NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A Slice of Mars

The semi-circular depression on the right side of this microscopic image resulted from Opportunity's first grinding of a rock on Mars. The rover's RAT (rock abrasion tool) sliced into the surface about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) deep and ground off a patch 45.5 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter on a rock called "McKittrick" during Opportunity's 30th sol on Mars, Feb. 23, 2004. The hole exposed fresh interior material of the rock for close inspection by the rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers on the robotic arm.

Scientists and engineers got a nice bonus in that two spherical features nicknamed "blueberries" were unexpectedly cut in half within this rock. One can be seen at lower right

Image Credit: NASA/JPL

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