|
|
Heading Toward 'Von Braun' M
…
NASA's Mars Exploration Rove
…
5/27/09
| Description |
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit used its navigation camera to capture this view of the terrain toward the southeast from the location Spirit reached... |
| Date |
5/27/09 |
|
Heading Toward 'Von Braun' M
…
NASA's Mars Exploration Rove
…
5/27/09
| Description |
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit used its navigation camera to capture this view of the terrain toward the southeast from the location Spirit reached... |
| Date |
5/27/09 |
|
Spirit's View Beside 'Home P
…
NASA's Mars Exploration Rove
…
4/16/09
| Description |
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit used its navigation camera to take the images that have been combined into this 180-degree view of the rover's surroundings... |
| Date |
4/16/09 |
|
Spirit's View Beside 'Home P
…
NASA's Mars Exploration Rove
…
4/16/09
| Description |
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit used its navigation camera to take the images that have been combined into this 180-degree view of the rover's surroundings during the 1,823rd Martian day, or sol, of Spirit's surface mission (Feb. 17, 2009). The center of the view is toward the south-southwest. The rover had driven 23 feet, or 7 meters, eastward earlier on Sol 1823, part of maneuvering to get Spirit into a favorable position for climbing onto the low plateau called 'Home Plate.' However, after two driving attempts with negligible progress during the following three sols, the rover team changed its strategy for getting to destinations south of Home Plate. The team decided to drive Spirit at least partway around Home Plate, instead of ascending the northern edge and taking a shorter route across the top of the plateau. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech |
| Date |
4/16/09 |
|
Skirting an Obstacle
This view from the navigatio
…
11/12/09
| Description |
This view from the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows tracks left by backing out of a wind-formed ripple after the rover's wheels had started to dig too deeply into the dust and sand of the ripple. The frames combined into this view were taken on the 1,867th Martian day, or sol, of Opportunity's mission on Mars (April 25, 2009). The scene spans 120 degrees, from southeastward on the left to westward on the right. Two sols earlier, Opportunity drove 310 feet south-southwestward before stopping when the rover detected that its wheels were slipping more than the limit that engineers had set for the drive. That Sol 1865 (April 23, 2009) drive created the tracks that enter this scene from the left and ended with wheels on the left side of the rover partially embedded in the ripple. On Sol 1866, Opportunity began to back away from this potential trap, but moved only about 11 inches. On Sol 1867, the rover backed up 12 feet before taking this picture. Subsequently, Opportunity proceeded on a path avoiding the ripple where the wheel slippage occurred. For scale, the distance between the parallel wheel tracks is about about 40 inches). This view is presented as a cylindrical projection with geometric seam correction. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech |
| Date |
11/12/09 |
|
Rock Garden
This image of a cluster of r
…
01/04/10
| Description |
This image of a cluster of rocks labeled 'Rock Garden' is where NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit became embedded in April 2009. The Spirit and Opportunity rovers landed on the Red Planet in January 2004 for what was to be a 90-day mission, but which has lasted 6 Earth years, or 3.2 Mars years. During this time, Spirit has found evidence of a steamy and violent environment on ancient Mars that is quite different from the wet and acidic past documented by Opportunity, which has been operating successfully as it explores halfway around the planet. Spirit used its navigation camera to capture this view of the terrain toward the southeast from the location it reached on the 1,870th Martian day, or sol, on April 7, 2009. Wheels on the western side of the rover broke through the dark, crusty surface into bright, loose, sandy material that was not visible as the rover approached the site. Spirit became stuck in an area near the left of the image's center later in April. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech |
| Date |
01/04/10 |
|
Photo Op
| title |
Photo Op |
| date |
01.25.2004 |
| description |
This image is one of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's first breathtaking views of the martian landscape after its successful landing at Meridiani Planum on Mars. On the left, the rover's mast can be seen in a stowed position. Opportunity landed Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 at about 9:05 PST. The image was taken by the rover's navigation camera. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL |
|
Cosmic Crash Scene
| title |
Cosmic Crash Scene |
| description |
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity took this image of its own heat shield during the rover's 325th martian day (Dec. 22, 2004). The main structure from the successfully used shield is to the far left. Additional fragments of the heat shield lie in the upper center of the image. The heat shield's impact mark is visible just above and to the right of the foreground shadow of Opportunity's camera mast. This view is a mosaic of three images taken with the rover's navigation camera. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL |
|
Earth From Mars
| title |
Earth From Mars |
| date |
03.08.2004 |
| description |
This is the first image ever taken of Earth from the surface of a planet beyond the Moon. It was taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit one hour before sunrise on the 63rd Martian day, or sol, of its mission. The image is a mosaic of images taken by the rover's navigation camera showing a broad view of the sky, and an image taken by the rover's panoramic camera of Earth. The contrast in the panoramic camera image was increased two times to make Earth easier to see.The inset shows a combination of four panoramic camera images zoomed in on Earth. The arrow points to Earth. Earth was too faint to be detected in images taken with the panoramic camera's color filters. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL/Cornell/Texas A&M |
|
Looking Back
| title |
Looking Back |
| date |
03.26.2004 |
| description |
NASA's Opportunity rover looks back at the crater where it landed and spent the first two months of its mission exploring exposed bedrock. This area may have been the shore of a shallow sea. The image is the first 360-degree view from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's new position outside "Eagle Crater," the small crater where the rover landed about two months ago. Scientists are busy analyzing Opportunity's new view of the plains of Meridiani Planum. The plentiful ripples are a clear indication that wind is the primary geologic process currently in effect on the plains. The rover's tracks can be seen leading away from Eagle Crater. At the far left are two depressions - each about a meter (about 3.3 feet) across - that feature bright spots in their centers. One possibility is that the bright material is similar in composition to the rocks in Eagle Crater's outcrop and the surrounding darker material is what's referred to as "lag deposit," or erosional remnants, which are much harder and more difficult to wear away. These twin dimples might be revealing pieces of a larger outcrop that lies beneath. The depression closest to Opportunity is whimsically referred to as "Homeplate" and the one behind it as "First Base." The backshell and parachute that helped protect the rover and deliver it safely to the surface of Mars are also visible near the horizon, at the left of the image. This image was taken by the rover's navigation camera. *Image Credi*: NASA/JPL |
|
Mars in 3-D
| title |
Mars in 3-D |
| description |
This sprawling look at the martian landscape surrounding the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is the first 3-D stereo image from the rover's navigation camera. A surface depression nicknamed "Sleepy Hollow" can be seen to center left of the image. Scientists theorize that this topographic feature, measuring about 10 meters (30 feet) in diameter and located approximately 10 to 20 meters (30 to 60 feet) away from Spirit, is either an impact crater or a product of wind-erosion. See more images in the Mars Exploration Rover Image Gallery. *Image credit:*NASA/JPL |
|
Endurance Crater
| title |
Endurance Crater |
| description |
This navigation camera mosaic, created from images taken by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on sols 115 and 116 (May 21 and 22, 2004) provides a dramatic view of "Endurance Crater." The rover engineering team carefully plotted the safest path into the football field-sized crater, eventually easing the rover down the slopes around sol 130 (June 12, 2004). To the upper left of the crater sits the rover's protective heatshield, which sheltered Opportunity as it passed through the martian atmosphere. The 360-degree view is presented in a cylindrical projection, with geometric and radiometric seam correction. *Image Credit*: NASA/JPL |
|
Above Spirit
| title |
Above Spirit |
| date |
01.03.2004 |
| description |
A mosaic image taken by Spirit's navigation camera shows the Mars Exploration Rover sitting on its landing platform only hours after touching down on Gusev Crater. The image has been reprocessed to imove the view. See more Spirit images in the Mars Exploration Rover Image Gallery. *Image Credit*: NASA |
|
Going Wild
| Title |
Going Wild |
| Explanation |
Dynamic jets of gas and dust surround one of the most active [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021019.html ] planetary surfaces in the solar system in this wild-looking picture [ http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news97.html ] of a comet nucleus [ http://www.solarviews.com/eng/edu/comets.htm ]. The comet's designation [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/ cometfact.html ] is 81P/Wild 2 of course (sounds like "vilt 2"), and the picture is a composite of two images recorded by the Stardust spacecraft's [ http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/cool.html ] navigation camera during its January 2nd flyby [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040119.html ]. The composited images consist of a short exposure recording startling surface details of Wild 2's nucleus and a longer exposure, taken 10 seconds later, revealing material streaming from the surface. The left edge of the nucleus appears extremely jagged due to a strong shadow. Pitted and eroded after billions of years of outgassing [ http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/comets/ comet_nucleus.html&edu=high ] and meteorite impacts, the nucleus pictured is only about 5 kilometers in diameter, while the jets of dust and gas ultimately leave trails [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000413.html ] millions of kilometers long. Stardust is scheduled to return samples of Wild 2's cometary dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010813.html ], picked up during the flyby, to Earth in January 2006. |
|
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
…
| title |
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is Already Breaking Records! |
| Description |
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter set the record for interplanetary missions, sending back the most data in a single day! An unprecedented amount of data - the equivalent of 13 CDs - was returned by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission in a single day! NASA's latest mission to Mars sent 75 gigabits of data back to Earth from millions of miles away, including beautiful pictures of the Moon. A preview of what's to come with this mighty mission, the spacecraft calibrated its high-resolution camera, using the Moon as its subject. Calibrations of space cameras are, essentially, adjustments to ensure optimal picture taking. On Sept. 8, 2005, the Moon - half bathed in the sun's glow and half draped in darkness - showed off all of its pocks and dimples for the powerful HiRISE camera. The successful calibration bodes well for the capture of stunning and enlightening images at the red planet. The camera took the shot while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona |
|
High-Resolution Mars Camera
…
| title |
High-Resolution Mars Camera Test Image of Moon (Blue-Green) |
| Description |
This crescent view of Earth's Moon in blue-green wavelengths comes from a camera test by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on its way to Mars. The mission's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera took the image on Sept. 8, 2005, while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona |
|
High-Resolution Mars Camera
…
| title |
High-Resolution Mars Camera Test Image of Moon (Infrared) |
| Description |
This crescent view of Earth's Moon in infrared wavelengths comes from a camera test by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on its way to Mars. The mission's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera took the image on Sept. 8, 2005, while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona |
|
High-Resolution Mars Camera
…
| title |
High-Resolution Mars Camera Test Image of Moon (Red) |
| Description |
This crescent view of Earth's Moon in red wavelengths comes from a camera test by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on its way to Mars. The mission's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera took the image on Sept. 8, 2005, while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona |
|
Optical Navigation Demonstra
…
| title |
Optical Navigation Demonstration Near Mars |
| Description |
This image showing the position of the Martian moon Deimos against a background of stars is part of a successful technology demonstration completed by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter before arrival at Mars. The spacecraft's Optical Navigation Camera was used in February and March 2006 to demonstrate the use of pictures from a small camera for calculating precise location of a Mars-bound spacecraft by comparing the observed positions of Mars' two moons to their predicted positions relative to background stars. While this technique was not necessary for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's own navigation, the demonstration prepares the way for relying on it for navigating precise arrivals for future missions that land on Mars. This example image from the Optical Navigation Camera was taken on March 6, 2006, at a distance of 1.08 million kilometers (671,000 miles) from Deimos. That moon, the smaller of Mars' two, has a diameter of 15 kilometers (9 miles), and orbits 23,459 kilometers (14,577 miles) above the planet's surface. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech |
|
Opportunity's Close-up of 'O
…
marscollection, nasa
An iron meteorite is the lat
…
485132main_PIA13417-anaglyph
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
485132main_PIA13417-anaglyph |
|
Opportunity's Surroundings A
…
marscollection, nasa
This mosaic of images from t
…
484978main_pia13416
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
484978main_pia13416 |
|
Opportunity's Surroundings A
…
marscollection, nasa
This mosaic of images from t
…
484925main_pia13413
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
484925main_pia13413 |
|
Opportunity's Close-up of 'O
…
marscollection, nasa
An iron meteorite is the lat
…
485110main_PIA13417-right
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
485110main_PIA13417-right |
|
Opportunity's Close-up of 'O
…
marscollection, nasa
An iron meteorite is the lat
…
485121main_PIA13417-left
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
485121main_PIA13417-left |
|
'Cambridge Bay' Outcrop Exam
…
marscollection, nasa
This panorama taken by NASA'
…
480423main_pia13372
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-07 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
480423main_pia13372 |
|
Opportunity's Surroundings A
…
marscollection, nasa
This stereo mosaic of images
…
484977main_pia13415
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
