Mars
Global Surveyor's Mars Orbiter Camera is providing geologists with vistas
that rival that of the aerial photographs they use in their field work on
Earth. This picture shows the margin of a large lava flow located on Daedalia
Planum, southwest of the Arsia Mons volcano. The picture covers an area
only 1.5 kilometers wide and 2 kilometers long. The lava flow surface (upper
portion of the frame) is rough but mantled with fine sand or dust. The ripples
along the base of the lava flow margin are spaced about 15 meters apart
and were formed by wind. Illumination is from the upper left. |
 |
Malin
Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology built the
MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission. MSSS operates the
camera from its facilities in San Diego, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's
Mars Surveyor Operations Project operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft
with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities
in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO. |
|