[酷图] “机遇”号伸出机械臂，对准火星岩石

NASA科学家周一指挥“机遇”号迅速下达火星表面，搜寻火星上是否曾经存在生命的证据，同时，因电脑故障而暂停工作的“勇气”号正在进行再一次的科学测试。科学家杰夫-约翰逊说：“我们在岩层上看到的是一种对我们来说将非常有意思的压条法，在未来的几周随着机遇号开始对岩层进行勘测，一些土壤的样本将有助于我们更好地了解这个地区的地理历史。”

　　科学家们的下一步计划是指挥“机遇”号把它的臂伸展到火星表面，以取得覆盖在小弹坑上的土壤的更精微的图片，同时，“机遇”号开始停下来测定它的矿物成分。

　　高尔夫车大小的“机遇”号和“勇气”号分别装配有一个可移动的地质工具实验室，其目的是为了寻找在贫瘠的火星表面是否曾经存在适合生命生存的水证据。

PIA05193: Opportunity Stretches Out

This image taken by the front hazard-identification camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the rover's arm in its extended position. The arm, or instrument deployment device, was deployed on the ninth martian day, or sol, of the mission. The rover, now sitting 1 meter (3 feet) away from the lander, can be seen in the foreground.

2月2日拍摄。

PIA05198: Opportunity Stretches Out (3-D)

This is a three-dimensional stereo anaglyph of an image taken by the front hazard-identification camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, showing the rover's arm in its extended position. The arm, or instrument deployment device, was deployed on the ninth martian day, or sol, of the mission. The rover, now sitting 1 meter (3 feet) away from the lander, can be seen in the foreground.