Posted by tourdemars to Technology at September 29, 2004 04:15 PM

The futuristic drilling rig under development at Johnson Space Center (JSC) is designed to be used on the Moon or on Mars. Its first target will be knowledge -- geology and perhaps biology -- of planetary bodies gathered from cores it will deliver. The resources it eventually will seek sound mundane, but will be vitally important. Water from beneath the surface of Mars is a possible example.