SPACE WIRE
Mars rover shows near-total panoramic view of its surroundings
WASHINGTON (AFP) Jan 28, 2004
The Mars rover Opportunity has transmitted enough color pictures of the planet to create a near-total panoramic view of its surroundings, while scientists said Wednesday the ailing Spirit rover could be fixed by early next week.

Opportunity has sent 514 digital pictures from its landing site, the Meridiani Planum, which is believed to be the flattest place on Mars.

NASA's scientists, who hope to create a 360-degree panoramic view, have received about 75 percent of the rover's surroundings, said Jim Bell, who is responsible for robotic probe's panoramic camera.

Spirit and Opportunity landed on opposite sides of Mars this month.

While Spirit has been marred by technical problems since last week, Opportunity sent back to Earth images that have astonished NASA's scientists.

Jennifer Trosper, the mission's surface development manager, said Spirit could be operational by next week.

"We are working to get complete control of the vehicle and we are still not quite there," she said.

Scientists were trying Wednesday to raise the rover's high-gain antenna, a move that would enable engineers to work on Spirit's on-board computer, whose flash memory was overloaded with data, including digital photographs it had taken.

"Hopefully, if we are on the right track, we would hope, at the earliest be back doing science early next week," she said.

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