NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has successfully reached its destination on the Red Planet, the Gediz Vallis Ridge, after three failed attempts. Scientists believe that this ridge holds evidence of Mars’ blue past when the planet was much wetter than it is now. Three billion years ago, debris flows carried mud and boulders down the side of a mountain, forming a fan which later eroded into the towering ridge. This provides insights into Mars’ ancient landslides and could also help explain similar events on Earth.
Curiosity reached the ridge on August 14th, taking 136 individual images of the site which were stitched together to create a 360-degree panorama. This colorful panorama offers an inviting view of the ridge.
The rover encountered several obstacles on its way to the Gediz Vallis Ridge. First, it had to scale the difficult-to-climb rock formation called the Greenheugh Pediment in 2021. Then, it faced knife-edged “gator-back” rocks that were the hardest type of rock encountered on Mars. Earlier this year, Curiosity had to navigate the slippery Marker Band Valley, which NASA compared to a “Martian slip-and-slide.” Despite these challenges, the rover persevered and arrived at its intended destination.
Curiosity’s arrival at the Gediz Vallis Ridge marks a significant milestone in its mission. The ridge holds valuable information about Mars’ wet past and provides an opportunity to study rocks that once stood at the formation’s apex. The rover has been exploring Mount Sharp since 2014, uncovering evidence of ancient streams and other intriguing findings.
During its 11-day stay at the ridge, Curiosity captured 136 images of the region, including dark rocks that originated from other parts of the mountain and larger shards believed to have come from higher up on Mount Sharp. These images provide scientists with a closer look at a geologic phenomenon called a “debris flow fan.”
With the successful completion of its mission at the Gediz Vallis Ridge, Curiosity is now set to continue its exploration and learn more about the watery history of Mount Sharp. Despite the challenges faced along the way, the rover has proven itself capable of overcoming obstacles and providing valuable insights into the history of Mars.