Scientists trying to learn why Mars rover unable to dent Red Planet rock

Posted on Mon, Mar. 08, 2004

Scientists trying to learn why Mars rover unable to dent Red Planet rock

GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - NASA scientists are trying to figure out just what is inside a martian rock their Opportunity rover couldn't put a dent in.

The rover was to use its rock abrasion tool Sunday to grind away at a martian outcropping dubbed "Flat Rock," but the tool left "no discernible impression on the rock," NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists now hope to learn more about the rock's makeup by scraping its exterior.

They also plan to have Opportunity use its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to identify the rock's chemical elements before attempting to grind away at it again later this week.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Mars, Opportunity's twin rover, Spirit, traveled nearly 86 feet Saturday, bringing its total odometer reading to more than 822 feet. But because Spirit had to maneuver around several obstacles on its journey, it made a net gain of just 72 feet toward its ultimate destination, a large depression scientists have nicknamed the "Bonneville Crater."

More at the San Jose Mercury News

:D :D

On edit: Damn I was trying to post a 2001 screenshot, but it failed.



Or it could just be that Mars is completely full of diamonds. Now that would be fun...

we'll just leave it at that :-)

and fashion your rock abrasion tool from nylon.

They are lucky it's not corbumite, or Opportunity would be toast.

(hint - they are Star Trek jokes, I hope I got the spelling right).

n/t