CheMin

CheMin
	Sample inlet of CheMin analyzer
Operator	NASA
Manufacturer	Ames Research Center
Instrument type	X-ray diffraction
Function	Surface composition
Mission duration	November 26, 2011 – present
Began operations	17 October 2012
Host spacecraft
Spacecraft	Curiosity rover
Operator	NASA
Launch date	26 November 2011
Rocket	Atlas V 541 (AV-028)
Launch site	Cape Canaveral LC-41
COSPAR ID	2011-070A

CheMin, short for Chemistry and Mineralogy, is an instrument located in the interior of the Curiosity rover that is exploring the surface of Gale crater on Mars.^[1]^[2]^[3] David Blake, from NASA Ames Research Center, is the Principal Investigator.^[1]

CheMin identifies and quantifies the minerals present in rocks and soil delivered to it by the rover's robotic arm. By determining the mineralogy in rocks and soils, CheMin assesses the involvement of water in their formation, deposition, or alteration.^[2] In addition, CheMin data is useful in the search for potential mineral biosignatures, energy sources for life or indicators for past habitable environments.^[1]^[2]

CheMin aboard the Curiosity rover on Mars won the 2013 NASA Government Invention of the year award.^[4]

^ ^a ^b ^c NASA Ames Research Center, David Blake (2011). "MSL Science Corner – Chemistry & Mineralogy (CheMin)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c The MSL Project Science Office (December 14, 2010). "Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientists Program – Proposal Information Package" (PDF). JPL – NASA. Washington University. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^ Sarrazin, P.; Blake D.; Feldman S.; Chipera S.; Vaniman D.; Bish D. "FIELD DEPLOYMENT OF A PORTABLE XRD/XRF INSTRUMENT ON MARS ANALOG TERRAIN" (PDF). Advances in X-ray Analysis. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2012-08-24. International Centre for Diffraction Data 2005
^ Hoover, Rachel (June 24, 2014). "Ames Instrument Helps Identify the First Habitable Environment on Mars, Wins Invention Award". NASA. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2014.

[SciCorner-1] NASA Ames Research Center, David Blake (2011). "MSL Science Corner – Chemistry & Mineralogy (CheMin)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2012-08-24.

[SciPackage-2] The MSL Project Science Office (December 14, 2010). "Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientists Program – Proposal Information Package" (PDF). JPL – NASA. Washington University. Retrieved 2012-08-24.

[Field_deployment-3] Sarrazin, P.; Blake D.; Feldman S.; Chipera S.; Vaniman D.; Bish D. "FIELD DEPLOYMENT OF A PORTABLE XRD/XRF INSTRUMENT ON MARS ANALOG TERRAIN" (PDF). Advances in X-ray Analysis. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2012-08-24. International Centre for Diffraction Data 2005

[NASA-20140624-4] Hoover, Rachel (June 24, 2014). "Ames Instrument Helps Identify the First Habitable Environment on Mars, Wins Invention Award". NASA. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2014.

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