NASA: "jelly doughnut" Mars rock is just a rock
Posted: Sat, Feb 15, 2014, 9:38 AM ET (1438 GMT)
An unusual rock spotted by NASA's Opportunity rover last month dubbed the "jelly doughnut" is simply a rock kicked up by the rover's wheels, NASA said Friday. Scientists spotted the rock, formally named Pinnacle Island but widely called the "jelly doughnut" due to its appearance, in early January; the rock was not seen in an image of the same area taken a few days earlier. Scientists and the public speculated about the rock's origin; one person filed a lawsuit against NASA claiming that the rock was a fungus that NASA was not properly investigating. Scientists said Friday that Pinnacle Island was a fragment of a rock that had been run over and broken up by the rover. Opportunity is now moving up a slope that will tilt its solar panels towards the Sun during the winter season there.
An unusual rock spotted by NASA's Opportunity rover last month dubbed the "jelly doughnut" is simply a rock kicked up by the rover's wheels, NASA said Friday. Scientists spotted the rock, formally named Pinnacle Island but widely called the "jelly doughnut" due to its appearance, in early January; the rock was not seen in an image of the same area taken a few days earlier. Scientists and the public speculated about the rock's origin; one person filed a lawsuit against NASA claiming that the rock was a fungus that NASA was not properly investigating. Scientists said Friday that Pinnacle Island was a fragment of a rock that had been run over and broken up by the rover. Opportunity is now moving up a slope that will tilt its solar panels towards the Sun during the winter season there.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, February 21
British-backed Smile headed to Europe’s Spaceport
ESA — 10:00 am ET (1500 GMT) ESA to launch Celeste LEO-PNT on March 24
GPS World — 10:00 am ET (1500 GMT) Commercial Space Stations Could Host Simulated Human Mars Trip
Aviation Week — 9:54 am ET (1454 GMT) NASA's Artemis II mission set to send humans beyond the Moon in March. Here's what you need to know
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 9:52 am ET (1452 GMT) NASA boss blasts Boeing and agency over bungled test flight that left astronauts stranded on space station
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 9:52 am ET (1452 GMT) |
