Saturday, February 11, 2006

Spirit Mars Rover Reaches 'Home Plate': Formation Has Researchers Puzzled





"Is Home Plate cool or what?", said Larry Crumpler, Research Curator, Volcanology and Space Sciences at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As a Mars rover science team member, Crumpler said deliberations within the team about what they are viewing "have been the closest thing to passionate debate that I have seen yet."

For his part, Crumpler said that he refuses to accept one spectacular interpretation: "Namely, that it is a volcanic vent structure."

Crumpler said more detailed rover images are needed.


Crumpler's got that right. "Home Plate" is downright psychedelic.

I was fortunate to meet Crumpler in person during my August Discovery Channel trip to New Mexico. We talked about (what else?) the rovers, of which Crumpler was one of the original "drivers."

4 comments:

Mac said...

It really does look like a shattered building of some kind. Feel free to share any URLs depicting features you think advance the case for artificial origin.

Ken said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ken said...

"It really does look like a shattered building of some kind."

Wait till you see the "rocks" which are lying scattered around its perimeter...

Mac said...

And why is it called 'Home Plate'.

JPL likes to give everything in sight a "cute" -- and usually arbitrary -- name. Kind of annoying, but I suppose I can see its usefulness.