PIA04986: Spirit's Descent to Mars-1433m
 Target Name:  Mars
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
 Spacecraft:  Spirit
 Instrument:  Descent Image Motion Estimation System (DIMES) 
 Product Size:  1024 x 1021 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  JPL
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA04986.tif (960.7 kB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA04986.jpg (80.9 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:

This image, taken by the descent image motion estimation system camera located on the bottom of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's lander, shows a view of Gusev Crater as the lander descends to Mars. The picture is taken at an altitude of 1433 meters. Numerous small impact craters can be seen on the surface of the planet. These images help the onboard software to minimize the lander's horizontal velocity before its bridal is cut, and it falls freely to the surface of Mars.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:
2004-01-04