2020 Mars Mission: Perseverance lands on Mars!

Deux premiers modèles de SuperCam réalisés en 2015 et 2016 : au premier plan, le STM (Structural and thermal model) et au second plan, l'EDU (Engineering development unit). A gauche du STM, il s'agit du boîtier en forme éclatée de son électronique de commande. SuperCam est une caméra laser capable d'analyser à distance la composition chimique mais aussi minéralogique des roches. En combinant ces deux fonctions, elle permettra de déterminer comment les atomes sont liés les uns aux autres. En…

Intégration finale du modèle de SuperCam qui servira pour des tests mécaniques et thermiques. SuperCam est une caméra laser capable d'analyser à distance la composition chimique mais aussi minéralogique des roches. En combinant ces deux fonctions, elle permettra de déterminer comment les atomes sont liés les uns aux autres. Il s'agit ici du modèle STM (Structural and thermal model). En 2021, cette caméra sera installée sur le prochain rover de la Nasa baptisé "Mars2020" pour étudier la…

Test d'alignement du prototype de SuperCam, une caméra laser capable d'analyser à distance la composition chimique mais aussi minéralogique des roches. En combinant ces deux fonctions, elle permettra de déterminer comment les atomes sont liés les uns aux autres. Il s'agit ici du modèle EDU (Engineering development unit). En 2021, cette caméra sera installée sur le prochain rover de la Nasa baptisé "Mars2020" pour étudier la diversité géologique de la surface de Mars et mettre en évidence s'il y…

Hematite and goethite discovered in Morocco. This 9-cm rock is similar to regolith of Martian origin. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains volcanic and sedimentary rocks prepared in…

Hematite and goethite discovered in Morocco. This 9-cm rock is similar to regolith of Martian origin. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains volcanic and sedimentary rocks prepared in…

Komatiite, a volcanic rock, and spinifex texture discovered in the Dundonald formation in Ontario, Canada. This 10-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 2700 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of…

Komatiite, a volcanic rock, and spinifex texture discovered in the Dundonald formation in Ontario, Canada. This 10-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 2700 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of…

Komatiite, a volcanic rock, and spinifex texture discovered in the Komati River, in Barberton, South Africa. This 20-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 3400 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study…

Komatiite, a volcanic rock, and spinifex texture discovered in the Komati River, in Barberton, South Africa. This 20-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 3400 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study…

Hydrothermal chert discovered at Josefdal, South Africa. This 16-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 3300 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains…

Siderite of indeterminate origin. This 5-cm rock is similar to a rock of Martian origin. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains volcanic and sedimentary rocks prepared in several…

Magnetite crystals of indeterminate origin. This 7-cm rock is similar to a rock of Martian origin. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains volcanic and sedimentary rocks prepared in…

Volcanic sand discovered on the Hekla volcano in Iceland. This sand, of modern origin, is similar to a rock of Martian origin. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains volcanic and…

Chertified volcanic sediments discovered at Pilbara, Kitty’s Gap, Australia. This 6-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 3446 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The…

Hydrothermal chert discovered at Josefdal, South Africa. This 16-cm rock, similar to a rock of Martian origin, dates back 3300 million years. It belongs to ISAR (International Space Analogue Rockstore), a unique collection of rocks similar to those found on Mars, kept at the Molecular Biophysics Centre (CBM) in Orleans. Comprising some fifty rocks, ISAR is used to test and calibrate certain space probe instruments, particularly for the study of traces of life on Mars. The collection contains…