Narrow Search
 
 
Advanced Search

Browse All : Hazard-Avoidance Camera

Printer Friendly
1 2
1-50 of 76
     
     
Spirit's Robotic Stretch
NASA's Mars Exploration Rove …
10/22/09
Description NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit recorded this forward view of its arm and surroundings during the rover's 2,052nd Martian day, or sol, on Oct. 11, 2009. Bright soil in the left half of the image is loose, fluffy material churned by the rover's left-front wheel as Spirit, driving backwards, approached its current position in April 2009 and the wheel broke through a darker, crusty surface. Spirit used its front hazard-avoidance camera to take this image. The turret of tools at the end of the rover's robotic arm is positioned with the Moessbauer spectrometer up and the rock abrasion tool extending toward the right. Spirit's right-front wheel, visible in this image, has not worked since 2006. It is the least-embedded of the rover's six wheels at the current location, called "Troy." Spirit and its twin, Opportunity, have been working on Mars for more than 58 months in what were originally planned as 3-month missions on Mars. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Date 10/22/09
Spirit's Shadow
title Spirit's Shadow
date 02.22.2004
description NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit casts a shadow over the trench that the rover is examining with tools on its robotic arm. Spirit took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on Feb. 21, 2004, during the rover's 48th martian day, or sol. It dug the trench with its left front wheel the preceding sol. Plans call for Spirit to finish examining the trench on sol 50. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL
Attacking Mars
Title Attacking Mars
Explanation The Spirit rover [ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/overview/ ] attacked Mars again late last month. What might look, above, like a military attack, though, was once again just a scientific one - Spirit was instructed to closely inspect some interesting rocks near Columbia Hills [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040628.html ]. Spirits Front Hazard Avoidance Camera captured [ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/spirit_f175.html ] the rover's Instrument Deployment Device above as it guided the Microscopic Imager to get a closer look at a rock dubbed [ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol175 ] Breadbox. Images taken [ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/spirit_m175.html ] by the Microscopic Imager show a rock surface consistent [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3889263.stm ] with basalt [ http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Products/Pglossary/basalt.html ] corroded by ancient groundwater [ http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ ]. Structures with similar origins can be found, for example, in the Western Desert [ http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/swlwpnr/reports/y_nf/egypt/e_wdsrt.htm ] of Egypt [ http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/eg.html ] on Earth. The above picture [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA06359 ] taken on June 30, the 175th Martian day [ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/spirit/a3_20040108.html ] that the Spirit rover has been on the red planet [ http://www.nineplanets.org/mars.html ].
95-degree Position at JPL Te …
Title 95-degree Position at JPL Testbed
Description This image shows a test rover in a near-final turned position on the lander in the JPL In-Situ Instruments Laboratory, or "testbed." This is where engineers tested the rover's three-point turn before completing the manuever with the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on Mars. At this point, the test rover has turned 95 degrees, with 115 degrees being its goal position. This picture looks remarkably similar to the image taken by the rover's hazard avoidance camera while in the same position on Mars.
Date 01.14.2004
View in Front of Spirit
PIA04979
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title View in Front of Spirit
Original Caption Released with Image This image taken by the hazard avoidance camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the rover's front wheels in stowed configuration.
Spirit Shadow over Laguna Tr …
PIA05339
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Shadow over Laguna Trench
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit casts a shadow over the trench that the rover is examining with tools on its robotic arm. Spirit took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on Feb. 21, 2004, during the rover's 48th martian day, or sol. It dug the trench with its left front wheel the preceding sol. Plans call for Spirit to finish examining the trench on sol 50.
Opportunity at El Capitan
PIA05442
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Opportunity at El Capitan
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity casts a shadow over the El Capitan area that the rover is examining with tools on its robotic arm. Opportunity took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on Feb. 23, 2004, during the rover's 29th martian day, or sol. Opportunity used its rock abrasion tool to grind a small hole into Opportunity Ledge later on sol 29 to prepare for using the other tools on its arm to analyze the freshly exposed rock during subsequent sols.
