These sand dune formations in the distance are unique to Mars
NASA discovers more about Mars' ancient atmosphere by studying a dune system, which is named in honour of an Imperial Fellow. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is a long-term effort by NASA to robotically explore Mars. As part of the mission a car-sized roving laboratory called Curiosity is travelling across Mars' Gale Crater and steadily climbing up the side of Mount Sharp, located at its centre. Curiosity is helping scientists to assess whether Mars ever had an environment that could support simple life. The rover is currently carrying out the first ever investigation of desert dunes on another planet. The NASA team have named them the Bagnold Dunes in honour of Brigadier Ralph Alger Bagnold FRS OBE (1896 -1990). Studying the Bagnold Dunes and ancient rock formations has suggested to the team that by 3.7 billion years ago Mars' atmosphere was already thin.
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