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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 05.05.04 10:44l 65 Lines 2178 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : D50834ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: NASA releases new crater image
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0EA<DB0RES<ON0AR<7M3TJZ<ZL2TZE<ZL2AB
Sent: 040505/0756Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:39869 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
NASA Releases New View of Mars 'Endurance Crater'
By Andrew Bridges
Associated Press
posted: 09:45 am ET
04 May 2004
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- NASA released Monday a sweeping 180-degree view of a
broad crater punched in the surface of Mars that was photographed by the
space agency's Opportunity rover as it perched on the rim of the
430-foot-wide depression.
"I don't think it's disappointed anybody," mission manager Matt Wallace
said of the first peek into Endurance crater.
Members of the $830 million mission immediately began making plans to
circumnavigate the 1,350-foot perimeter of the crater and, if feasible,
send the rover rolling down into it.
"The big question is, if we can get down, can we get back out?" Wallace
said.
Opportunity arrived at the crater on Friday. It has sat and soaked in
the view since then, snapping multiple images of its rocky walls and
dune-covered floor.
In the new panorama, stitched together from four separate images,
portions of the crater's more gentle slopes appeared to be almost paved
with flat rocks, which could smooth the descent for Opportunity, Wallace
said. In other areas, steep walls could be seen lining the crater.
Scientists planned for Opportunity to "toe dip" at several locations
around the crater's rim to test the soil and measure the steepness of
its slopes.
On the opposite side of Mars, Opportunity's twin continued its trek
toward a distant cluster of hills. The Spirit rover completed on Monday
its longest one-day drive yet, covering just shy of 305 feet.
NASA sent the twin rovers to Mars to prospect for geologic evidence of
past water on the now dry and dusty planet.
See accompanying 7+ image of Endurance crater posted to this address field,
except where not permitted by intolerant sysops..
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
Message timed: 19:29 on 2004-May-05 (NZT)
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Points to ponder
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Rural wisdom
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To know how country folks are doing, look at their barns, not their houses.
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