This story is from February 14, 2020

Kutch varsity pilots global study on ‘Mars-like environ’

Kutch varsity pilots global study on ‘Mars-like environ’
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Rajkot: Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Varma Kutch University is on a Mars Mission of its own. In association of many institutes of higher learning, including renowned universities across the world that have links with NASA, the Kutch University is undertaking various research on the red planet.
The varsity got this out-of-the-universe chance, thanks to the scientists who discovered similarities in soil, rocks and mountains of Kutch with that of Mars.

A team of Canada’s University of New Brunswick’s earth science department, under the leadership of Prof John Spray, visited the Kutch University recently. Spray, who had developed the Apex particle that had been fitted on NASA’s Mars rover, was working for NASA’s Jet propulsion laboratory.
Spray’s instrument was used to capture images of Martian soil and rocks and also analyze its chemical formation on the spot.
Talking to TOI, professor M G Thakkar, HoD, earth and environmental science in Kutch University said: “The students of our department will benefit in the future from the research done by NASA and it’s associate institutes in various countries about Mars. Based on the satellite images, we believe that the same kind of soil and rocks exist on Mars too which will prove useful for analysis.”
According to the varsity, the students get assignments to find out sites in Kutch that are topographically similar to that of Mars and thereafter do geological analysis of its geological components. According to the scientists, sites like the Great Rann of Kutch are similar to Mars. They are also studying the salinity of these sites in comparison with Mars.

A few other universities which are part of the research project, have also visited Kutch University in the last few years.
The varsity has also got a project of ISRO to do research on NASA’s geography.
Elaborating on it, Thakkar said, “A student of our department is researching on the ISRO project that includes geographical research of Mars-like sites in Kutch.”
The study includes similar river system, gorges, mountains, volcanic mountains among others. ISRO is providing us satellite images for this study, he added.
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About the Author
Nimesh Khakhariya

Nimesh Khakhariya is an assistant editor with Times Of India.

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