Tue, Feb 10, 2004
Mars Rover Examines Rocks
Opportunity, the Mars
rover, has made another giant leap for mankind. On Sunday, the
rover took microscopic images of a bedrock outcropping on the
surface of Mars that scientists hope will answer questions about
whether the rock could have formed in water. The images will
help scientists understand what the environment was like when the
rock was formed, said Jim Erickson, deputy mission manager.
Opportunity's camera spotted the outcropping, which is about 50
feet long and a foot high, within days of its Jan. 24 landing. It
is the first bedrock outcropping seen on any Mars mission. The
microscopic images and other tests could shed light on whether
water — a key ingredient for life — ever flowed freely
on Mars. NASA used an instrument Monday to determine the
rock's chemical makeup.
Also Sunday, scientists studied data that the Spirit rover had
gathered the day before by drilling a small hole into the sharply
angled rock dubbed Adirondack. It was the first rock to be drilled
by either of the two rovers on the Mars mission. Scientists had
wanted to move the Spirit rover Saturday but couldn't because of a
safety feature that scientists are having trouble deactivating.
They said overriding the feature would be fairly simple.
Opportunity, meanwhile, remained stationary as it examined the
bedrock outcropping. It was expected to move along the rock
formation late Sunday. Both rovers are exploring opposite
sides of the planet as part of their $820 million mission.
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