Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
Fresh Soil for Inspection
Original Caption Released with Image:
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity dragged one of its wheels back and forth across the sandy soil at Meridiani Planum to create a hole (bottom of image) measuring approximately 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) long by 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) wide by 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) deep. The rover's instrument deployment device, or arm, will begin studying the fresh soil at the bottom of this trench later today for clues to its mineral composition and history. Scientists chose this particular site for digging because previous data taken by the rover's miniature thermal emission spectrometer indicated that it contains crystalline hematite, a mineral that sometimes forms in the presence of water. The brightness of the newly-exposed soil is thought to be either intrinsic to the soil itself, or a reflection of the Sun. The rock outcrop lining the inner edge of the small crater encircling the rover and lander can be seen on the horizon. This fish-eye image was taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera.
Image Credit:
NASA/JPL
Produced By:
JPL
Mission:
Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Spacecraft:
Opportunity
Target Name:
Mars
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
Hazard Identification Camera
Product Size:
1025 samples x 947 lines
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Crater
facet_what:
Spectrometer
facet_what:
Mars
facet_what:
Opportunity
facet_what:
Hazard-identificatio n Camera
facet_what:
Hazard-Avoidance Camera
facet_what:
Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES)
facet_what:
Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
facet_what:
Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES)
facet_where:
Mars
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Image #:
PIA05305
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA05305
orignial url:

Fresh Soil for Inspection