Search Ames
Featured Image
| Mars Exploration Rovers Artwork |
Artist renditions of the Mars Exploration Rovers courtesy of NASA's Jet Propulsion Labratory-
+ http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/artwork/
 | Stowed in the nose cone of this Delta II rocket, the Mars Exploration Rover blasts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It's destination: the planet Mars. Photo No:rocket_br.jpg |
 | The nose cone of the rocket separates during the launch phase and the Mars Exploration Rover is sent on a seven-month journey to Mars. Photo No:fairing_br.jpg |
 | The aeroshell protects the rover from fiery temperatures as it enters the Martian atmosphere in January, 2004. Photo No:entry_br.jpg |
 | With the parachute deployed, three retrorockets fire their engines, suspending the lander 30 - 50 feet above the Martian surface. Photo No:descent_br.jpg |
|
| Protected by large airbags, the lander falls away from the parachute, landing safely on Mars. Photo No:landing_br.jpg |
|
| After bouncing to a stop, the lander's petals unfold and the Mars Exploration Rover drives onto the surface of Mars. Photo No:emerging_br.jpg |
 | Rover Photo No:rover1_400.jpg |
 | NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, launched toward Mars in 2003 in search of answers about the history of water on Mars. The rovers targeted sites that appear to have been affected by liquid water in the past. They drive to various locations to perform on-site scientific investigations over the course of their 90-day missions. This mission is part of NASA's long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. For more information, please visit the JPL website at: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/ Photo No:mer-high-1_br.jpg |
 | Rover Photo No:rover2_400.jpg |
 | Controlling the rover from Earth, scientists drive the rover along Mars' surface inspecting geological features. Photo No:roving_br.jpg |
 | The rock abrasion tool on the robotic arm grinds away the rock's surface, allowing scientific instruments to analyze the rock's interior. Photo No:analyzing_br.jpg |
- end -
text-only version of this release
To receive Ames news releases via e-mail, send an e-mail with the word "subscribe" in the subject line to ames-releases-request@lists.arc.nasa.gov. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to the same address with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.