March 5, 2004

NASA scientists have announced that the Spirit Mars Rover is following in the footsteps of its sister craft Opportunity with the discovery that some traces of water once existed in the Gusev Crater. Space.com reports: Spirit made its find by studying Humphrey, a 23-inch (60-centimenter) tall rock at Gusev Crater. The rover found that despite the rock's volcanic beginnings, water apparently seeped through it at one time, allowing minerals to crystallize inside. However, Gusev Crater was likely less wet then Opportunity’s Meridiani Planum site: "I don't believe it was a ground water percolation situation here," said Arvidson of Spirit's water evidence. Most likely, Humphrey's water was mixed with Martian magma, flowed through the rock that later formed as the magma cooled, Arvidson said. 10:10:08 PM