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Martian Meteorite
title Martian Meteorite
description NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has found an iron meteorite, the first meteorite of any type ever identified on another planet. The pitted, basketball-size object is mostly made of iron and nickel according to readings from spectrometers on the rover. Only a small fraction of the meteorites fallen on Earth are similarly metal-rich. Others are rockier. As an example, the meteorite that blasted the famous Meteor Crater in Arizona is similar in composition. "This is a huge surprise, though maybe it shouldn't have been," said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit. The meteorite, dubbed "Heat Shield Rock," sits near debris of Opportunity's heat shield on the surface of Meridiani Planum, a cratered flatland that has been Opportunity's home since the robot landed on Mars nearly one year ago. "I never thought we would get to use our instruments on a rock from someplace other than Mars," Squyres said. "Think about where an iron meteorite comes from: a destroyed planet or planetesimal that was big enough to differentiate into a metallic core and a rocky mantle." Rover-team scientists are wondering whether some rocks that Opportunity has seen atop the ground surface are rocky meteorites. "Mars should be hit by a lot more rocky meteorites than iron meteorites," Squyres said. "We've been seeing lots of cobbles out on the plains, and this raises the possibility that some of them may in fact be meteorites. We may be investigating some of those in coming weeks. The key is not what we'll learn about meteorites -- we have lots of meteorites on Earth -- but what the meteorites can tell us about Meridiani Planum." The numbers of exposed meteorites could be an indication of whether the plain is gradually eroding away or being built up. NASA Chief Scientist Dr. Jim Garvin said, "Exploring meteorites is a vital part of NASA's scientific agenda, and discovering whether there are storehouses of them on Mars opens new research possibilities, including further incentives for robotic and then human-based sample-return missions. Mars continues to provide unexpected science 'gold,' and our rovers have proven the value of mobile exploration with this latest finding." Initial observation of Heat Shield Rock from a distance with Opportunity's miniature thermal emission spectrometer suggested a metallic composition and raised speculation last week that it was a meteorite. The rover drove close enough to use its Moessbauer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometers, confirming the meteorite identification over the weekend. Opportunity and Spirit successfully completed their primary three-month missions on Mars in April 2004. NASA has extended their missions twice because the rovers have remained in good condition to continue exploring Mars longer than anticipated. They have found geological evidence of past wet environmental conditions that might have, been hospitable to life. Opportunity has driven a total of 2.10 kilometers (1.30 miles). Minor mottling from dust has appeared in images from the rover's rear hazard-identification camera since Opportunity entered the area of its heat-shield debris, said Jim Erickson of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., rover project manager. The rover team plans to begin driving Opportunity south toward a circular feature called "Vostok" within about a week. Spirit has driven a total of 4.05 kilometers (2.52 miles). It has been making slow progress uphill toward a ridge on "Husband Hill" inside Gusev Crater. *Image Credit*: NASA
Six Wheels on Mars
title Six Wheels on Mars
date 01.15.2004
description This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's rear hazard identification camera shows the rover's hind view of the lander platform, its nest for the past 12 sols, or martian days. The rover is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) in front of the airbag-cushioned lander, facing northwest. Note the tracks left in the martian soil by the rovers' wheels, all six of which have rolled off the lander. This is the first time the rover has touched martian soil. *Image Credit*: NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Spirit Reaches Out
title Spirit Reaches Out
date 01.16.2004
description This animation, composed of four images taken by the front hazard-identification camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, shows the rover stretching out its robotic arm, or instrument deployment device. This is the first use of the arm on Mars to deploy the microscopic imager, one of four geological instruments located on the arm. The first frame shows a clear view of the martian surface in front of the rover before the arm was successfully deployed early Friday morning. The subsequent frames show the arm emerging from its stowed position beneath the "front porch" of the rover body, reaching out, and using the microscopic imager to take close-up images of the martian soil. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL/US Geological Survey
Making Tracks on Mars
title Making Tracks on Mars
date 01.31.2004
description This image captured by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's rear hazard-identification camera shows the now-empty lander that carried the rover 283 million miles to Meridiani Planum, Mars. Engineers received confirmation that Opportunity's six wheels successfully rolled off the lander and onto martian soil at 3:01 a.m. PST, January 31, 2004, on the seventh martian day, or sol, of the mission. The rover is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) in front of the lander, facing north. Immediate science results from the rover indicated that the site does indeed have a type of mineral, crystalline hematite, that was the principal reason the site was selected for exploration. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL
Inside Victoria Crater on Ma …
Title Inside Victoria Crater on Mars
Explanation NASA's Opportunity rover is now inside Victoria Crater [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070904.html ] on Mars [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars ]. Last week the robot rolled [ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20070913a.html ] about 20 meters into the largest crater any Martian rover [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Rovers ] has yet encountered, the crater next to which Opportunity has been perched for months. Currently, the rolling explorer is situated in Duck Bay alcove [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061002.html ], peering across at the internal crater wall dubbed Cape St. Vincent [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070703.html ]. The above wide-angle view [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09928 ] is from Opportunity's front hazard-identification camera. Over the next few weeks, Opportunity [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070204.html ] is scheduled to explore this telling alien indentation, searching for clues to the ancient past of Mars before the huge impact that created Victoria Crater [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061009.html ] ever took place.
