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NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit successfully drove off its lander platform and onto the soil of Mars early yesterday (January 15, 2004). After completing initial test maneuvers, Spirit drove out of the Gusev Crater to begin its mission of exploration and discovery. 

"Nobody was prepared for this," said Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager Pete Thesinger.

"This find has far exceeded the mission that we all envisioned three-and-a-half years ago, and that's tremendously exciting," said Jen Trosper, mission manager.

This finding by the American space agency (NASA) is undoubtedly one of the most important made about the Red Planet. It solves one of its deepest mysteries, points the way for manned exploration and asks the question of whether wine has ever been enjoyed on other planets.

Insiders suggest that, partly as a result of this finding, NASA may now commit itself to equipping all future manned missions with Universal Corkscrews.

"Where you find vines, you'll find wines," says a mission engineer who asked to remain anonymous. "Have you ever tried to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew? Yeah, you know that sucks! If you're on Mars, you can't just knock on the neighbor's door if you didn't bring one," he continued.

The Mystery of the Vine
The find has created renewed interest in Roman mythology and speculation about the origin of the vines is rampant. Mars, commonly known as the God of War, was also the God of Agriculture, and many are questioning anew what we know of the origin of our own grapes. One theory put forward is that the Martian vineyard could be the rootstock for the legendary Roman Falernian wine, which no person living today has ever tasted.

The Romans referred to themselves as the Children of Mars. Perhaps there is more to the old myths than we imagine?

Looking for Bacchus
The dramatic discovery may also guide the purpose of future missions and exploration on Mars, and may suggest areas to look for more evidence of past life.

"It's a new day for mankind," said rover science-team member Dr. Mike Malin of Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego. "It's a staggering find and promises even more for the next stage of our mission."

Spirit was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on June 10, 2003. Now that it is on Mars, its task is to spend the rest of its mission exploring for clues in rocks and soil about whether the past environment in Gusev Crater was ever watery and suitable to sustain life. Spirit's twin Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, will reach Mars on Jan. 25 (EST and Universal Time; 9:05 p.m., Jan. 24, PST) to begin a similar examination of a site on the opposite side of the planet.

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover project for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. Images and actual information about the project are available from JPL at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov.

Questions and 
answers about wine.