484977main_pia13415 |
|
Opportunity's Surroundings A
…
marscollection, nasa
This mosaic of images from t
…
484937main_pia13414
| mediatype |
IMAGE |
| mediatype |
image |
| date |
2010-09-29 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
484937main_pia13414 |
|
The Temperature of "Enduranc
…
PIA06015
Sol (our sun)
Miniature Thermal Emission S
…
| Title |
The Temperature of "Endurance |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
The colored dots in this image mosaic denote thermal data in features that make up the impact crater known as "Endurance." The data was taken by the miniature thermal emission spectrometer instrument on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The information has been overlaid onto a view of the crater from the rover's navigation camera. Blue denotes cooler temperatures of about 220 degrees Kelvin (-63.67 degrees Fahrenheit or -53.15 degrees Celsius), and red denotes warmer temperatures of about 280 degrees Kelvin (44.33 degrees Fahrenheit or 6.85 degrees Celsius). |
|
Clouds over 'Endurance' on S
…
PIA07105
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Clouds over 'Endurance' on Sol 290 |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Clouds add drama to the sky above "Endurance Crater" in this mosaic of frames taken by the navigation camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity at about 9:30 a.m. on the rover's 290th sol (Nov. 16, 2004). The view spans an arc from east on the left to the southwest on the right. These clouds are part of a band that forms near the equator when Mars is near the part of its orbit that is farthest from the Sun. For Opportunity (and Spirit and the rest of the southern hemisphere), this occurs in late fall and early winter. During this period, atmospheric temperatures and the amount of water vapor combine to form large-scale clouds. These clouds look like Earth's cirrus clouds and share other similarities with cirrus clouds in that they are believed to be composed entirely of water-ice particles with sizes on the order of several micrometers (a few ten-thousandths of an inch). The images that are combined to produce this view have been processed to remove geometrical distortion associated with the camera's 45-degree field of view. In addition, special image processing has been applied to enhance the clouds and make them visible across the entire mosaic. The rim of Endurance was processed using the same technique, illustrating how much enhancement was done. Glare from the Sun washed out the clouds on the left in the original images, this glare was removed. |
|
After Conquering 'Husband Hi
…
PIA03061
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
After Conquering 'Husband Hill,' Spirit Moves On |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
The first explorer ever to scale a summit on another planet, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has begun a long trek downward from the top of "Husband Hill" to new destinations. As shown in this 180-degree panorama from east of the summit, Spirit's earlier tracks are no longer visible. They are off to the west (to the left in this view). Spirit's next destination is "Haskin Ridge," straight ahead along the edge of the steep cliff on the right side of this panorama. The scene is a mosaic of images that Spirit took with the navigation camera on the rover's 635th Martian day, or sol, (Oct. 16, 2005) of exploration of Gusev Crater on Mars. This view is presented in a cylindrical projection with geometric seam correction. |
|
After Conquering 'Husband Hi
…
PIA03063
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
After Conquering 'Husband Hill,' Spirit Moves On (Vertical) |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
The first explorer ever to scale a summit on another planet, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has begun a long trek downward from the top of "Husband Hill" to new destinations. As shown in this 180-degree panorama from east of the summit, Spirit's earlier tracks are no longer visible. They are off to the west (to the left in this view). Spirit's next destination is "Haskin Ridge," straight ahead along the edge of the steep cliff on the right side of this panorama. The scene is a mosaic of images that Spirit took with the navigation camera on the rover's 635th Martian day, or sol, (Oct. 16, 2005) of exploration of Gusev Crater on Mars. This view is presented in a vertical projection with geometric seam correction. |
|
High-Resolution Mars Camera
…
PIA08002
Earth
HiRISE
| Title |
High-Resolution Mars Camera Test Image of Moon |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This crescent view of Earth's Moon in infrared, blue-green, and red wavelengths comes from a camera test by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on its way to Mars. The mission's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera took the image on Sept. 8, 2005, while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The three images of the Moon in different colors all look similar because the Moon has an overall grey color, but further processing will reveal the subtle color variations. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. |
|
High-Resolution Mars Camera
…
PIA08002
Earth
HiRISE
| Title |
