NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Bits and Pieces
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-1559, 19 August 2006
 NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
| This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows the contact between an area of light-toned rock and an expanse of darker-toned materials on the floor of Coprates Chasma. Remnants—bits and pieces—of the light-toned material are scattered throughout the scene, indicating that this material once covered everything in this area. Coprates is one of several chasms that comprise the giant Valles Marineris trough system. |
| Location near: 13.2°S, 61.8°W |
| Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi) |
| Illumination from: upper left |
| Season: Southern Autumn |
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.
