Opportunity lands on Mars
Posted: Sun, Jan 25, 2004, 3:04 AM ET (0804 GMT)
Opportunity, the second of NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers, successfully landed on the surface of Mars early Sunday. The rover landed at 12:05 am EST (0505 GMT) in the Meridiani Planum region of the planet. Flight controllers received signals from the spacecraft throughout the landing process, unlike the Spirit landing three weeks earlier when contact was lost for several minutes after the initial bounce. The spacecraft came to rest on one of its side petals, rather than the base petal, but the spacecraft is designed to right itself during the petal deployment process after deflating its airbags. Initial images of the landing site could be returned several hours later if all goes well.
Opportunity, the second of NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers, successfully landed on the surface of Mars early Sunday. The rover landed at 12:05 am EST (0505 GMT) in the Meridiani Planum region of the planet. Flight controllers received signals from the spacecraft throughout the landing process, unlike the Spirit landing three weeks earlier when contact was lost for several minutes after the initial bounce. The spacecraft came to rest on one of its side petals, rather than the base petal, but the spacecraft is designed to right itself during the petal deployment process after deflating its airbags. Initial images of the landing site could be returned several hours later if all goes well.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force picks 14 companies for GEO surveillance program
Posted: Sat, Apr 11 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 16
USSPACECOM JISE Transitions to Redstone Arsenal
US Space Command — 6:51 am ET (1051 GMT) US Space Command begins relocation to Huntsville, marking operational start at Redstone Arsenal
WZDX-TV Huntsville, AL — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) First U.S. Space Command personnel arrive at Redstone Arsenal
WAFF-TV — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Vandenberg Space Force Base Advances Lease Talks With Blue Origin for SLC-14
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) USSPACECOM commander lauds team behind the command’s success during 41st Space Symposium keynote
US Space Command — 6:49 am ET (1049 GMT) |
