The NASA rover Opportunity, which on July 2 had
been
rolling across Mars for 3,000
Martian days, sent home a new color picture of
the panorama around its four-month
winter \"hibernation\" spot, according to NASA.
It first landed on Mars in January 2004,
along with twin rover Spirit. NASA lost
communication with the latter in 2011, but
Opportunity continues to explore beyond
its expected operational life. Check out this
gallery for more pictures Opportunity sent
home.
The new image of the "Greeley Haven" slope is a
composite of 817 separate images.
"The view provides rich geologic context for the
detailed chemical and mineral work that the team
did at Greeley Haven over the rover's fifth
Martian winter," Arizona State University
scientist Jim Bell tells USEmbassy.gov . Bell is the lead scientist
for the panoramic camera on the government and
academic team managing the mission.
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/Arizona State
Univ.)
The shadow of Opportunity
at Endeavour Crater. (AP)
AP
Opportunity Opportunity using its front hazard-identification
camera to obtain this image. (AP)
AP
Mars Rovers Opportunity using its front hazard-identification
camera across Victoria Crater. (AP)
AP
IDL TIFF file View of Victoria Crater from Opportunity. (AP)
AP
IDL TIFF file View of promontory called "Cape Verde" at
Victoria Crater. (AP)
AP
Martian crater at Meridiani Planum surrounding
Opportunity. (AP)
AP
Martian landscape at Meridiani Planum. (AP)
AP
Martian surface at Meridiani Planum. (AP)
AP
Mars landscape 360° panorama view at Meridiani
Planum. (AP)
AP
Delta II rocket carrying NASA Mars Rover
Opportunity lifts off, Kennedy Space Center,
Florida. (AP)
AP
A digital image of Opportunity, which is roughly 2
meters across. Also visible in this image are
"ancient light rock and numerous small gray
pellets known as blueberries." Learn more
here . (NASA.gov)
NASA.gov
A detailed description of Opportunity's functions.
(NASA.gov)
NASA.gov