Rocket Thrusters Expose Bedrock

Rocket Thrusters Expose Bedrock
August 8, 2012
CreditNASA/JPL-Caltech
Language
  • english

This is a close-up view of a zone where the soil at Curiosity's landing site was blown away by the thrusters on the rover's descent stage. The excavation of the soil reveals probable bedrock outcrop. This is important because it shows the shallow depth of the soil in this area. The area surrounding the zones of excavation shows abundant small rocks that may form a pavement-like layer above harder bedrock.

This full-resolution image was taken by the rover's Navigation camera.