Potato-size Rock in Spirit's …
PIA07156
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Avoidance Camera
Title Potato-size Rock in Spirit's Wheel Well
Original Caption Released with Image In recent days, controllers directed NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit to back up and turn to try to dislodge a potato-size rock from Spirit's right rear wheel. The rock did not present a threat -- it was sort of like having a pebble stuck in your shoe -- but the rover team was taking no chances that the rock might work its way deeper inside the rover's wheel well. The rock can be seen in the lower left side of this image, which Spirit took with its right rear hazard avoidance camera on martian day, or sol, 345 (Dec. 21, 2004). By the following day, the rock had rolled out onto the martian sand.
At Work in the Plains of Mer …
PIA05652
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title At Work in the Plains of Meridiani
Original Caption Released with Image This image taken by the hazard-avoidance camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the rover investigating a bright patch of soil dubbed "Mont Blanc." The rover used its microscopic imager, located on the instrument deployment device, or arm, to take pictures of Mont Blanc on sol 59, two sols after it exited 'Eagle Crater.' Later, Opportunity observed the spot with its Moessbauer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometers, also located on the arm. Though Mont Blanc appears unusually bright amidst the dark plains of Meridiani Planum, scientists believe it is the same red dust that blankets most of the surface of Mars. The soil patch appears to have collected downwind of Eagle Crater. The rover is facing northwest.
A View of Opportunity's Danc …
PIA05494
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title A View of Opportunity's Dance Moves
Original Caption Released with Image This rear hazard-avoidance camera image taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on the 37th martian day, or sol, of its mission (March 2, 2004) shows the tracks left by the rover during its latest "dance," or series of maneuvers, around the rock outcrop near its landing site. Note the view of the lander to the far left and the light-colored outcrop below the horizon. The rear solar panels, located above the rear hazard-avoidance cameras, are captured in the uppermost part of the image. Since driving off the lander, Opportunity has traveled along the entire outcrop, trenched, and completed a U-turn to revisit scientifically rich spots. Two of these spots are the rock regions dubbed "El Capitan" and "Last Chance." Scientists have used the instruments on the rover's arm to conclude that this area of Mars was once soaked in water for extended amounts of time, possibly providing an environment favorable for life.
Do the Hokey Pokey
PIA06268
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Do the Hokey Pokey
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's "dance" into "Endurance Crater." The rover drove forward, back, then forward again, bringing it five meters (16.4 feet) into the crater. Presently, the rover is investigating a flat rock dubbed "Tennessee" with its scientific instruments. The images making up this movie were taken by the rover's front hazard-avoidance camera.
95-degree Position at JPL Te …
PIA05066
Title 95-degree Position at JPL Testbed
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows a test rover in a near-final turned position on the lander in the JPL In-Situ Instruments Laboratory, or "testbed." This is where engineers tested the rover's three-point turn before completing the manuever with the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on Mars. At this point, the test rover has turned 95 degrees, with 115 degrees being its goal position. This picture looks remarkably similar to the image taken by the rover's hazard avoidance camera while in the same position on Mars.
Spirit Rises to the Occasion …
PIA05031
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Rises to the Occasion (Animation)
Original Caption Released with Image This animation strings together images from the rover's front hazard avoidance camera taken during the stand-up process of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The first frame shows the rover's wheels tucked under in pre-stand-up position. The following frames show the stages of the stand-up process. The rover first elevates itself and unfolds the wheels. It then lowers, lifts and lowers again into its final position. Note the changing camera perspectives of the martian landscape, indicating the rover's heightened and lowered positions.
Spirit Stretches Out
PIA05040
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Stretches Out
Original Caption Released with Image This animation flips back and forth between images taken before and after deployment of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's bogie, a part of the rover's suspension system that extends the wheel base. These images were taken by Spirit's hazard avoidance camera.
