Looking Back Across Mars
Explanation:
It's been a long trip for the Martian rover Opportunity.
Last week Opportunity surpassed
Viking 1 as the
longest
running mission on
Mars, now extending well over six years.
Pictured above, Opportunity's
tire tracks cross a nearly featureless Martian desert, emanating from a distant horizon.
Landing in 2004 in
Meridiani
Planum,
the
robotic Opportunity has
embarked
on its longest and most
dangerous trek yet, now
aiming to reach large
Endeavor Crater sometime
next year.
Endeavor, it is hoped,
holds new clues to the ancient
geology of Mars and whether
Mars could once have
harbored life.
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.
