New NASA images: Mars or the Pilbara?

Below is a screen capture from the latest interactive panorama released by NASA.

It was assembled from 817 images taken between Dec. 21, 2011, and May 8, 2012, while Opportunity was stationed on an outcrop informally named ‘Greeley Haven’ on a segment of the rim of ancient Endeavour Crater.

In 1999, Nasa actually did some prelimenary research on how to mine Mars where the soil is made up of 5% to 14% iron oxide or in the words of the lead researchers “almost ore-grade material.”

“A metal-making process known to the ancient Romans could be pressed into service to bring Mars into the Iron Age – and start opening the solar system to human habitation,” the space agency said.

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