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First Color Image of Curiosity’s Tracks from Orbit

Thursday, January 31, 2013 10:00

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(Before It's News)

HiRISE image of Curiosity’s tracks, landing zone and the MSL rover at John Klein outcrop (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

As Curiosity prepares for the historic first drilling operation on Mars, the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an image of it from 271 km (169 miles) up, along with twin lines of tracks and the blast marks from the dramatic rocket-powered descent back on August 6 (UTC).

The image here was acquired on Jan. 13, Sol 157 of the MSL mission, as part of a dual HiRISE/CRISM observation of the landing site. According to The University of Arizona’s HiRISE site it’s the first time the rover’s tracks have been imaged in color.

Her original landing site can be seen at the right edge. (Wait… did I just say “her?”)

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Read the rest of First Color Image of Curiosity’s Tracks from Orbit (154 words)

© Jason Major for Universe Today, 2013. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Curiosity, drilling, HiRISE, Mars, MRO, MSL, Rover