It’s been a while since the last Mars rovers update, and ages since we last mentioned Opportunity, which is actually doing some work while stuck-in-the-sand Spirit gets all the attention.

Well this week we can mention both siblings. First Opportunity (dubbed Oppy by some of the team responsible for the rovers – although I’m not sure that being responsible for the rovers forgives the nickname they’ve chosen).

Oppy (nope, still hate that nickname) has drilled into a rock called Marquette Island. The real Marquette Island, which Opportunity has not drilled into as far as I know, is in Michigan, US. Anyway, back to Mars. The rock turns out to be “different in composition and character from any known rock on Mars or meteorite from Mars,” according to Steve Squyres from Cornell University and principal investigator for the rovers (press release from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab).

“It is from deep in the crust and someplace far away on Mars, though exactly how deep and how far we can’t yet estimate,” Squyres goes on to say. The rock is made of basalt and its coarse texture is the clue to its deep origins – rocks formed at the surface cool quickly and have a finer texture.

Since the drilling, the rover has moved on and is now heading to the edge of Concepcion Crater.

Spirit meanwhile has been performing heroics in the sand and has managed to move uphill slightly! Spirit drove backwards 6.5 centimetres and up by one centimetre. This is the first time the rover has managed to climb at all during its rescue attempt. Is all that nailbiting going to be worth it after all? Let’s hope so.

We’ll keep you posted with further updates as they happen.

Image: NASA