NASA - Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) patch.
01/27/2014
Russian scientific equipment Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) is working on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity from August 9, 2012. Its mission to find Martian life, the source of which is water. DAN looking hydrogen-one of two parts of water. Measuring water content in the soil of Mars to answering the question of whether Mars ever inhabited. During the operation of a neutron detector DAN scientific team of the experiment, it was found that the water content of the top and bottom soil layers, the boundary between which is at a depth of about 20-30 cm, varies. The top layer of soil contains about 1.5 % water by weight, and in the lower layer mass fraction of water is about 3%. The water content was measured at 249 points, while some regions of the lower layer found to 6 % water.
Graphic above: These values are close to the water content in the soil of deserts earth, in which, as is known, live organisms. Whether primitive life also be present in the Martian soil ? The question of life on Mars inspires researchers from the 19th century, when astronomers first saw the planet's surface structure similar to artificially constructed channels. If space exploration of Mars will continue, then we will know the answer to that one of the most important issues of science.
Also survey the surface through its irradiation by short pulses of neutrons (active screening), DAN apparatus monitors the natural radiation background of the Martian surface (passive survey).
January 25 DAN made its two millionth pulse neutron radiation on the Martian surface.
In August last year, ended the warranty period of the neutron generator on the surface of Mars, but now it still retains its full functionality. The researchers hope to continue probing the Martian surface neutron your device long-lived for a few more months.
Detecting Subsurface Water
Image above: Water, whether liquid or frozen, absorbs neutrons more than other substances. The Detector of Albedo Neutrons on the Mars Science Laboratory rover will use this characteristic to search for subsurface ice on Mars. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Russian Federal Space Agency.
About the project
Russia's participation in the project Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity determined by the Executive agreement between NASA and the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), which commissioned the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences was established DAN instrument.
Image above: The Curiosity science payload, showing the DAN detector mounted at the rover's left hip. Credit: NASA/JPL.
In the creation of scientific equipment DAN and preparing space experiment involved All-Russian Research Institute of Automatics. NL Spirits Institute of Mechanical Engineering. AA Blagonravov and Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna). Currently conducting an experiment aboard mars rover Curiosity DAN involved and American scientists and experts from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of Arizona and Tennessee , and also Brown University USA.
Research project leader DAN - Dr. Igor Mitrofanov, head of the laboratory space gamma spectroscopy IKI.
Roscosmos Press Release: http://www.federalspace.ru/20156/
NASA / JPL - DAN website: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/instruments/radiationdetectors/dan/
Image (mentioned), Text, Credits: Roscosmos press service / Translation: Orbiter.ch Aerospace.
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