April 3, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Mars panorama caption

LONDON, April 3, Graphic News: On July 4, 1997, ÒPathfinderÓ landed on Mars and transformed our view of the Red Planet. 

From left to right: The cylindrical upright object is the low-gain antenna for communicating with Earth. To the right is the ramp down which ÒSojournerÓ -- the Mars Rover -- descended. 

In the distance rise the ÒTwin Peaks,Ó some 1,200 metres away. Above the collapsed airbag, near the Rover ramp is the spherical rock called ÒGrommit,Ó and above the base of the ramp is the famous ÒBarnacle Bill.Ó 

In the centre of the picture the 63 centimetre-long (24.5-inch) ÒSojournerÓ rover is taking measurements of the balsamic rock known as ÒYogi.Ó

As ÒSojournerÓ explored the alien landscape scientists back on Earth calibrated the roverÕs instruments and created a coherent history of the jumbled Mars surface. On October 6, 1997, mission controllers lost contact with ÒPathfinderÓ as the spacecraftÕs batteries finally gave out.

/ENDS
Source: The Planetary Society