Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera
Apollinaris Patera Erosion
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-853, 18 September 2004
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
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NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
Apollinaris Patera is an ancient volcano located northwest of Gusev Crater, the landing site of the Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit. Apollinaris Patera, being rather old, is covered with craters, mantles of dust, and a wind-scoured covering of indurated, fine material. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a small portion of the Apollinaris Patera volcano, revealing the exhumation of older surfaces from beneath a relatively thin, wind-scoured material. This view is located on the upper south slope of the volcano, near 9.5°S, 186.4°W. The image covers an area approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is illuminated by sunlight 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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