Another important task for NASA and its rover is to monitor the daily weather patterns on Mars and develop good data on the atmospheric conditions. NASA also needs to measure wind shear and other atmospheric effects. The rover will be monitoring water vapor and dust on the planet. Enhanced phase diagrams need to be constructed for thermodynamic properties relating to solids, liquids, gases and vapors.
Over the next two years, NASA will be analyzing data from the rover with a view toward ascertaining the probability of sustaining life on Mars, as well as water levels, trace minerals, energy sources and the geologic profile. Mars could be an important interplanetary stopoff point for missions to Saturn.
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