[meteorite-list] Mars Opportunity Rover Finds a Meteorite

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jan 19 14:33:06 2005
Message-ID: <200501191932.LAA12543_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

>
> Ron and List
> I had sent a textmessage to the list earlier today which did not appear,
> asking how the "meteorite" could display such ablated form in Mars thin
> atmosphere. The text herein suggests the fall occured at a time of a
> "thicker atmosphere" on Mars.

Even though Mars has a thin atmosphere, ablation still occurs. That's why
all of our Mars landers have heat shields - so that they don't burn
up in the atmosphere during descent. Opportunity has spent the past couple
of weeks inspecting its own heat shield including closeup looks of the
ablation effects.

Ron Baalke
Received on Wed 19 Jan 2005 02:32:54 PM PST