NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its rock abrasion tool on a rock informally named “Gagarin” during the 401st and 402nd Martian days, or sols, of the rover’s work on Mars (March 10 and 11, 2005). This image, taken by Opportunity’s navigation camera on Sol 405 (March 14, 2005), shows the circular mark left on the rock. The circle is about 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter.
At the end of the rover’s arm, the tool turret is positioned with the rock abrasion tool pointing upward in this image.
The abrasion target on the rock Gagarin was informally named “Yuri.” A view taken by Opportunity’s microscopic imager after the target was brushed by the rock abrasion tool is at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07480 .
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover Project for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech