SCI/TECH: Spirit unleashes the 'Whirling Blades of Doom'

The NASA Spirit Rover has used its Rock Abrasion Toool (RAT) on the rock Adirondack. Breaking new ground for interplanetary geology. Everyone following this story is waiting in wonder about what will be uncovered. Evidence of water? Evidence of life? Both?

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marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov...
A tool equipped with small, diamond-shaped heads cut 2.7 millimeters deep into a tiny area of a sharply angled rock dubbed Adirondack, said Stephen Gorevan, a scientist handling some of Spirit's workload.

"We made some history here. We put the first planned hole on Mars," he said.

Spirit has recovered from the computer problems that plagued it a week or so ago, and after finishing its business with the rock Adirondack will begin driving across the Martian surface to other points of interest chosen by its NASA controllers.

This is truly a historic moment. An understanding of Martian geology will allow Scientists to better understand whether water has ever existed on the martian surface. If it has the chances of life having existed on Mars are considered high.

[Edited on 8-2-2004 by Kano]