Opportunity at Work Inside V …
PIA10077
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Opportunity at Work Inside Victoria Crater
Original Caption Released with Image NASA Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its front hazard-identification camera to capture this wide-angle view of its robotic arm extended to a rock in a bright-toned layer inside Victoria Crater. The image was taken during the rover's 1,322nd Martian day, or sol (Oct. 13, 2007). Victoria Crater has a scalloped shape of alternating alcoves and promontories around the crater's circumference. Opportunity descended into the crater two weeks earlier, within an alcove called "Duck Bay." Counterclockwise around the rim, just to the right of the arm in this image, is a promontory called "Cabo Frio."
Spirit Begins Third Martian …
PIA10078
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Begins Third Martian Year
Original Caption Released with Image As it finished its second Martian year on Mars, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit was beginning to examine a group of angular rocks given informal names corresponding to peaks in the Colorado Rockies. A Martian year -- the amount of time it takes Mars to complete one orbit around the sun -- lasts for 687 Earth days. Spirit completed its second Martian year on the rover's 1,338th Martian day, or sol, corresponding to Oct. 8, 2007. Two days later, on sol 1,340 (Oct. 10, 2007), Spirit used its front hazard-identification camera to capture this wide-angle view of its robotic arm extended to a rock informally named "Humboldt Peak." For the rocks at this site on the southern edge of the "Home Plate" platform in the inner basin of the Columbia Hills inside Gusev Crater, the rover team decided to use names of Colorado peaks higher than 14,000 feet. The Colorado Rockies team of the National League is the connection to the baseball-theme nomenclature being used for features around Home Plate. The tool facing Spirit on the turret at the end of the robotic arm is the Moessbauer spectrometer.
At Bright Band Inside Victor …
PIA10006
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title At Bright Band Inside Victoria Crater
Original Caption Released with Image A layer of light-toned rock exposed inside Victoria Crater in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars appears to mark where the surface was at the time, many millions of years ago, when an impact excavated the crater. NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity drove to this bright band as the science team's first destination for the rover during investigations inside the crater. Opportunity's left front hazard-identification camera took this image just after the rover finished a drive of 2.25 meters (7 feet, 5 inches) during the rover's 1,305th Martian day, or sol, (Sept. 25, 2007). The rocks beneath the rover and its extended robotic arm are part of the bright band. Victoria Crater has a scalloped shape of alternating alcoves and promontories around the crater's circumference. Opportunity descended into the crater two weeks earlier, within an alcove called "Duck Bay." Counterclockwise around the rim, just to the right of the arm in this image, is a promontory called "Cabo Frio."
Spirit Takes the Helm
PIA05877
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Takes the Helm
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows Spirit driving itself through the rocky terrain of Gusev Crater on sol 118 (May 8, 2004) using its auto-navigation software. Halfway through the drive, the rover spotted a rock bigger than its wheels (25 centimeters or 9.8 inches) and drove around to the left. At the end of its traverse, Spirit encountered several more large rocks, but since they were less than half its wheel height (12 centimeters or 4.7 inches tall), it drove right over them. The total distance traveled was 92.7 meters (304 feet) -- Spirit's longest drive yet. Over half the drive (55 meters or 180 feet) was executed using the auto-navigation software.
