Terrain physical properties derived from orbital data and the first 360 sols of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover observations in Gale Crater

Physical properties of terrains encountered by the Curiosity rover during the rst 360 sols of operations have been inferred from analysis of the scour zones produced by Sky Crane Landing System engine plumes, wheel touch down dynamics, pits produced by Chemical Camera (ChemCam) laser shots, rover wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of geophysical research. Planets Vol. 119; no. 6; pp. 1322 - 1344
Main Authors:	Arvidson, R. E., Bellutta, P., Calef, F., Fraeman, A. A., Garvin, J. B., Gasnault, O., Grant, J. A., Grotzinger, J. P., Hamilton, V. E., Heverly, M., Iagnemma, K. A., Johnson, J. R., Lanza, N., Le Mouélic, S., Mangold, N., Ming, D. W., Mehta, M., Morris, R. V., Newsom, H. E., Rennó, N., Rubin, D., Schieber, J., Sletten, R., Stein, N. T., Thuillier, F., Vasavada, A. R., Vizcaino, J., Wiens, R. C.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Goddard Space Flight Center Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2014 AGU Publications
Subjects:	Bedrock Curiosity (Mars rover) Ejecta Landing aids Lithification Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration Mars Mars craters Mars rovers Physical properties Rocks Sand Shear modulus Soil compaction Soil properties Soils Terrain terramechanics Thermophysical properties Touchdown Weathering Wheels Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Gale Crater
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Summary:	Physical properties of terrains encountered by the Curiosity rover during the rst 360 sols of operations have been inferred from analysis of the scour zones produced by Sky Crane Landing System engine plumes, wheel touch down dynamics, pits produced by Chemical Camera (ChemCam) laser shots, rover wheel traverses over rocks, the extent of sinkage into soils, and the magnitude and sign of rover-based slippage during drives. Results have been integrated with morphologic, mineralogic, and thermophysical properties derived from orbital data, and Curiosity-based measurements, to understand the nature and origin of physical properties of traversed terrains. The hummocky plains (HP) landing site and traverse locations consist ofmoderately to well-consolidated bedrock of alluvial origin variably covered by slightly cohesive, hard-packedbasaltic sand and dust, with both embedded and surface-strewn rock clasts. Rock clasts have been addedthrough local bedrock weathering and impact ejecta emplacement and form a pavement-like surface in whichonly small clasts (5 to 10 cm wide) have been pressed into the soil during wheel passages. The beddedfractured (BF) unit, site of Curiositys rst drilling activity, exposes several alluvial-lacustrine bedrock unitswith little to no soil cover and varying degrees of lithication. Small wheel sinkage values (1 cm) for both HPand BF surfaces demonstrate that compaction resistance countering driven-wheel thrust has been minimaland that rover slippage while traversing across horizontal surfaces or going uphill, and skid going downhill,have been dominated by terrain tilts and wheel-surface material shear modulus values.
Bibliography:	ark:/67375/WNG-NR0KNVW5-Z istex:AEF8D544069BE3B588C2310E64B7B149EAAB98F9 ArticleID:JGRE20266 GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center GSFC-E-DAA-TN22524 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2169-9097 2169-9100
DOI:	10.1002/2013JE004605