Mysterious Martian particles to be analysed by Curiosity's on-board lab

Nasa has instructed its Curiosity rover to analyse Martian soil containing bright particles after deciding the material was native to Mars.

Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in charge of the Curiosity mission had initially discarded samples from the Rocknest site containing the particles thinking they originated from Earth -- debris from either the rover itself or the spacecraft -- and would contaminate the rover's sample-processing mechanism.

By: Philippa Warr, Edited by: Olivia Solon

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via Wired.co.uk



http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-10/18/bright-particles-on-mars