Release Date: 
04/15/04
Image Filename:
x_pubeng_route66_mi.jpg
Source Filename:
2M135152866EFF2700P2959M2M1_full.jpg
Summary Info:
MI image of brushed area on Route 66 taken by Spirit on Sol 99
Submitter:
Jeff Johnson
Institution

Theme
MI
Rover
Spirit
Sol of Observation
99
Earth Date of Obs. 
 04/13/04
Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell



This Microscopic Imager image was taken by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on sol 99, April 13, 2004.  It is a close-up look at the area brushed by the rock abrasion tool on the rock called "Route 66."

This microscopic image intrigues scientists because it looks very different from the microscopic images taken of other brushed rocks at the Gusev crater location.  The surface of Route 66 is very shiny and specularly reflective which may indicate that it is a glassy surface, or perhaps a very smooth, discontinuous coating.  The unique coating appears mottled and may be multi-layered. 

Other interesting features in this brushed area of Route 66 are the very thin, arc-shaped lines that are visible in the upper left quadrant of the image.  Initial hypothesis are that these arcs may have been caused by the rock abrasion tool when the instrument made its initial contact with the surface.  
 
Scientists will use the combined data from the Moessbauer spectrometer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer along with color versions of this image to try to reach stronger conclusions about what they are seeing and what processes caused the features.   

Approved by Jeff Johnson

<br> USERNAME: shlieven