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March 2006
Spirit turns heads when its wheels churn up bright patches of Martian soil. Upon examination, the soil is found to contain sulfate salts and a hint of water. Similar salty, light-toned soil deposits are dispersed along the floors of the Columbia Hills region of the Gusev Crater.
Scientists say the minerals in these soils could indicate volcanic deposits from a wet period of the Red Planet’s ancient past. “The soils have provided evidence in particular for the local action of hot water or steam, either from hydrothermal circulation or volcanic venting,” says Bruce Banerdt, a researcher with the rover project. Researchers say that soils with high salt concentration often indicate the earlier presence of salty water, since the salt can become concentrated in the dirt as the water evaporates away.
Image: NASA/JPL/Cornell
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February 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
breath taking views of mars from this fine brave robot, my thoughts r with u spirit has u settle fown for the long cold winter
good night
February 21st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
What these guys, the people behind the robots, have been able to accomplish is just stunning to me.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Absolutely stunning. the detail in the pictures, the clarity…. love it.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:57 am
Go Spirit! You’ll last through the winter. You’ve already done so much for science, and you’ll continue to advance our understanding of Mars. No little green men here, at least n0t yet.
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:53 am
That’s the Spirit!
Wish we could have larger images to use on our desk top!
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I never thought the demise of a robot could be so sad….
February 25th, 2010 at 2:21 am
I have been following Spirit and Opportunity for the last 6 years and have compiled over 4,000 color images that I made out of the raw images received by NASA JPL at their website, it takes at least 3 raw RGB images to make one color image. Here is a place I stored over 1,400 color images at Google-Picasso site including panoramic views and the latest images of the meteorites found at Opportunities site, enjoy:
http://picasaweb.google.com/shineinnovations
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:14 am
Well done Spirit Team, well done….
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:43 am
It has been an absolutely remarkable achievement that, in my opinion, has not received near the recognition that is deserved. To place a vehicle on another planet, cruse all over the place, document the adventure in photos and transmit them back to humanity – one word – “unbelievable”!
March 4th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Hope the day human race will land on Mars is not too far away.
March 5th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
How did they decontaminate the bungie cords from virus and bacteria?
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Amazing these rovers could last so long.
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