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.
Wide-Angle View of Gusev Dus …
PIA04156
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-identification Camera
Title Wide-Angle View of Gusev Dust Devil, Sol 559
Original Caption Released with Image This movie clip shows dust devils moving across the plain inside Mars' Gusev Crater, as seen with a hazard-identification camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The clip consists of consists of frames taken by that camera during a span of 8 minutes, 26 seconds on the rover's 559th martian day, or sol (July 29, 2005). Contrast has been enhanced for anything in the images that changes from frame to frame, that is, for the dust moved by wind. Spirit began seeing dust devil activity around the beginning of Mars' spring season. Activity increased as spring continued, but fell off again for about two weeks during a dust storm. As the dust storm faded away, dust devil activity came back. In the mid-afternoons as the summer solstice approached, dust devils were a very common occurrence on the floor of Gusev crater. The early-spring dust devils tended to move southwest-to-northeast, across the dust devil streaks in Gusev seen from orbit. Increasingly as the season progresses, the dust devils are seen moving northwest-to-southeast, in the same direction as the streaks. Scientists are watching for the big dust devils that leave those streaks.
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.
Track-and-Trench 2
PIA05301
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera …
Title Track-and-Trench 2
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows the tracks and trench marks made by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity at Meridiani Planum, Mars. The rover can be seen to the lower left of the lander. The trench is visible to the upper left of the rover, which has traveled a total of 35.3 meters (116 feet) since leaving the lander on sol 7 (January 31, 2004). On sol 23 (February 16, 2004), the rover used one of its wheels to dig a trench measuring approximately 10 centimeters (4 inches) deep, 50 centimeters (20 inches) long, and 20 centimeters (8 inches) wide. This polar-projected image showing the horizon was created using a combination of images from the rover's navigation camera and hazard-avoidance cameras.
Opportunity's First Dip into …
PIA09924
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Opportunity's First Dip into Victoria Crater
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity entered Victoria Crater during the rover's 1,291st Martian day, or sol, (Sept. 11, 2007). The rover team commanded Opportunity to drive just far enough into the crater to get all six wheels onto the inner slope, and then to back out again and assess how much the wheels slipped on the slope. The driving commands for the day included a precaution for the rover to stop driving if the wheels were slipping more than 40 percent. Slippage exceeded that amount on the last step of the drive, so Opportunity stopped with its front pair of wheels still inside the crater. The rover team planned to assess results of the drive, then start Opportunity on an extended exploration inside the crater. This wide-angle view taken by Opportunity's front hazard-identification camera at the end of the day's driving shows the wheel tracks created by the short dip into the crater. The left half of the image looks across an alcove informally named "Duck Bay" toward a promontory called "Cape Verde" clockwise around the crater wall. The right half of the image looks across the main body of the crater, which is 800 meters (half a mile) in diameter.
Inside Victoria Crater for E …
PIA09928
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Inside Victoria Crater for Extended Exploration
Original Caption Released with Image After a finishing an in-and-out maneuver to check wheel slippage near the rim of Victoria Crater, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity re-entered the crater during the rover's 1,293rd Martian day, or sol, (Sept. 13, 2007) to begin a weeks-long exploration of the inner slope. Opportunity's front hazard-identification camera recorded this wide-angle view looking down into and across the crater at the end of the day's drive. The rover's position was about six meters (20 feet) inside the rim, in the "Duck Bay" alcove of the crater.
Slow Progress in Dune (Right …
PIA07985
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-Identification Camera
Title Slow Progress in Dune (Right Rear Wheel)
Original Caption Released with Image The right rear wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity makes slow but steady progress through soft dune material in this movie clip of frames taken by the rover's rear hazard identification camera over a period of several days. The wheel is largely hidden by a cable bundle. The sequence starts on Opportunity's 460th martian day, or sol (May 10, 2005) and ends 11 days later. In eight drives during that period, Opportunity advanced a total of 26 centimeters (10 inches) while spinning its wheels enough to have driven 46 meters (151 feet) if there were no slippage. The motion appears to speed up near the end of the clip, but that is an artifact of individual frames being taken less frequently.
