Product: The Gravel Max

 Family Member: Mars

 Product Code: Mars-Gr

• Photo of Mars’ gravel taken by Mastcam
• Let me take a selfie:  NASA’s Curiosity rover used the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to capture this set of 55 high-resolution images, which were stitched together to create this full-color self-portrait.
• Curiosity captured this on Sol-1065 (August 5th, 2015) using its MAHLI camera on the end of the arm to mark its 3rd year on Mars.

All Credit NASA. Public domain.

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Mission launched the Curiosity rover to Mars to understand more about this beautiful red planet.  It has four main goals, to study the:

Recent samples of gravel analysed by NASA’s Curiosity Rover have been found to contain in-organics. In-organics are the basic building blocks of life and include elements like hydrogen and oxygen. These two particular elements were identified in a sample taken from a dried up river bed on Mars.  This is significant, because when oxygen and hydrogen are combined, they make H₂O (water) and water is required for life to exist.

Cut and Paste: It took 405 individual photos to make up this 360 degrees panoramic view of Mars, taken from Husband’s Hill by NASA’s Mars Exploration

Mars, like our Earth, is a terrestrial planet, which means that it is mainly made up of rock and metals.  It consists of minerals containing silicon and oxygen, metals and other elements that make up rock.

It has soil too with similar nutrients to those found in Earth’s soil, such as magnesium, sodium and potassium. These elements are important for life and allow plants to grow on Earth.

Cosmic Caboodle has just taken stock of a fresh gravel from Mars. This sample contains the building blocks of life with trace elements of hydrogen and water. Click below to grab your free sample and then grab your magnifying glass and start the hunt.