Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera

Daedalia Lava Flow Margin

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-392, 15 June 2003


NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows the margin of a lava flow near the edge of a scarp in far western Daedalia Planum. A blanket of dust covers the upland (top 1/3 of picture) and the rugged lava flow (lower 2/3 of picture) surfaces. Wind has eroded fine sediment to form triangular tails on top of the ridges of the old lava flow. This image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide near 20.1°S, 146.6°W. The picture is illuminated 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, California. 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, California and Denver, Colorado.

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