Higher Up in the Hills
PIA06720
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Avoidance Camera
Title Higher Up in the Hills
Original Caption Released with Image This image from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is a view across the outcrop informally named "Wooly Patch." It features an up-close look at the outcrop and highlights Spirit's location on sol 193 (July 19, 2004) higher up on the west side of the "Columbia Hills." Seen in the distance is the south rim of Gusev Crater, and, from the right, the "sea of basalt" is visible lapping onto the Columbia Hills.
In and Out (Animation)
PIA05045
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title In and Out (Animation)
Original Caption Released with Image This animation links two images taken by the front hazard avoidance camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The rover is stowing and unstowing its robotic arm, or instrument deployment device. The device is designed to hold and maneuver the various instruments on board that will help scientists get up-close and personal with martian rocks and soil.
Ready to Roll
PIA05069
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Ready to Roll
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows the view from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit after it successfully completed a 115 degree turn to face northwest, the direction it will roll off the lander. The image was taken by the rover's front hazard avoidance camera.
95-degree Position on Mars
PIA05067
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title 95-degree Position on Mars
Original Caption Released with Image This image from the hazard avoidance camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the rover in its near-final turned position on the lander at Gusev Crater. At this point, the rover has turned 95 degrees, with 115 degrees being its goal position. This picture looks remarkably similar to the image taken during a "dress rehearsal" at the JPL In-Situ Laboratory, or "testbed," prior to the maneuver on Mars.
Panoramic View of Lander Dur …
PIA05083
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Panoramic View of Lander During Turn
Original Caption Released with Image This 360-degree panoramic mosaic image composed of data from the hazard avoidance camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows a view of the lander from under the rover deck. The images were taken as the rover turned from its landing position 95 degrees toward the northwest side of the lander.
Draped in the Rover's Shadow
PIA05345
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Draped in the Rover's Shadow
Original Caption Released with Image This movie was compiled from a series of 10 images taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's front hazard-avoidance camera. The images were taken at 10-minute intervals on February 21, 2004 at the trenching site dubbed "Laguna Hollow." Between the first and second images, the head of the panoramic camera mast assembly can be seen preparing to take miniature thermal emission spectrometer measurements. The spectrometer focused on a designated spot approximately 3 meters (9.8 feet) from the center of rover for 90 minutes, measuring the cooling effect caused by sunlight turning to shade. By observing the rate at which the material at this site cooled, scientists will be able to characterize its physical properties. This site provided a unique opportunity to compare the subsurface material exposed by the trenching activity with the surface material affected by the shadow experiment.
Strolling on Martian Ground
PIA05267
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Strolling on Martian Ground
Original Caption Released with Image This animation is created from still images taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit during its approximately 21.2-meter (69.6-foot) drive across the pebbly ground at Gusev Crater, Mars, on the 37th day, or sol, of its mission (Feb. 9, 2004). Two sols later, Spirit drove another 24 meters (78.7 feet) toward a rock target called White Boat. The images were captured by the rover's front hazard-avoidance camera after it began the autonomous portion of its drive.
Dragging Its Foot
PIA05308
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Dragging Its Foot
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity digging a hole in the ground at Meridiani Planum, Mars. The rover scraped its front right wheel back and forth across the surface six times by rotating its whole body in place. At the end of each sweep, the wheel changed the direction it was spinning to shove excess dirt out of the way. The resulting trench is about 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 the hole later today for clues to its mineral composition and history. Scientists chose this particular site for trenching 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. This movie is composed of images taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera.
