This view from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's panoramic camera is a false-color composite rendering of the first seven holes that the rover's rock abrasion tool dug on the inner slope of "Endurance Crater." The rover was about 39 feet (12 meters) down into the crater when it acquired the images combined into this mosaic. T

The view is looking back toward the rim of the crater, with the rover's tracks visible. The tailings around the holes drilled by the rock abrasion tool, or "Rat," show evidence for fine-grained red hematite similar to what was observed months earlier in "Eagle Crater" outcrop holes.

There are seven holes, which are fairly easy to find in this exaggerated color image.

Starting from the uppermost pictured (closest to the crater rim) to the lowest, the rock abrasion tool hole targets are called "Tennessee," "Cobblehill," "Virginia," "London," "Grindstone," "Kettlestone," and "Drammensfjorden."

Opportunity drilled these holes on sols between June 20 and July 7. Each hole is 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter. The pictures were taken July 19, combined, and released this week. Scientists are looking over the result for more clues about the water history of Mars.

-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell