Mars Life Explorer Archives

Drill deployment system from the lander platform. The deployable surface casing in panel (b) provides the top closure of the sealed conduit used for pressure-supported cuttings transport. -- Astrobiology

A Pressure-Supported Pneumatic Architecture for Robust Deep Drilling on Mars: Performance Modeling, Sizing, and Mission Integration.

by Keith CowingJuly 20, 2026July 20, 2026

[Astrobiology] Accessing the martian deep subsurface is a long-standing scientific priority for astrobiology, climate reconstruction, and planetary evolution, yet robotic drilling missions have historically been limited by wellbore instability, loss […]

Compilation of the seasonal variation of the maximum (red markers), minimum (blue markers), and average (green markers) temperatures inside CheMin based on interior platinum resistance thermocouple number 2615 data including all drill holes up to “Kings Canyon” (sol 4266). Diurnal maximum ground temperatures for the first 2500 sols reported by Martínez et al. (2021) are plotted as gray circles. -- JGR Planets

Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report

Rover-Induced Mineral Transformations: Extent of the Effect for the Mars Science Laboratory and Opportunities for Future Landed Mission

by Keith CowingApril 27, 2026April 27, 2026

X-ray amorphous sulfate hydrates are a substantial component (up to 23 wt%) of the sedimentary rocks and sands analyzed to date by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover at Gale […]