Scott VanBommel, a Research Assistant Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and a fellow of the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, has recently been awarded a grant aimed at advancing Mars research. The project, titled "Enhancing the analytical capabilities and science return of Curiosity at Mount Sharp through the application of spectral deconvolution and modeling methods," has secured funding through NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientist Program.

 

The awarded grant amounts to $403,785, bringing the total funding to $803,971 when combined with a prior submission. This project will continue to advance the analytical toolkit of the Mars rover Curiosity as the rover explores diverse geological features within the Mg-sulfate-bearing unit, boxwork structures, Yardang unit, and beyond.

 

VanBommel's work will play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of geologic units explored by Curiosity, contributing valuable insights into the geological history of Mars.  This work recently played a central role in the discovery of native sulfur on Mars.