Wiggling Its Way to Discover …
PIA05333
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Wiggling Its Way to Discovery
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's view from its new location inside the shallow depression dubbed "Laguna Hollow." To get a better look at the soil making up the hollow, Spirit drove forward a bit, wiggled its wheels, then turned and backed up. The result - a scrape on the floor and a clod of dirt stuck on one of Spirit's wheels - told scientists that the soil is sticky and reminiscent of that observed at the airbag drag mark nicknamed "Magic Carpet." Spirit will further investigate this disturbed patch of soil with its robotic arm beginning today (Feb. 19, 2004). It will also dig a trench at "Laguna Hollow" with one of its wheels. This fish-eye image was taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera.
Grooving in Trenchtown
PIA05323
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Grooving in Trenchtown
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's arm exploring the trench the rover dug with one of its wheels. The arm, or instrument deployment device, holds a suite of scientific instruments designed to examine rocks and soil for signs of past water on Mars. The movie was made from images taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera.
Spirit Digs a Trench
PIA05337
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Digs a Trench
Original Caption Released with Image A view from the front hazard avoidance camera of NASA's Spirit rover on its 47th sol shows a trench excavated by the rover's left front wheel within the "Laguna Hollow" area. The trench, dubbed "Road Cut," is 7 centimeters (3 inches) deep. The soil at this location is more cohesive than the material where Spirit's twin, Opportunity, dug its first trench at Meridiani. Spirit made 11 back-and-forth passes to dig this trench, and still did not produce as deep a hole as Opportunity dug in 6 passes. Scientists and engineers plan to begin up-close inspection of the soil in this trench on sol 48 by placing the microscopic imager on the floor and the walls before conducting Moessbauer and alpha particle x-ray spectrometer readings on some of the same points.
Breaking Martian Ground
PIA05344
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Breaking Martian Ground
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit digging a trench in the fine-grained soil lining the bottom of the shallow depression dubbed "Laguna Hollow." The trench is 7 centimeters (3 inches) deep and was created after the rover dragged one of its wheels back and forth across the surface 11 times. The whole operation lasted about two hours. A similar trench dug on the other side of Mars by Spirit's twin, Opportunity, is 10 centimeters deep (4 inches) and took only six sweeps to complete, indicating that the soil there is more loosely packed. Spirit excavated its trench by repeating two basic steps: first, it spun its left front wheel in reverse to dig, second, it turned left and spun the same wheel in the forward direction. To widen the trench, each pass back and forth began a little farther to the right. By the end, the rover had swiveled 40 degrees. Spirit is traveling toward a large crater nicknamed "Bonneville." It has stopped along the way at "Laguna Hollow" to take a closer look at the fine sediments contained there. The movie consists of images taken by Spirit's front hazard-avoidance camera.
What Lies Beneath
PIA05307
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title What Lies Beneath
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 (center) 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 the trench later today for clues to its mineral composition and history. Scientists chose this particular site for trenching 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. This image was taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera.
Mind of Its Own
PIA05268
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Mind of Its Own
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the path the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit traveled during its 24-meter (78.7-foot) autonomous drive across the bumpy terrain at Gusev Crater, Mars, on the 39th day, or sol, of its mission. The colored data are from the rover's hazard-avoidance camera and have been reconstructed to show the topography of the land. Red areas indicate extremely hazardous terrain, and green patches denote safe, smooth ground. At the end of its drive, Spirit decided it was safer to back up then go forward. The rover is now positioned directly in front of its target, a rock dubbed Stone Council.
Fresh Soil for Inspection
PIA05305
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
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.
Spirit Spies Wavy Bedforms
PIA05250
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Spies Wavy Bedforms
Original Caption Released with Image Spirit took this front hazard-avoidance camera image on sol 37 (Feb. 9, 2004) after completing the longest drive ever made by a rover on another planet - 21.2 meters (69.6 feet). The wavy feature called a bedform is created when material is transported and deposited by some process - in this case wind. The team is interested in the fact that the crests of this and most other bedforms they've observed through orbital data and rover images are all parallel to each other, indicating uniform wind direction.
