Sometime between May 2003 and September 2007 an object hit the Martian atmosphere and broke up into small fragments that slammed into this plain

Its handlers are convinced that Spirit is healthy again after a strange glitch last week, and so have commanded the rover to keep on rovin’.

At first glance, this might look like just another impact crater on the surface of Mars. In fact, the topography of the feature indicates that it’s a collapse pit

A mosaic of the ground near Opportunity’s wheels as it continues its southward journey.

The Mars rover Spirit, on the move again after many months frozen in winter hibernation, has begun once more to trench the soil as it drives while dragging its immobile front right wheel.