Pathfinder sends vibrant, panoramic image of horizon

July 18, 1997
Web posted at: 8:20 p.m. EDT (0020 GMT)

PASADENA, California (CNN) -- Mars Pathfinder has sent to Earth the first panoramic color image showing the rust-colored hills and remote horizons of Mars.

A 14-foot-wide rendering of the image sent back by Pathfinder was unveiled at the White House Friday by U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

While color images of the areas directly surrounding the Pathfinder landing site have been released previously, this is the first shot aimed toward the horizon, showing a wide swath of what Pathfinder and Sojourner "see" from their vantage points on the Martian surface.

The color image was taken while Pathfinder's rover, Sojourner, was cozying up to a rock named Yogi, performing an analysis of its chemical composition. So it shows Sojourner hard at work.

Pathfinder computers have been resetting themselves automatically, a problem that has been slowing down the flow of pictures and data. On Saturday, NASA engineers plan to send up a new line of computer code -- containing new commands -- that they hope will finally fix the problem.

 

Related stories:

• Scientists rush to recover from problems with Sojourner - July 15, 1997
• Rover backs away from Yogi, faces serious test - July 12, 1997
• One 'marvelous' Martian week - July 11, 1997
• Scientists call Martian rock 'a real surprise' - July 8, 1997
• Rover 'holds hands' with Barnacle Bill - July 7, 1997
• Sojourner, meet Barnacle Bill - July 6, 1997
• Tiny Mars rover set to take giant roll for mankind - July 5, 1997
• NASA gets good news on Pathfinder glitch - July 5, 1997
• NASA gets good news on Pathfinder glitch - July 5, 1997
• Communications glitch hampers Mars rover - July 5, 1997
• Mars Pathfinder sends first snapshots - July 4, 1997
• NASA: Pathfinder has landed - July 4, 1997
• Pathfinder speeds toward Martian surface - July 4, 1997
• Pathfinder nears its destiny - July 3, 1997
• Scientists giddy as Pathfinder nears Mars - July 1, 1997
• NASA hope third time's the charm for Mars probe launch - December 3, 1996
• Pathfinder to roam Mars in search of possible life - October 1, 1996

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• Mars Global Surveyor
• Jonathan's Space Home Page

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