Localization and physical properties experiments conducted by Spirit at Gusev Crater.

Magnetic properties experiments on the Mars exploration Rover Spirit at Gusev Crater.

The magnetic properties experiments are designed to help identify the magnetic minerals in the dust and rocks on Mars-and to determine whether liquid water was involved in the formation and alteration of these magnetic minerals. Almost all of the dust particles suspended in the martian atmosphere must contain ferrimagnetic minerals (such as maghemite or magnetite) in an amount of approximately ...

Synthesis of a spinifex-textured basalt as an analog to Gusev crater basalts, Mars

Analyses by the Mars Exploration Rover (MER), Spirit, of Martian basalts from Gusev crater show that they are chemically very different from terrestrial basalts, being characterized in particular by high Mgand Fe-contents. To provide suitable analog basalts for the International Space Analogue Rockstore (ISAR), a collection of analog rocks and minerals for preparing in situ space missions, espe...

Salty Soils at Gusev Crater as Revealed by Mars Exploration Rover Spirit

Mineralogic constraints on sulfur-rich soils from Pancam spectra at Gusev crater, Mars

[1] The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit excavated sulfur-rich soils exhibiting high albedo and relatively white to yellow colors at three main locations on and south of Husband Hill in Gusev crater, Mars. The multispectral visible/near-infrared properties of these disturbed soils revealed by the Pancam stereo color camera vary appreciably over small spatial scales, but exhibit spectral feat...

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 lake, 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 co...