Mars Polar Lander Target Ellipse
Explanation:
South is up in
this recent composite color picture of
Mars Polar Lander's
target region near the Martian South Pole taken on November 28.
Imaged by the orbiting Mars Global Surveyor's wide angle
camera, the area covered is 105 kilometers across with
the expected landing ellipse superposed.
It is
late spring in Mars' southern hemisphere and
white patches near the top are what remains of the area's winter frost
while dark areas are likely sand and fields of sand dunes.
The Mars Polar Lander spacecraft reached the Red Planet
yesterday at 20:00 UTC
and earthbound controllers are still
trying to establish contact with the lander
during the available
communication windows.
From orbit, the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft will try to
contact the two
basketball-sized microprobes jettisoned during the
lander's descent.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