High-Resolution Mars Camera Test Image of Moon |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This crescent view of Earth's Moon in infrared, blue-green, and red wavelengths comes from a camera test by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on its way to Mars. The mission's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera took the image on Sept. 8, 2005, while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The three images of the Moon in different colors all look similar because the Moon has an overall grey color, but further processing will reveal the subtle color variations. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. |
|
High-Resolution Mars Camera
…
PIA08002
Earth
HiRISE
| Title |
High-Resolution Mars Camera Test Image of Moon |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This crescent view of Earth's Moon in infrared, blue-green, and red wavelengths comes from a camera test by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on its way to Mars. The mission's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera took the image on Sept. 8, 2005, while at a distance of about 10 million kilometers (6 million miles) from the Moon. The dark feature on the right is Mare Crisium. From that distance, the Moon would appear as a star-like point of light to the unaided eye. The three images of the Moon in different colors all look similar because the Moon has an overall grey color, but further processing will reveal the subtle color variations. The test verified the camera's focusing capability and provided an opportunity for calibration. The spacecraft's Context Camera and Optical Navigation Camera also performed as expected during the test. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched on Aug. 12, 2005, is on course to reach Mars on March 10, 2006. After gradually adjusting the shape of its orbit for half a year, it will begin its primary science phase in November 2006. From the mission's planned science orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the surface of Mars, the high resolution camera will be able to discern features as small as one meter or yard across. |
|
First Look at Spirit on Mars
…
PIA04989
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
First Look at Spirit on Mars-2 |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This mosaic image taken by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has been further processed, resulting in a significantly improved 360 degree panoramic view of the rover on the surface of Mars. |
|
View From Above Spirit on Ma
…
PIA04983
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
View From Above Spirit on Mars |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This mosaic image taken by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit represents an overhead view of the rover on the surface of Mars. |
|
First Look at Spirit on Mars
PIA04980
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
First Look at Spirit on Mars |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This mosaic image taken by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows a 360 degree panoramic view of the rover on the surface of Mars. |
|
View From Above Spirit on Ma
…
PIA04988
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
View From Above Spirit on Mars-2 |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This mosaic image taken by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has been reprocessed to project a clear overhead view of the rover on the surface of Mars. |
|
Right Panorama of Spirit's L
…
PIA04992
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Right Panorama of Spirit's Landing Site |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This is a version of the first 3-D stereo image from the rover's navigation camera, showing only the view from the right stereo camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The left and right camera images are combined to produce a 3-D image. |
|
Left Panorama of Spirit's La
…
PIA04991
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Left Panorama of Spirit's Landing Site |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Left Panorama of Spirit's Landing Site This is a version of the first 3-D stereo image from the rover's navigation camera, showing only the view from the left stereo camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The left and right camera images are combined to produce a 3-D image. |
|
Ready to Roll-2
PIA05080
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Ready to Roll-2 |
| 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 navigation camera. |
|
Virtual Rover Takes its Firs
…
PIA05063
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Virtual Rover Takes its First Turn |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image shows a screenshot from the software used by engineers to drive the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The software simulates the rover's movements across the martian terrain, helping to plot a safe course for the rover. The virtual 3-D world around the rover is built from images taken by Spirit's stereo navigation cameras. Regions for which the rover has not yet acquired 3-D data are represented in beige. This image depicts the state of the rover before it backed up and turned 45 degrees on Sol 11 (01-13-04). |
|
Belly Dancing on Mars
PIA05064