Wiggling Its Way to Discover …
PIA05321
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Wiggling Its Way to Discovery
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's view from its new location inside the shallow depression dubbed "Laguna Hollow." To get a better look at the soil making up the hollow, Spirit drove forward a bit, wiggled its wheels, then turned and backed up. The result - a scrape on the floor and a clod of dirt stuck on one of Spirit's wheels - told scientists that the soil is sticky and reminiscent of that observed at the airbag drag mark nicknamed "Magic Carpet." Spirit will further investigate this disturbed patch of soil with its robotic arm beginning today (Feb. 19, 2004). It will also dig a trench at "Laguna Hollow" with one of its wheels. This fish-eye image was taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera.
'Serpent' Untouched
PIA05582
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title 'Serpent' Untouched
Original Caption Released with Image A drift dubbed "Serpent" stretches in front of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in this picture from the left eye of Spirit's front hazard-avoidance camera. Spirit took the image during its 71st martian day, or sol, on Mars (March 15, 2004) while exploring the rim of the crater nicknamed "Bonneville." The following sol, the rover used its wheels to dig into the drift and expose material under the surface.
Visiting the Scene of Landin …
PIA05657
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Visiting the Scene of Landing
Original Caption Released with Image This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera focuses on the rock dubbed "Bounce," which the rover's airbag-wrapped lander hit upon landing. Though the plains surrounding Opportunity's "Eagle Crater" landing site are relatively free of any hazards that would have hindered landing, the packaged rover managed to bounce down on one of the only rocks in the vicinity. The rock measures approximately 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) across. Bounce -- a rock that differs significantly from the light rocks in the Eagle Crater outcrop -- is currently being investigated by Opportunity. So far, the rover's miniature thermal emission spectrometer has revealed that it is rich in hematite. In the coming sols, a target yet to be chosen on the rock will be examined by the rover's spectrometers, then ground into by the rock abrasion tool. After the grind, the spectrometers will assess the chemical content of the exposed rock.
Opportunity Dips in to "Berr …
PIA05563
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Opportunity Dips in to "Berry Bowl
Original Caption Released with Image Figure 1 Scientists are hunting down the recipe for the "blueberries" they've discovered on Mars. Taken with the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera on the 45th martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission (March 10, 2004), this image shows the area dubbed "Berry Bowl," where many dark and mysterious spherules or "blueberries" collected in a depression on the surface of a rock. Opportunity is studying the blueberries for clues to their chemical composition with its suite of scientific instruments. 'Berry Bowl' is located within the rock outcrop that lines the inner edge of the crater where the rover landed.
Opportunity Dips in to "Berr …
PIA05563
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Opportunity Dips in to "Berry Bowl
Original Caption Released with Image Figure 1 Scientists are hunting down the recipe for the "blueberries" they've discovered on Mars. Taken with the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera on the 45th martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission (March 10, 2004), this image shows the area dubbed "Berry Bowl," where many dark and mysterious spherules or "blueberries" collected in a depression on the surface of a rock. Opportunity is studying the blueberries for clues to their chemical composition with its suite of scientific instruments. 'Berry Bowl' is located within the rock outcrop that lines the inner edge of the crater where the rover landed.
Savoring Neopolitan
PIA05596
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Savoring Neopolitan
Original Caption Released with Image Figure 1 This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera shows the rover at its Sol 53 (March 17, 2004) location within the "Eagle Crater" landing site. Dubbed "Neopolitan," this location has three different soil patches: a very light unit, a dark unit, and an airbag bounce mark. Scientists are imaging each of these units as part of a crater soil survey. They hope to better understand the origin of the soils they see in the crater and the relationship of the soils to the rocks in Opportunity ledge. This image was taken on sol 52 of Opportunity's journey (March 16, 2004). "The Ice Cream Trio" In Figure 1 above, the light soil unit, seen on the left, is a microscopic imager target dubbed "Vanilla." The dark soil unit on the right is a target dubbed "Cookies 'n' Cream.
