Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) Archives

Mars Curiosity rover Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

Questioning the Reliability of Methane Detections on Mars by the Curiosity Rover

by Keith CowingMay 12, 2025

Over the past decade, the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) on NASA’s Curiosity rover has reported several detections of methane on Mars, attracting attention due to the potential astrobiological implications of […]

Mars today bear signs of once having had abundant water, with features resembling valleys and deltas, and minerals that only form in the presence of liquid water. This artist’s concept shows how the Red Planet could have appeared billions of years ago. Credit: NASA/The Lunar and Planetary Institute

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs

New Insights Into How Mars Became Uninhabitable

by Keith CowingOctober 7, 2024October 7, 2024

NASA’s Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale Crater on Mars, is providing new details about how the ancient Martian climate went from potentially suitable for life — with evidence for widespread […]