Free Spirit: NASA Recreates Mars Surface to Liberate Rover
- 8:00 am |
To mimic the fine soil in which the Spirit is caught, a mixture of Lincoln Fire Clay – normally used to create sewer pipes – and other ceramics are mixed with food-grade amorphous silica.
Amorphous silica, also known as Fossil Shell Flour, is used as an anti-caking agent for livestock feed. A cement mixer is used to combine the fire clay and silica to get the right consistency.
Photos: Dave Bullock/Wired.com