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Rover Accidentally Uncovers Mars Hydrothermal Vent

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the best-discoveries-by-accident dept.

The rover Spirit has been dragging one wheel around the surface of Mars for some time. One of the resulting gouges revealed a mineral deposit which was probably caused by a hydrothermal vent. This implies a large amount of water was present when the vent was active.

1 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Kudos! by captn+ecks · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Even it's broken dragging wheel makes informative discoveries on the Martian surface. The Mars rovers are surely one of our most successful robotic missions ever. Kudos to JPL and NASA and the American Congress for keeping to fund these missions. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for the Phoenix lander this Sunday - landing is at approximately 5PM EST this Sunday on NASA TV.