Slow Progress in Dune (Right …
PIA07984
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-Identification Camera
Title Slow Progress in Dune (Right Front Wheel)
Original Caption Released with Image The right front wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity makes slow but steady progress through soft dune material in this movie clip of frames taken by the rover's front hazard identification camera over a period of several days. The sequence starts on Opportunity's 460th martian day, or sol (May 10, 2005) and ends 11 days later. In eight drives during that period, Opportunity advanced a total of 26 centimeters (10 inches) while spinning its wheels enough to have driven 46 meters (151 feet) if there were no slippage. The motion appears to speed up near the end of the clip, but that is an artifact of individual frames being taken less frequently.
After Opportunity's First Dr …
PIA09963
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title After Opportunity's First Drive in Six Weeks
Original Caption Released with Image NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its front hazard-identification camera to obtain this image at the end of a drive on the rover's 1,271st sol, or Martian day (Aug. 21, 2007). Due to sun-obscuring dust storms limiting the rover's supply of solar energy, Opportunity had not driven since sol 1,232 (July 12, 2007). On sol 1,271, after the sky above Opportunity had been gradually clearing for more than two weeks, the rover rolled 13.38 meters (44 feet). Wheel tracks are visible in front of the rover because the drive ended with a short test of driving backwards. Opportunity's turret of four tools at the end of the robotic arm fills the center of the image. Victoria Crater, site of the rover's next science targets, lies ahead.
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.
Slow Progress in Dune (Left …
PIA07983
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-Identification Camera
Title Slow Progress in Dune (Left Front Wheel)
Original Caption Released with Image The left front wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity makes slow but steady progress through soft dune material in this movie clip of frames taken by the rover's front hazard identification camera over a period of several days. The sequence starts on Opportunity's 460th martian day, or sol (May 10, 2005) and ends 11 days later. In eight drives during that period, Opportunity advanced a total of 26 centimeters (10 inches) while spinning its wheels enough to have driven 46 meters (151 feet) if there were no slippage. The motion appears to speed up near the end of the clip, but that is an artifact of individual frames being taken less frequently.
Slow Progress in Dune (Left …
PIA07986
Sol (our sun)
Hazard-Identification Camera
Title Slow Progress in Dune (Left Rear Wheel)
Original Caption Released with Image The left rear wheel of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity makes slow but steady progress through soft dune material in this movie clip of frames taken by the rover's rear hazard identification camera over a period of several days. The sequence starts on Opportunity's 460th martian day, or sol (May 10, 2005) and ends 11 days later. In eight drives during that period, Opportunity advanced a total of 26 centimeters (10 inches) while spinning its wheels enough to have driven 46 meters (151 feet) if there were no slippage. The motion appears to speed up near the end of the clip, but that is an artifact of individual frames being taken less frequently.
Opportunity Studies Bait in …
PIA05572
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Opportunity Studies Bait in Shark's Cage
Original Caption Released with Image In its 49th sol on Mars, NASA's Opportunity had nearly concluded its scientific examination of the extreme southwestern end of the outcrop in Meridiani Planum. In the "Shark's Cage" area of the neighborhood called "Shoemaker's Patio," featured in this image from the front hazard avoidance camera, Opportunity deployed its arm to study the features called "Shark's Tooth,""Shark Pellets," and "Lamination.""Shark's Tooth" is a piece of the unusual red rind that appears to fill cracks in the outcrop. This rind may be some kind of chemical alteration of the rocks. "Shark Pellets" is an area of soil that was under investigation as part of the crater soil survey. "Lamination" is a target with very thin layers that resemble uniform pages in a book, an indication of how the sediments were deposited. A final experiment in this area will be attempted on sol 51. Opportunity's front left wheel will "scuff" the rock called "Carousel.""Scuffing" involves scraping the rock with one wheel while holding all the others still. This experiment essentially turns the rover wheels into tools, to try and determine the hardness of the target rock.
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.
Turning in the Testbed
PIA05053
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Turning in the Testbed
Original Caption Released with Image This image, taken in the JPL In-Situ Instruments Laboratory or "Testbed," shows the view from the front hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit after the rover has backed up and turned 45 degrees counterclockwise. Engineers rehearsed this maneuver at JPL before performing it on Mars. This maneuver is the first step in a 3-point turn that will rotate the rover 115 degrees to face the rear direction and drive off a rear side lander petal.
Traversing Martian Terrain
PIA05212
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Traversing Martian Terrain
Original Caption Released with Image This 3-D view from behind the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the path the rover has traveled since rolling 1 meter (3 feet) away from its now-empty lander on the seventh martian day, or sol, of its mission. On the 12th sol, Opportunity drove another 3 1/2 meters (11 feet), and then, one sol later, another 1 1/2 meters (5 feet). On its way, the rover twisted and turned in a test of its driving capabilities. Opportunity is headed toward the eastern edge of the rock outcropping along the inner wall of the crater where it landed. This image was taken by the rover's rear hazard-identification camera.
Poised for Discovery
PIA05205
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Poised for Discovery
Original Caption Released with Image This image taken by the front hazard-identification camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the rover's arm in its extended position. The arm, or instrument deployment device, was deployed on the ninth martian day, or sol, of the mission. The rover, now sitting 1 meter (3 feet) away from the lander, can be seen in the foreground.
Turning on Mars
PIA05054
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Turning on Mars
Original Caption Released with Image This image, taken on Mars, shows the view from the front hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit after the rover has backed up 25 centimeters (10 inches) and turned 45 degrees clockwise. This maneuver is the first step in a 3-point turn that will rotate the rover 115 degrees to face the rear direction and drive off a rear side lander petal. Note that the view in this image matches that of the image taken during rehearsal of this maneuver in the JPL testbed.
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.
Rover Pre-Turn
PIA05050
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Rover Pre-Turn
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows the view from the front hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit before the rover begins a crucial 3-point turn to face in a west direction and roll off the lander.
Cutting the Cord-2
PIA05052
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Cutting the Cord-2
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the view from the rear hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit as the rover turns 45 degrees clockwise. This maneuver is the first step in a 3-point turn that will rotate the rover 115 degrees to face west. The rover must make this turn before rolling off the lander because airbags are blocking it from exiting from the front lander petal. Before this crucial turn took place, engineers instructed the rover to cut the final cord linking it to the lander. The turn took around 30 minutes to complete.
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.
Cutting the Cord
PIA05051
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Cutting the Cord
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the view from the front hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit as the rover turns 45 degrees clockwise. This maneuver is the first step in a 3-point turn that will rotate the rover 115 degrees to face west. The rover must make this turn before rolling off the lander because airbags are blocking it from exiting off the front lander petal. Before this crucial turn could take place, engineers instructed the rover to cut the final cord linking it to the lander. The turn took around 30 minutes to complete.
Snapshots of Martian Soil
PIA05090
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Snapshots of Martian Soil
Original Caption Released with Image This animation strings together five different snapshots of the martian soil captured by the microscopic imager onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. Each picture was taken from a different height. Scientists combine these images to produce one well-focused picture. The actual size of the soil patch shown here is 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) across.
Spirit Looks Back
PIA05082
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Looks Back
Original Caption Released with Image This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's rear hazard identification camera shows the rover's hind view of the lander platform, its nest for the past 12 sols, or martian days. The rover is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) in front of the airbag-cushioned lander, facing northwest. Note the tracks left in the martian soil by the rovers' wheels, all six of which have rolled off the lander. This is the first time the rover has touched martian soil.
Location of Spirit's Home
PIA05086
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Location of Spirit's Home
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows where Earth would set on the martian horizon from the perspective of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit if it were facing northwest atop its lander at Gusev Crater. Earth cannot be seen in this image, but engineers have mapped its location. This image mosaic was taken by the hazard-identification camera onboard Spirit.
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.
Continuing the Turn
PIA05068
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Continuing the Turn
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the view from the front hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit as the rover turns 95 degrees clockwise. This maneuver shows the first and second steps in a 3-point turn that will rotate the rover 115 degrees to face west (the first step previously shown in PIA05051 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05051 ]). The rover must make this turn before rolling off the lander because airbags are blocking it from exiting off the front lander petal. Before starting this maneuver, engineers instructed the rover to cut the final cord linking it to the lander.
