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NASA To Make New 'Major' Mars Announcement

POSTED: Monday, March 22, 2004
UPDATED: 6:32 am EST March 23, 2004

NASA will announce another "major scientific finding" from its Mars rover Opportunity Tuesday, according to a report.

EXPLORE MARS

The panel, which includes NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, the top Mars rover scientists and a U.S. Geological Survey sedimentologist, is expected to elaborate on Opportunity's previous findings during a press briefing from NASA headquarters in Washington, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

Scientists previously announced that the rover found the first hard evidence that water once drenched its landing site.

"This is the major announcement of the two," spokesman Don Savage said.

Although the rocks at Meridiani Planum have revealed evidence of ample water, scientists haven't said definitively whether there was a lake or sea there, when the water soaked the plain and for how long.

There may be more conclusive results unveiled Tuesday, according to the report.

The $820 million twin rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, are using their tools to probe rocks for evidence water once flowed on Mars. Evidence of water suggests the planet once was warmer, wetter and friendlier to life.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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