85 – Vera Rubin Ridge (feat. Abigail Fraeman)

In early 2019, NASA’s Curiosity Rover wrapped up a year-long chapter in its mission exploring Vera Rubin Ridge, an elevated rocky plateau with high iron content. Many months later, we’re starting to see the science results roll in. JPL’s Abigail Fraeman, the Deputy Project Scientist for the mission and campaign leader for the ridge chapter, joins Jake to talk about what we learned about the ridge, and how it surprised us. We talk Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars A view of Vera Rubin Ridge from Curiosity as it climbed up Vera Rubin Ridge from orbit with CRISM data overlay JGR Planets Special Issue on Vera Rubin Ridge Follow Abby & the Curiosity Rover Abby’s Twitter (@abbyfrae) Curiosity Mission Updates Where is Curiosity Follow Jake & WeMartians Website (www.wemartians.com) Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians) WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com) Mailing List (https://wemartians.com/signup) Twitter (@we_martians) Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit) Off-Nominal Podcast Origins: Jim Bridenstine Most Recent Episode: 34 – Repeatedly Googling Area 51 (feat. Emilee Speck, plus Anna and Henna from But It Is Rocket Science) Support WeMartians on Patreon Now Available – Season 4 Mission Patches Our season 4 mission patches are finally here! Celebrate our 4th season of podcasts with this awesome patch by artist Beth Kerner. We talk all about the design and its elements in our announcement blog post. You can get the new patch for $17USD with free shipping. Plus, if you missed last year’s patch, you can get both together for just $25USD while supplies last. Both patches are limited print runs so pick it up today and support not only WeMartians but a great independent space artist, too! Get your Mission Patch now!