Reconstructing the Geologic History and Assessing Habitable Environments with WATSON Observations (WATSON image of Betty's Rock)

Rebecca Williams’ role on the SHERLOC investigation will involve acquisition, analysis and documentation of images from the WATSON instrument. WATSON is an arm-mounted, multi-scale imaging instrument that provides information for terrain characterization, rock identification and stratigraphic relations. Building upon Williams’ field experience examining water-transported deposits in fluvial, deltaic and lacustrine settings, she will investigate the sedimentary deposits at Jezero crater to determine the sediment transport history and depositional setting. Discerning the environmental record will rely on characterizing sedimentary structures and textures, including the clast shape, grain size distribution, sorting and the sediment fabric. Such observations will be used to constrain the history of water, both qualitatively (e.g., evolutionary reconstruction) and quantitatively (e.g., modeling). In concert with other rover and orbiter observations, she will place WATSON image results in the context of the geologic history and landscape evolution at Jezero crater. Documentation of science results will include preparation of annotated images and text for presentations at scientific conferences and publication in peer-reviewed manuscripts. In support of mission operations, she will plan and advocate for WATSON observations, in coordination with other rover instruments. Additionally, she may serve in operational roles, such as WATSON science uplink or downlink lead.