This full-resolution image taken by the panoramic camera onboard the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit before it rolled off the lander shows the rocky surface of Mars. Scientists are eager to begin examining the rocks because, unlike soil, these "little time capsules" hold memories of the ancient processes that formed them. The lander's deflated airbags can be seen in the foreground. Data from the camera's red, green and blue filters were combined to create this approximate true color picture.
Name | Value | Additional Values |
---|---|---|
Target | Mars | |
System | ||
Target Type | Planet | |
Mission | Mars Exploration Rover (MER) | |
Instrument Host | Spirit (MER-A) | |
Host Type | Rover | |
Instrument | Panoramic Camera (Pancam) | |
Detector | ||
Extra Keywords | Color | |
Acquisition Date | ||
Release Date | 2004-01-19 | |
Date in Caption | ||
Image Credit | NASA/JPL/Cornell | |
Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05102 | |
Identifier | PIA05102 |