Tracking water on planetary surfaces using data from the Curiosity rover, the laboratory, meteorites and Australian field sites

科学中的一个基本问题是，为什么地球上有这么多液态水，而其他行星却没有？该项目将利用火星上的好奇号火星车来回答这个问题，研究记录水作用的蚀变矿物。该项目将开发新的方法，以提高我们对火星陨石中蚀变矿物的理解，在受控的环境条件下，并在与火星有关的现场样品中。它旨在建立行星表面环境方面的专业知识和新型仪器。这项研究将改进检查返回的地外样本、评价土地退化和寻找能源和矿藏的方法。

A fundamental question in science is why does Earth have so much liquid water, but other planets do not? This project will answer this question using the Curiosity rover on Mars, studying alteration minerals that record the action of water. The project will develop new methods to improve our understanding of alteration minerals in martian meteorites, under controlled environmental conditions and in field samples that are relevant for Mars. It aims to build expertise in the environmental aspects of planetary surfaces and in novel instrumentation. This research will improve methods to examine returned extraterrestrial samples, to evaluate land degradation and to search for energy and ore deposits.