Savoring Neopolitan
PIA05596
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Savoring Neopolitan
Original Caption Released with Image Figure 1 This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera shows the rover at its Sol 53 (March 17, 2004) location within the "Eagle Crater" landing site. Dubbed "Neopolitan," this location has three different soil patches: a very light unit, a dark unit, and an airbag bounce mark. Scientists are imaging each of these units as part of a crater soil survey. They hope to better understand the origin of the soils they see in the crater and the relationship of the soils to the rocks in Opportunity ledge. This image was taken on sol 52 of Opportunity's journey (March 16, 2004). "The Ice Cream Trio" In Figure 1 above, the light soil unit, seen on the left, is a microscopic imager target dubbed "Vanilla." The dark soil unit on the right is a target dubbed "Cookies 'n' Cream.
On a Roll
PIA05668
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title On a Roll
Original Caption Released with Image This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity front left hazard-avoidance camera shows a pebble caught in rover's front right wheel. The image from sol 63 of the mission was taken as the rover approached the rock dubbed "Bounce" for analysis.
Side View of "Endurance Crat …
PIA06759
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Side View of "Endurance Crater
Original Caption Released with Image This picture from the rear hazard-avoidance camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows a side view of "Endurance Crater." Opportunity took the image on sol 188 (Aug. 4, 2004), before transmitting it and other data to the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. The orbiter then relayed the data to Earth.
Contrasting Martian Terrains
PIA06760
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Contrasting Martian Terrains
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit captured this interesting view of martian topography just below the "West Spur" portion of the "Columbia Hills" on sol 208 (Aug. 2, 2004). The view is looking southwest. The rover's wheel tracks show the contrast between soft martian soil and the harder "Clovis" rock outcrop, which scientists are now studying. The angle of the horizon indicates the tilt of the rover to be about 20 degrees. On the horizon is a small peak informally named "Grissom Hill," about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away. To the right of the peak is the edge of a 2-kilometer-wide (1.2-mile-wide) crater. A few weeks ago, Spirit stopped to conduct scientific studies of rocks in "Hank's Hollow," located on the right side of the image approximately one-third of the way down from the top. This photo was taken with Spirit's right rear hazard-avoidance camera.
Spring Cleaning
PIA05637
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Spring Cleaning
Original Caption Released with Image This animation show the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity brushing bright materials off a circular patch of the rock dubbed "Mazatzal." The freshly exposed rock was investigated by instruments on the rover's arm on sol 80 (March 25, 2004). On sol 81, Opportunity used its rock abrasion tool, also located on its arm, to grind into the cleaned-off rock. This animation consists of images taken by the rover's hazard-avoidance camera on sol 79.
Ebony and Ivory
PIA05645
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Ebony and Ivory
Original Caption Released with Image This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera focuses on a target called "Goal 5." Goal 5, examined during the "Eagle Crater" soil survey, is a wind-rippled spot on the upper part of the crater , which the miniature thermal emission spectrometer shows is higher in hematite content compared to other soils within the crater. The light soil in the center of the image is referred to as "Lanikai" -- an inspiration from the white sand beaches of Hawaii. The dark soil is referred to as "Punaluu" after the black sand Hawaiian beaches.
Windows to Fresh Rock
PIA05638
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Windows to Fresh Rock
Original Caption Released with Image This hazard-avoidance camera image was taken by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on sol 79 after completing a two-location brushing on the rock dubbed "Mazatzal." A coating of fine, dust-like material was successfully removed from targets named "Illinois" (right) and "New York" (left), revealing clean rock underneath. In this image, Spirit's panoramic camera mast assembly, or camera head, can be seen shadowing Mazatzal's surface. The center of the two brushed spots are approximately 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) apart and were aggressively analyzed by the instruments on the robotic arm on sol 80. On sol 81, the rover drilled into the New York target to expose the original rock underneath.
