Exploring Mars With Curiosity: searching the Martian surface for evidence of habitable conditions

• The Mars Science Laboratory rover "Curiosity" landed successfully on August 5th to begin its 23 month mission
• What have scientists discovered so far, particularly with respect to the geology of the Gale crater landing site?
• Instruments aboard Curiosity are searching for evidence of environmental conditions that could support microbial life
• How are dust and rocks analyzed and studied to learn about the role of water in forming the Martian landscape?

Speaker: Ken Herkenhoff, USGS Astrogeology Science Center