The goal is to understand if Mars has ever had conditions that were favorable tosupporting life.
Along the way, Curiosity’s Mastcam has been snapping photographs that document the experience.
Almost tomblike, this mysterious feature has been stirring the imagination of those who believe in life on Mars.
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
However, scientists warn that we shouldn’t get too excited.
To them, this alien portal is simply a natural phenomenon.
Its just the space between two fractures in a rock.
Weve been traversing through an area that has formed from ancient sand dunes.
These dunes cemented together over time and created outcrops of sandstone.
That’s how Vasavada believes that this particular crack was formed.
To him, the foot high fracture was most likely due to vertical breaks that then moved apart.
