Editing Mars Science Laboratory (section)

== Goals and objectives ==
[[File:PIA16239 High-Resolution Self-Portrait by Curiosity Rover Arm Camera.jpg|thumb|upright|MSL self-portrait from [[Gale Crater]] sol {{age in sols|2012|8|5|2012|10|31}} (October 31, 2012)]]
{{For|results and findings|Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory}}

The MSL mission has four scientific goals: Determine the landing site's [[Planetary habitability|habitability]] including the [[Water on Mars|role of water]], the study of the [[climate of Mars|climate]] and the [[geology of Mars]]. It is also useful preparation for a future [[human mission to Mars]].

To contribute to these goals, MSL has eight main scientific objectives:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/objectives/ |title=Objectives - Mars Science Laboratory |first=JPL |last=NASA }}</ref>
;Biological:
* (1) Determine the nature and inventory of [[Organic compound|organic carbon compounds]]
* (2) Investigate the chemical [[CHON|building blocks of life]] (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur)
* (3) Identify features that may represent the effects of biological processes ([[biosignature]]s)

;Geological and geochemical:
* (4) Investigate the chemical, [[Isotope|isotopic]], and mineralogical composition of the Martian surface and near-surface geological materials
* (5) Interpret the processes that have formed and [[Pedology (soil study)|modified rocks and soils]]

;Planetary process
* (6) Assess long-timescale (i.e., 4-billion-year) [[Atmosphere of Mars|Martian atmospheric]] evolution processes
* (7) Determine present state, distribution, and [[Water on Mars|cycling of water]] and [[carbon dioxide]]

;Surface radiation
* (8) Characterize the broad spectrum of surface radiation, including [[cosmic ray|cosmic radiation]], [[solar particle event]]s and [[Neutron#High-energy neutrons|secondary neutrons]]. As part of its exploration, it also measured the radiation exposure in the interior of the spacecraft as it traveled to Mars, and it is continuing radiation measurements as it explores the surface of Mars. This data would be important for a future [[human mission to Mars|human mission]].<ref name="double"/>

About one year into the surface mission, and having assessed that ancient Mars could have been hospitable to microbial life, the MSL mission objectives evolved to developing predictive models for the preservation process of [[organic compound]]s and [[biomolecule]]s; a branch of paleontology called [[taphonomy]].<ref name="Science 01-24-2014">{{cite journal |title=Habitability, Taphonomy, and the Search for Organic Carbon on Mars |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |first=John P. |last=Grotzinger |volume=343 |issue=6169 |pages=386–87 |date=January 24, 2014 |doi=10.1126/science.1249944 |pmid=24458635 |bibcode=2014Sci...343..386G|doi-access=free }}</ref>