Scientists Look To Martian Rocks For History of Life

"NASA has sent rovers to explore Mars before. But three words explain what makes this latest mission to Mars so different: location, location, location."

"The rover Curiosity is slated to land late Sunday in Gale Crater, near the base of a 3-mile-high mountain with layers like the Grand Canyon. Scientists think those rocks could harbor secrets about the history of water — and life — on the Red Planet."

"'It's got a giant mountain in the middle of the crater. There are lots of exposed layers [of clay and minerals],' says Samuel Kounaves, a chemistry professor at Tufts University who will analyze data from the mission. 'Instruments aboard the orbiters have told us that a lot of the minerals in that area are minerals that would be formed with water present, so it's a very interesting area.'"