The US Mars rover Spirit drilled a tiny, circular hole in a rock, a first in the history of exploring the planet, the US space agency NASA said Saturday.The hole, 2.65 millimeters (0.1 inch) deep and 45.5 millimetersinches) in diameter, was hailed as a significant achievement by scientists working on the Mars exploration mission.
"I didn't think that it would cut this deep. In fact, when we saw virtually a complete circle, I was thrilled beyond anything I could have ever dreamed," said Steve Gorevan, lead scientist for the rock abrasion tools on the twin US Mars rovers.
Spirit, which was paralyzed for several days due to a computer glitch, is now working normally, NASA said.
After probing the rock, Spirit will move 250 meters (yards) toward a crater to the northeast, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.
Meanwhile, Spirit's twin, Opportunity, inched toward a rocky outcrop which scientists want to study.
The two rovers are on a three-month mission to examine Martian soil and rocks to determine whether the planet once had the ability to host life.
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Nov 02, 2006
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