Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Technology


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Science Instruments: In-situ Instrumentation

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This black and white image taken on the plains of Meridiani Planum, Mars highlights Opportunity's Moessbauer spectrometer on the end of the rover 'arm.' This instrument's ability to detect the composition and abundance of iron-bearing minerals has been critical during the rover mission. The tool is a circular device that looks like a small flattened donut housed on a larger rectangular metal box.

This image taken at Meridiani Planum, Mars, by the panoramic camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the rover's Moessbauer spectrometer (circular device in center), located on its instrument deployment device, or "arm." The image was acquired on the ninth martian day or sol of the rover's mission.