The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity finished its observations of the prominent outcrop it’s been studying during its 51 sols on Mars and is currently on the hunt for new discoveries.  This image from the rover’s navigation camera atop its mast features Opportunity’s lander – it’s temporary home for the six-month cruise to Mars.  The rover’s soil survey traverse plan involves arcing around the Challenger Memorial Station landing site and over the trench it made on its 23rd sol.  In this image, Opportunity is situated about 6.2 meters (about 20.3 feet) from the lander.  Rover tracks zig-zag along the surface.   Bounce marks and airbag retraction marks are visible around the lander. The calibration target/sundial, which both rover panoramic cameras use to verify true colors and brightness on the red planet, is visible on the back end of the rover.  

Image Credit:  NASA/JPL

APPROVED BY: Joy Crisp & Jim Rice

CAPTION WRITER:  Colleen Sharkey 818/625-0653 cell

RELEASE DATE:  March 17, 2004

IMAGE FILE NAME:   _xpe_pubeng_approved_031604_dejavu.jpg

SOURCE FILE NAME(S): 1N132726665FFL06A8P1945LOM1

SUMMARY INFORMATION:  Navcam of Opportunity behind its lander, as it begins its 5-target soil survey

NAME OF SUBMITTER: Colleen Sharkey

INSTITUTION:  JPL

THEME/TEAM/GROUP:  Outreach

SOL OF OBSERVATION: 51

EARTH DATE OF OBSERVATION:  March 16, 2004

TITLE OF IMAGE: Déjà vu

CAPTION:  Above




<br> USERNAME: shlieven