Self-Portrait by Freshly Cleaned Opportunity Mars Rover, False Color[/caption](Self Portrait Opportunity March 2014)
.
Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am pleased to present a short review of a decade of images from the Mars rover, Opportunity. Launched in July of 2003 and landing on the surface of Mars January 2004, both the Opportunity and Spirit rovers have produced images and science, consistently, for the past ten years. NASA/JPL have proved, beyond any doubt, that they can design, build, launch and guide scientific platforms like no other country on earth.
.
Today, I am going to start with the Opportunity rover launched on July 3rd, 2003. Opportunity landed, on the Martian surface, on January 24th, 2004 at Meridiani Planum. Opportunity is still roving and still sending incredible images, and making scientific discoveries. Granted, today the rover Curiosity overshadows these twin rovers… even here at The Other Shoe.
.
Our first image is a selfie of Opportunity right before, and after, windstorms cleaned Opportunity. This image was kind of large, I did my best to reduce the size, without damaging the detail or look of this great image.
.
[caption id="attachment_2752" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Before and After Cleaning of Opportunity by Wind Storms[/caption](Before and After Cleaning of Opportunity by Wind Storms)
.
But, I get ahead of myself. Let me take us all the way back to the day Opportunity landed in the Meridiani Planum on Mars. Below is an image, taken by Opportunity, directly after leaving the ‘nest’. Unlike Curiosity, Opportunity and Spirit landed in huge ‘air bag’ landing devices. Once in the Martian atmosphere the rover package was jettisoned and air bags, surrounding the rover(s), deployed. They rolled until all the inertia was dissipated. Once halted, the air bags deflated and the rovers rolled out on to the Martian surface. Directly below is the ‘nest’ of air bags left behind by the Martian rover Opportunity.
.
[caption id="attachment_2758" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Opportunity's Empty Nest[/caption](Opportunity's Empty Nest)
.
Our next iamge was taken via the PanCam (Panoramic Camera). This image shows ‘Botany Bay’ in the foreground and ‘Solander Point’ in the background. Botany Bay is a topographic saddle that shows exposed sedimentary rocks making up the ‘Burns Formation’. The ‘Burns Formation’ was explored and imaged earlier in the Opportunity mission.
.
[caption id="attachment_2753" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Opportunity Annotated Solander Point[/caption](Opportunity Annotated Solander Point)
.
Our next image looks like a field of blueberries, on the surface of Mars. Wouldn’t it be amazing to find blueberries on Mars? That not being the case, what we actually have is a field of hematite-rich spherules, which appear blue. This image was taken by the Opportunity rover in Eagle Crater landing site. This image was the very first scientific proof of flowing water on the surface of Mars. This is one of the ‘Top 50 Images’ from Opportunity as decided by the Smithsonian ‘Air and Space Museum’.
.
[caption id="attachment_2754" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Opportunity Berries' Here, There, Everywhere[/caption](Opportunity Berries' Here, There, Everywhere)
.
Our next image is the very first large panoramic image for this edition of ‘The Mars Report’ today. This image was taken from Opportunity of Intrepid Crater. The crater was named after the lunar module of Apollo 12, Intrepid. The image was taken back in December of 2010.
.
[caption id="attachment_2755" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Opportunity Intrepid Crater Panoramic[/caption](Opportunity Intrepid Crater Panoramic)
.
The next image is another panoramic showing ‘Lyell’ inside Victoria Crater. Taken on the anniversary of the second year of Opportunity’s mission on Mars.
.
[caption id="attachment_2756" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Opportunity 'Lyell' Panorama inside Victoria Crater[/caption](Opportunity 'Lyell' Panorama inside Victoria Crater)
.
Our final image for this decade review of Opportunity On Mars is another composite image. This image is made from over a dozen different images taken by the rover’s panoramic camera. As a part Opportunity’s investigation of Victoria Crater, it shows ‘Cape Verde’ from its view from ‘Cape St. Mary’.
.
[caption id="attachment_2757" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
Opportunity View of 'Cape Verde' from 'Cape St. Mary'[/caption](Opportunity View of 'Cape Verde' from 'Cape St. Mary')
.
That brings us to the end of this special edition of ‘The Mars Report’ celebrating adecade ofimaging and science thanks to the Martian rover Opportunity!
.
Thanks for dropping by and taking this look back and review of a decade of images from Opportunity. I am working on another special edition for tomorrow showcasing the rover Spirit. I am going to do my best to, also, bring you the regularly scheduled edition of ‘Lost in Space’ this week, too. Have a great week!
.
Adieu!
.
Thank YOU!
.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"]
The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption].
[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"]
The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning 2/2014[/caption]
[…] The Mars Report – A Decade of Opportunity on Mars : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am pleased to present a short review of a decade of images from the Mars rover, Opportunity. Launched in July of 2003 and landing on the surface of Mars January 2004, both the Opportunity and Spirit rovers have produced images and science, consistently, for the past ten years. NASA/JPL have proved, beyond any doubt, that they can design, build, launch and guide scientific platforms like no other country on earth.” This week I made the Herculean effort to write tributes to the longest serving Martian rover ever! Spirit has gone to a better place, and served several years. On the other hand, Opportunity finished out ten years of service and is set to continue work this Martian spring. This is the tribute to that intrepid rover, Opportunity. I do not know if any of you reading have been here long enough, but I used to write about this rover, long before ‘The Mars Report’ and before Curiosity landed on the Martian soil. I believe in America’s efforts at space exploration. It is my belief that Earth is mankind’s cradle… play pen and that one day, soon, we will leave this earth behind to forge the destiny of our species among the stars. […]
ReplyDelete[…] The Mars Report – A Decade of Opportunity on Mars : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am pleased to present a short review of a decade of images from the Mars rover, Opportunity. Launched in July of 2003 and landing on the surface of Mars January 2004, both the Opportunity and Spirit rovers have produced images and science, consistently, for the past ten years. NASA/JPL have proved, beyond any doubt, that they can design, build, launch and guide scientific platforms like no other country on earth.” And there it is, My Dear Readers! The overwhelming feeling of national pride that comes/came with; Apollo, the Shuttle, Spirit and Opportunity, Voyager, and Curiosity! America has made itself great by undertaking the Herculean adventures into the stars! Greatness is not something one rides on their laurels and obtains! NO! Greatness must be earned… and RE-earned time and time again. Not only that but each and every time America sets a goal in space? Our children benefit greatly and ‘Look to the Stars’! What better… greater ‘gift’ can we give to our children… our posterity than the desire to reach further and further into space? It is this desire for adventure… need for expansion and drive to reach that has made America… GREAT! This is a tribute to Opportunity and Spirit. TWO intrepid adventurers sojourning on the Martian surface. There could be no ‘The Mars Report’ without; Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity! […]
ReplyDelete