Thu, Jun 17, 2004
Mars Rover Finds Possible Lake Bed
It's one thing for JPL's twin Mars rovers to still be operating.
It's another when, in overtime, they come upon what could be an
ancient lake bed.
Spirit is now very close to the so-called Columbia Hills, facing
a grade that, to its drivers on Earth, looks pretty doable. From
the top of the hills, Spirit will survey what looks like an ancient
lake bed.
At the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena (CA), scientists are all
a-giggle.
They're even more excited about formations found by Spirit which
mirror those spotted by its twin rover halfway around the planet.
In fact, one such outcropping is so spectacular that of the US
Geological Survey's Larry Soderblom calls it "the pot of gold, the
prize at the end of the rainbow," according to New Scientist
Magazine's website.
Soderblom says the formation found by Spirit in the Gusev crater
at the base of the Columbia Hills looks like "a loaf of bread
that's under a state of decay." It has little nodules much like
those found by Opportunity in Meridiani.
How did these formations get there? Soderblom said, "it's hard
to imagine that water wasn't involved," but has no explanation
about just how they were formed.
Opportunity has already provided what scientists call conclusive
evidence that water once existed on the surface of Mars. The
questions now include how much and where did it go?
Ailing, But Not Broken
Although still functioning, Opportunity's travels may soon come
to an end. The plucky rover is showing signs of increased
resistance in its left front wheel. Mission handlers are thinking
about operating Opportunity on its five remaining wheels. If not,
they speculate Opportunity's left front wheel may fail before the
rover travels another 100 meters.
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