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Belly Dancing on Mars |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image shows a screenshot from the software used by engineers to drive the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The software simulates the rover's movements across the martian terrain, helping to plot a safe course for the rover. The virtual 3-D world around the rover is built from images taken by Spirit's stereo navigation cameras. Regions for which the rover has not yet acquired 3-D data are represented in beige. The red dart to the left shows a target destination for the rover. Red lines indicate the path the rover's wheels will follow to reach the target, and the blue line denotes the path of the rover's "belly button," as engineers like to call it. |
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From Spirit's Perspective (A
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PIA05032
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
From Spirit's Perspective (Animation) |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This animation shows the perspective from the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit before and after its automated stand-up process. After standing up, the rover is approximately 12 inches higher off of the lander, resulting in a better view of the surrounding terrain. |
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Virtual Rover Drives Toward
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PIA05101
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Virtual Rover Drives Toward Rock |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image shows a screenshot from the software used by engineers to test and drive the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The software simulates the rover's movements across the martian terrain, helping to plot a safe course. Here, engineers simulated Spirit's first post-egress drive on Mars Sunday. The 3-meter (10-foot) drive totaled approximately 30 minutes, including time to stop and take images. The rover drove toward its first rock target, a mountain-shaped rock called Adirondack. The blue line denotes the path of the rover's "belly button," as engineers like to call it, as the rover drove toward Adirondack. The virtual 3-D world around the rover was built from images taken by Spirit's stereo navigation cameras. Regions for which the rover has not yet acquired 3-D data are represented in beige. |
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Bird's Eye" View of Egress
PIA05044
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Bird's Eye" View of Egress |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This mosaic image taken by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit represents an overhead view of the rover as it prepares to roll off the lander and onto the martian surface. The yellow arrow illustrates the direction the rover may take to roll safely off the lander. The rover was originally positioned to roll straight forward off the lander (south side of image). However, an airbag is blocking its path. To take this northeastern route, the rover must back up and perform what is likened to a 3-point turn in a cramped parking lot. |
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Bird's Eye" View of Egress
PIA05044
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Bird's Eye" View of Egress |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This mosaic image taken by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit represents an overhead view of the rover as it prepares to roll off the lander and onto the martian surface. The yellow arrow illustrates the direction the rover may take to roll safely off the lander. The rover was originally positioned to roll straight forward off the lander (south side of image). However, an airbag is blocking its path. To take this northeastern route, the rover must back up and perform what is likened to a 3-point turn in a cramped parking lot. |
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First Panoramic Look at Meri
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PIA05138
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
First Panoramic Look at Meridiani Planum, Mars |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This 360-degree panorama is one of the first images beamed back to Earth from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shortly after it touched down at Meridiani Planum, Mars. The image was captured by the rover's navigation camera. |
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Over the Rover
PIA05151
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Over the Rover |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image from the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has been projected to show an overhead perspective of the rover. This image was taken shortly after the rover touched down at Meridiani Planum, Mars, at approximately 9:05 p.m. PST on Saturday, Jan. 24. |
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Opportunity Egress Aid Conta
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PIA05170
Sol (our sun)
Navigation Camera
| Title |
Opportunity Egress Aid Contacts Soil |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
This image from the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the rover's egress aid touching the martian soil at Meridiani Planum, Mars. The image was taken after the rear lander petal hyperextended in a manuever to tilt the lander forward. The maneuver pushed the front edge lower, placing the tips of the egress aids in the soil. The rover will drive straight ahead to exit the lander. |
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