Tracks Inside 'Endurance'
PIA06757
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Tracks Inside 'Endurance'
Original Caption Released with Image This picture from the front hazard-avoidance camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows rover wheel tracks on the inner slope of "Endurance Crater." Opportunity took the image on sol 188 (Aug. 4, 2004), before transmitting it and other data to the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. The orbiter then relayed the data to Earth.
Circular Signs of the Rock A …
PIA05459
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Circular Signs of the Rock Abrasion Tool
Original Caption Released with Image This image was taken by Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera, providing a circular sign of the success of the rover's first grinding of a rock. The round, shallow hole seen in this image is on a rock dubbed "McKittrick," located in the "El Capitan" area of the larger outcrop near Opportunity's landing site. Opportunity used its rock abrasion tool to grind off a patch of rock 45.5 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter during the 30th martian day, or sol, of its mission (Feb. 23, 2004). The grinding exposed fresh rock for close inspection by the rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers located on its robotic arm. The Honeybee Robotics team, which designed and operates the rock abrasion tool, determined the depth of the cut at "McKittrick" to be 4.4 millimeters (0.17 inches) deep. On sol 34 (Feb. 27, 2004), the rover is scheduled to grind into its second target on the "El Capitan" area, a rock dubbed "Guadalupe" in the upper middle part of this image. The rock abrasion tools on both Mars Exploration Rovers were supplied by Honeybee Robotics, New York, N.Y.
'Endurance' From the Inside
PIA06270
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title 'Endurance' From the Inside
Original Caption Released with Image This image taken by the hazard-avoidance camera on sol 137 (June 12, 2004) shows the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's rear view from its new position about 5 meters (16 feet) inside "Endurance Crater." The rover is currently investigating a flat rock dubbed "Tennessee," which scientists believe may be made up of the same evaporite-rich materials as those found in "Eagle Crater."
Spirit Has Flower Power
PIA05686
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Spirit Has Flower Power
Original Caption Released with Image The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took this image with its hazard-avoidance camera on sol 86 (March 31, 2004), after the rover's rock abrasion tool had brushed for three minutes on each of six locations on the rock named "Mazatzal" to create a flower-shaped mosaic. The goal for this operation was to create a brushed area big enough for the miniature thermal emission spectrometer to capture within one of its pixels, which are 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) in diameter at the distance between the rock and the instrument. Because the rock abrasion tool creates individual brushed areas only about 5 centimeters (2 inches) in diameter, the team designed this six-location series of tool placements in order to brush 92 percent to 95 percent of the spectrometer's pixel size. This operation was only the second time the rock abrasion tool has created a brushing mosaic. The first time was a three-spot brushing on the rock called "Humphrey." The brush was originally designed to be used as an aide during full grinding operations, however it has been very effective in brushing the top layer off of dusty martian rocks to allow scientists a multi-depth look into the rocks on Mars.
'Engineering Flats'
PIA06392
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-identification Camera
Title 'Engineering Flats'
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on sol 187 (July 13, 2004). Spirit is currently at a location called "Engineering Flats," where it is has been undergoing a "tune-up." One of the goals for Spirit's time in the "shop" is to lubricate a sticky, right front wheel.
Up-Close Look at 'Bread-Bask …
PIA06359
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Up-Close Look at 'Bread-Basket'
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on sol 175 (June 30, 2004). It captures the instrument deployment device in perfect position as the rover uses its microscopic imager to get an up-close look at the rock target "Bread-Basket."
Entering Endurance
PIA06260
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-identification Camera
Title Entering Endurance
Original Caption Released with Image Perched on the edge of "Endurance Crater," NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity prepares to roll all six wheels in and then back out to the rim as an engineering test to ensure that the slope and rock surface meet expectations. The rover executed the maneuver successfully and proceeded farther into the crater the following day. This image was taken by the rover's front hazard-avoidance camera during Opportunity's 133rd martian day, or sol, on June 8, 2004.
1 2
1-50 of 76