This mosaic image taken by the
navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit represents
an overhead view of the rover as it prepares to roll off the lander
and onto the martian surface. The orange arrow illustrates the
direction the rover may take to roll safely off the lander. The
rover was originally positioned to roll straight forward off the
south side of the lander, but an airbag is blocking its path.
To take this northeastern route, the rover must back up and perform
what is likened to a 3-point turn in a cramped parking lot.
A smaller version of
this photo was included in the article: Rover Readying to Roll - January 11, 2004