Spirit is Out the Gate
PIA05081
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit is Out the Gate
Original Caption Released with Image JPL engineers played Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out" in the control room as they watched new images confirming that the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit successfully rolled off its lander platform early Thursday morning. This image from the rover's front hazard identification camera shows the rover's view of the martian landscape from its new position 1 meter (3 feet) northwest of the lander. One of the rover's next tasks will be to locate the Sun with its panoramic camera and calculate from the Sun's position how to point its main antenna toward Earth.
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.
Spirit Reaches for Closer Lo …
PIA05089
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Reaches for Closer Look
Original Caption Released with Image This animation, composed of four images taken by the front hazard-identification camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, shows the rover stretching out its robotic arm, or instrument deployment device. This is the first use of the arm on Mars to deploy the microscopic imager, one of four geological instruments located on the arm. The first frame shows a clear view of the martian surface in front of the rover before the arm was successfully deployed early Friday morning. The subsequent frames show the arm emerging from its stowed position beneath the "front porch" of the rover body, reaching out, and using the microscopic imager to take close-up images of the martian soil.
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.
Continuing the Turn-2
PIA05088
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Continuing the Turn-2
Original Caption Released with Image This animation shows the view from the rear hazard avoidance cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit as the rover turns 95 degrees clockwise. This maneuver shows the first and second steps in a 3-point turn that will rotate the rover 115 degrees to face west (the first step previously shown in PIA05052 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05052 ]) . The rover must make this turn before rolling off the lander because airbags are blocking it from exiting from the front lander petal. Before starting this maneuver, engineers instructed the rover to cut the final cord linking it to the lander.
Rover Takes a Sunday Drive
PIA05099
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Rover Takes a Sunday Drive
Original Caption Released with Image This animation, made with images from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit hazard-identification camera, shows the rover's perspective of its first post-egress drive on Mars Sunday. Engineers drove Spirit approximately 3 meters (10 feet) toward its first rock target, a football-sized, mountain-shaped rock called Adirondack. The drive took approximately 30 minutes to complete, including time stopped to take images. Spirit first made a series of arcing turns totaling approximately 1 meter (3 feet). It then turned in place and made a series of short, straightforward movements totaling approximately 2 meters (6.5 feet).
Spirit Reaches for Closer Lo …
PIA05096
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Reaches for Closer Look
Original Caption Released with Image This image taken by the front hazard-identification camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, shows the rover's robotic arm, or instrument deployment device. The arm was deployed from its stowed position beneath the "front porch" of the rover body early Friday morning. This is the first use of the arm to deploy the microscopic imager, one of four geological instruments located on the arm. The instrument will help scientists analyze and understand martian rocks and soils by taking very high resolution, close-up images.
Spirit Leaves Telling Tracks
PIA05097
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Leaves Telling Tracks
Original Caption Released with Image Scientists have found clues about the nature of martian soil through analyzing wheel marks from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in this image. The image was taken by Spirit's rear hazard-identification camera just after the rover drove approximately 1 meter (3 feet) northwest off the Columbia Memorial Station (lander platform) early Thursday morning. That the wheel tracks are shallow indicates the soil has plenty of strength to support the moving rover. The well-defined track characteristics suggest the presence of very fine particles in the martian soil (along with larger particles). Scientists also think the soil may have some cohesive properties.
Spirit Switches on Its X-ray …
PIA05115
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Spirit Switches on Its X-ray Vision
Original Caption Released with Image This image shows the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit probing its first target rock, Adirondack. At the time this picture was snapped, the rover had begun analyzing the rock with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer located on its robotic arm. This instrument uses alpha particles and X-rays to determine the elemental composition of martian rocks and soil. The image was taken by the rover's hazard-identification camera.
Hungry for Rocks
PIA05103
Sol (our sun)
Hazard Identification Camera
Title Hungry for Rocks
Original Caption Released with Image This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit hazard identification camera shows the rover's perspective just before its first post-egress drive on Mars. On Sunday, the 15th martian day, or sol, of Spirit's journey, engineers drove Spirit approximately 3 meters (10 feet) toward its first rock target, a football-sized, mountain-shaped rock called Adirondack (not pictured). In the foreground of this image are "Sashimi" and "Sushi" - two rocks that scientists considered investigating first. Ultimately, these rocks were not chosen because their rough and dusty surfaces are ill-suited for grinding.
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