Program website and social media information.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Thursday, June 7, 2018.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 12:23 AM EST.

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