MER-B: Backshell or boulder?

David Skinner wrote in 7.136:

(Josh Gigantino) wrote in
om:

I've been looking through the incredible RAW images from the Mars
landers. Opportunity's files now include several images that give a
glimpse over the lip of the depression it landed in. In several of the
images, there is a flat white object resting next to a taller dark
object. The links below will show the objects on the right side, they
look to be (total guess) several hundred meters away.

Could the white/lighter object be the parachutes and the darker object
the backshell/retrorockets? Otherwise, perhaps a boulder and some of
the local bedrock like the outcropping Opp is studying now? it's
pretty wild to be able to look over the gully's lip finally. Wow,
Meridiani is some flat.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...25377EFF0205P1
545R0M1.JPG

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...55793EFF0242P1
720L0M1.JPG

Enjoy!

josh


You hit the nail on the head, dude! This morning's news briefing
confirmed it.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...age-B016R1.jpg
Opportunity Spies Its Backshell

From its new location at the inner edge of the small crater surrounding
it, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity was able to look out to the
plains where its backshell (left) and parachute (right) landed.
Opportunity is currently investigating a rock outcropping with its
suite of robotic geologic tools. This approximate true-color image was
created by combining data from the panoramic camera's red, green and
blue filters.
--
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...ute-B016R1.jpg
An Old Friend

This image shows two views of the backshell and parachute that helped
deliver the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity safely to the surface
of Mars. The first, seen in the top left picture, is from the rover's
perspective inside the small crater where it landed. The second, seen
in the center, is from above and was taken by a camera onboard the Mars
Global Surveyor orbiter. The white spot inside the crater in the upper
right corner is the rover's lander, and the white mark in the lower left
corner is the backshell.

Henry Spencer wrote:
Valles Marineris is going to have to wait until a precision descent
and landing capability is developed.

Or, better yet, until a long-lived rover is developed, so it can land
someplace safe, and then drive to someplace interesting.

It would also be nice if it could safely travel at the speed of a
pedestrian, rahter than the speed of a turtle.
--
Keith F. Lynch - - http://keithlynch.net/
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