# Presentation: 511295

## Mars Exploration Rover Mission

**Mars Exploration Rover Mission**

**Week in Review               **
**May 1 - May 7**

**Spirit               and Opportunity **

## Opportunity arrived on the western rim of “Endurance Crater” this week and began surveying the spectacular view. 

***Approximate true-color panoramic camera image taken 15.7 inches (40 centimeters) away from the crater’s edge.****** ***

**Notes:**
This approximate true-color image taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the impact crater known as "Endurance." Scientists are eager to explore Endurance for clues to the red planet's history. The crater's exposed walls provide a window to what lies beneath the surface of Mars and thus what geologic processes occurred there in the past. Presently, Opportunity is perched 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) away from the crater's edge. 

This image mosaic was taken by the panoramic camera's 480-, 530- and 750-nanometer filters on sols 97 and 98. It consists of a total of 258 individual images. 

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell 

## Rocks embedded in the deep vertical cliffs may help reveal what happened on Mars before water deposited the rocks in Eagle Crater.

**Rocks embedded in the deep vertical cliffs may help reveal what happened on Mars before water deposited the rocks in Eagle Crater.**

**Notes:**
While recent studies of the smaller crater nicknamed "Eagle" revealed an evaporating body of salty water, that crater was not deep enough to indicate what came before the water. 
Endurance is roughly 130 meters (430 feet) across.

This image mosaic was taken by the panoramic camera's 480-, 530- and 750-nanometer filters on sols 97 and 98. It consists of a total of 258 individual images. 
Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell

## Scientists are eager to explore 

**a layered ridge called “Burns Cliff.”**

**The only problem is the vertical drop:   **
**a steep challenge for rover drivers!**

**Notes:**
Endurance may be able to help answer this question, but the challenge is getting to the scientific targets: most of the crater's rocks are embedded in vertical cliffs. Rover planners are currently developing strategies to overcome this obstacle. 
This approximate true-color image taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity highlights a feature called "Burns Cliff" within the impact crater known as "Endurance." Scientists are eager to explore this layered ridge for clues to the red planet's past. The only problem is its location: Burns Cliff is a vertical drop, which poses an interesting challenge for rover planners. Burns Cliff was named after the late scientist Roger Burns, who was one of the first to correctly propose the importance of sulfate and jarosite to the study of Mars' geologic history. 

This image is a portion of a larger mosaic taken with the panoramic camera's 480-, 530- and 750-nanometer filters on sols 97 and 98. 

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell 

## Endurance Crater’s western rim slopes 

**Endurance Crater’s western rim slopes **
**down at an angle of 18 degrees **
**for about 56 feet (17 meters).**

**Notes:**
OPPORTUNITY - This overview map made from images taken by the camera on the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter illustrates the path that the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has taken from its first sol on the red planet through its 91st sol. After thoroughly examining its "Eagle Crater" landing-site, the rover moved onto the plains of Meridiani Planum, stopping to examine a curious trough and a target within it called "Anatolia." Following that, Opportunity approached and remotely studied the rocky dish called "Fram Crater." As of its 91st sol (April 26, 2004), the rover has traveled about 811 meters (.5 miles) and currently sits about 160 meters (525 feet) from the rim of its next target, "Endurance Crater." 

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell/OSU/MSSS

## Scientists and engineers have begun to assess how difficult it would be for the rover to descend partway into the crater and climb back out. 

**The risk of going into Endurance Crater is that Opportunity might never be able to leave. **

**Notes:**
This approximate true-color image taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the impact crater known as "Endurance." Presently, Opportunity is perched 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) away from the crater's edge. Endurance is roughly 130 meters (430 feet) across. 

This image mosaic was taken by the panoramic camera's 480-, 530- and 750-nanometer filters on sols 97 and 98. It consists of a total of 258 individual images. 
Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell 

## Scientists are intrigued by the hills because they are older than the plains and may give scientists more clues to Mars’ past.

** ****Meanwhile, Spirit continues to perform above the original expectations of scientists and engineers as it cruises toward the Columbia Hills.**

***False-color elevation model of the Columbia Hills.  Image Credit:  NASA/JPL//MSSS****** ***

**Notes:**
Spirit's Plan for 'Columbia Hills'

This animation shows the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's ultimate target, the "Columbia Hills," from various angles including a Spirit's-eye-view, a fly-over view, a horizon view and a counterclockwise view circling to the south and north of the hills. The Columbia Hills are an intriguing target because they are older than the plains and may give scientists more clues to Mars' past. To successfully reach and examine the hills, Spirit must continue to perform above the original expectations of scientists and engineers. The elevation model in this animation was made using two images from the camera onboard NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. 

Image credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS/USGS

## Opportunity may study a feature called “Karatepe” because it is less steep than the rest of Endurance Crater’s rocky outcrops.

**COMING UP!**

**Opportunity may study a feature called “Karatepe” because it is less steep than the rest of Endurance Crater’s rocky outcrops.**

**Spirit plans to make regular stops along the way to the Columbia Hills. This color thermal map shows how different surfaces hold heat.**

***Red indicates warmth; blue indicates coolness.***

**Notes:**
SPIRIT - This map illustrates the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's position as of sol 112 (April 26, 2004), near the crater called "Missoula." Like a train on a tight schedule, Spirit will make regular stops along the way to its ultimate destination, the "Columbia Hills." At each stop, or "station," the rover will briefly analyze the area's rocks and soils. Each tick mark on the rover's route represents one sol's worth of travel, or about 60 to 70 meters (200 to 230 feet). Rover planners estimate that Spirit will reach the hills around mid-June. Presently, the rover is stopped at a site called "Plains Station." 

The color thermal data show how well different surface features hold onto heat. Red indicates warmth; blue indicates coolness. Areas with higher temperatures are more likely to be rocky, as rocks absorb heat. Lower temperatures denote small particles and fewer rocks. During its traverse, Spirit will document the causes of these temperature variations. 

The map comprises data from the camera on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter and the thermal emission imaging system on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter. 

Image credit: NASA/JPL/ASU/MSSS/Ames 

OPPORTUNITY - This approximate true-color image taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity highlights a feature called "Karatepe" within the impact crater known as "Endurance." Scientists believe this layered band of rock may be a good place to begin studying Endurance because it is less steep and more approachable than the rest of the crater's rocky outcrops. 

This image is a portion of a larger mosaic taken with the panoramic camera's 480-, 530- and 750-nanometer filters on sols 97 and 98. 

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell