PIA04854: Preflight Processing
 Target Name:  Mars
 Mission:  Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
 Spacecraft:  Opportunity
 Product Size:  3000 x 1995 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  JPL
 Addition Date:  2003-11-07
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA04854.tif (17.96 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA04854.jpg (1.179 MB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

May 29, 2003
Prelaunch at Kennedy Space Center

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers prepare to lift the Mars Exploration Rover-1 (MER-B) onto a spin table during preflight processing of the spacecraft. The rover is scheduled to launch aboard a Delta II rocket on June 25. NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers are designed to study the history of water on Mars. These robotic geologists are equipped with a robotic arm, a drilling tool, three spectrometers, and four pairs of cameras that allow them to have a human-like, 3D view of the terrain. Each rover could travel as far as 100 meters in one day to act as Mars scientists' eyes and hands, exploring an environment where humans are not yet able to go. The launch of MER-2 (MER-A) is tentatively set for June 8.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/KSC

Image Addition Date:
2003-11-07