First Color Photos Sent From Columbia Memorial Station in Gusev Crater

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has captured its first color image of Mars. It is the highest resolution picture ever taken of another planet.

This image highlights streaks or tails of loose debris in the martian soil, which reveal the direction of prevailing winds. The picture was taken by the panoramic camera on Mars Exploration Rover Spirit.

The smooth surfaces of angular and rounded rocks seen in this image of the martian terrain may have been polished by wind-blown debris. The picture was taken by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit.

This image shows marks in the martian soil (upper right) made by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's airbags during their final deflation and retraction. The picture was taken by the panoramic camera on the rover.

This image shows the airbags in deflated position at the JPL In-Situ Instrument Laboratory, where engineers did some tests on the airbags to ensure a safe landing on Mars.

This image shows the deflated airbags retracted underneath the lander petal at the JPL In-Situ Instrument Laboratory. Retracting the airbags helps clear the path for the rover to roll off the lander and onto the martian surface.

FMI: www.nasa.gov