This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity’s front hazard-avoidance camera focuses on the rock dubbed “Bounce.”  The plains of Meridiani Planum surrounding Opportunity’s “Eagle Crater” landing site are relatively free of any hazards that would have hindered the packaged rover upon landing.  Still, the rover wrapped in its protective lander and airbags managed to hit one of the only rocks (“Bounce”) in the vicinity.  The rock measures approximately 40 centimeters (about 16 inches).  

“Bounce” – a rock that differs significantly from the light rocks in the “Eagle Crater” outcrop – is currently being investigated by Opportunity.  The 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 undersurface.  


Image Credit:  NASA/JPL

APPROVED BY: Steve Squyres

CAPTION WRITER:  Colleen Sharkey 818/625-0653 cell

RELEASE DATE:  March 30, 2004

IMAGE FILE NAME:  _xpe_pubeng_approved_032904_fhaz_bounce.jpg (.tif, .txt)

SOURCE FILE NAME(S): 1F133785462FFLO8AMP1201LOM1 

SUMMARY INFORMATION:  front haz of “Bounce Rock”

NAME OF SUBMITTER: Colleen Sharkey

INSTITUTION: JPL 

THEME/TEAM/GROUP: Outreach 

SOL OF OBSERVATION:  63

EARTH DATE OF OBSERVATION:  March 28 , 2004

TITLE OF IMAGE: Approaching “Bounce”

CAPTION:  Above

<br> USERNAME: shlieven