Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. This image confirms that its descent down the lander's rear deployment ramp was successful. The rover moved only a short distance from the ramp and spent the night analyzing the martian soil with its Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer . A slow but steady off-road vehicle powered by a 1.9 square foot solar array, the rover can negotiate obstacles tilted at a 45 degree angle and travels at less than half an inch per second or nearly 0.03 miles per hour.
Specific rights apply .