PIA12119: Position Markers in Preparation for Test
Mars Exploration Rover team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., prepare an experiment on July 13, 2009, for assessing how a test rover moves when embedded in loose soil and commanded to drive backward with wheels turned.
 Mission:  Mars Exploration Rover (MER) 
 Spacecraft:  Spirit
 Product Size:  2345 x 1094 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  JPL 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA12119.tif (7.705 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA12119.jpg (393.3 kB)  

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Original Caption Released with Image:

Mars Exploration Rover team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., prepare an experiment on July 13, 2009, for assessing how a test rover moves when embedded in loose soil and commanded to drive backward with wheels turned. Brenda Franklin (top) observes as Julie Townsend (kneeling) places position markers for facilitating measurements after the test run.

This work was part of a series of tests at JPL designed to determine the best way to get NASA's Spirit rover out of a Martian patch of soft soil called "Troy," where Spirit's wheels have dug in.

To see updates on the efforts to free the Spirit rover, visit the JPL Free Spirit website.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Image Addition Date:
2009-07-13