A Landing at Meridiani Planum
Explanation:
After an interplanetary journey of nearly 300 million miles,
Opportunity
bounced down on
the martian surface at about 9:05 pm PST Saturday, its
final plunge
cushioned by airbags.
Now the second NASA rover on Mars,
Opportunity's landing site at Meridiani Planum is
on the
opposite side of the
red planet from its twin rover Spirit.
Described as unlike any ever seen on Mars, the dark, undulating
terrain at Meridiani Planum
(aka
Terra Meridiani) is
pictured above in the first
stunning color view from Opportunity.
This area is thought to be rich
in
gray hematite, an iron-bearing mineral which can form in
watery
environments.
Part of the rover's deck is in the foreground while
circular impressions and drag marks made
by the airbags
are visible just beyond it.
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.
