NASA's Curiosity rover provides clues to Mars' past habitability

NASA's Curiosity rover has completed two Earth years on Mars and has provided detailed analysis of the planet's geology and mineralogy, as well as clues to past habitability. According to research led by PSI Senior Scientist Rebecca M.E. Williams, Curiosity science co-Investigator, the Mars Science Laboratory rover provided the most definitive evidence yet of an ancient stream flow on Mars, which is the first confirmation of sedimentary conglomerates on another planet.

The research led by PSI Senior Scientist David T. Vaniman has also found new insights on the planet's past habitability based on the first detailed examination of clay mineralogy in its original setting on Mars. The rover arrived on Mars slightly more than one Martian year ago and has provided the clearest idea so far of Martian sedimentary textures.