Image #1  Opportunity Slices into the Surface 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 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 exposes fresh interior 
material of the rock, which is being closely inspected with the 
rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers on the robotic arm.

Scientists and engineers got a nice bonus with their first rock 
abrasion tool experience in that two features nicknamed "blueberries" 
were unexpectedly cut in half within this rock.  Team members had 
noticed the blueberries in earlier pictures on other rocks within 
Opportunity Ledge and had wanted to attempt to cut one in half 
sometime during the future of the mission.  As luck would have it, 
two blueberries were hidden in the depths of McKittrick rock.  The 
one blueberry shown in the bottom right of this picture appears to 
have been scratched by the grinding wheel, which is further explained 
in image #2.

The two rectangular boxes in the lower left and upper middle parts of 
this image are "drop outs," where the data packets inadvertently did 
not make it back to Earth during the initial communications relay via 
the Deep Space Network antennas.  The missing data packets should be 
resent to Earth within the next few days.

For more information about the "blueberries," please see JPL's Press 
Release dated <a 
href="http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040209a.html">February 
9, 2004.</a>

For more microscopic images of the results from Opportunity's first 
use of the rock abrasion tool, please see the <a 
href="http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/opportunity_m030.html 
">raw images for sol 30.</a>

The rock abrasion tools on both Mars Exploration Rovers were supplied 
by Honeybee Robotics, New York, N.Y.

Image Credit:  NASA/JPL/Cornell/US Geological Survey

APPROVED BY:  Larry Soderblom, SOWG chair, and Phil Chu, RAT team, 
607/227-8023 cell

CAPTION WRITER:  Christine Johnson 818/667-7853 cell

RELEASE DATE:  February 25, 2004

IMAGE FILE NAME: xpe_1M130859270EFF0454P2959M2M1.jpg

SOURCE FILE NAME(S): 1M130859270EFF0454P2959M2M1.jpg

SUMMARY INFORMATION:  Microscopic Image of First Rat Hole on Opportunity

NAME OF SUBMITTER:  Phil Chu

INSTITUTION:  Honeybee Robotics

THEME/TEAM/GROUP:  RAT

SOL OF OBSERVATION:  30

EARTH DATE OF OBSERVATION:  February 23, 2004

TITLE OF IMAGE: Opportunity Slices into the Surface of Mars

CAPTION:  Above