How will the soil and rock samples will be analyzed from the planets surface? How can a robot study the samples?
During its mission the Pathfinder rover deploys its science instrument, the Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), onto rocks or soil on the surface of Mars. Data collected by this instrument is transmitted from the rover to the lander and then to earth. Scientists on earth can determine from this data the elemental composition of the rocks or soil. Images of rocks and soil taken by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) also contribute data which assists in identifying composition and minerology of the surface in the vicinity of the lander. Finally, the movement of the rover across the surface is measured (e.g., torque output from the wheels) and images will be taken of wheel tracks both from the rover and lander. This data will allow determination of the mechanical properties of the soil (e.g., cohesion, shear strength). Back to the top of the page.
