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Spirit’s Descent to Mars-1983m

This black and white image, taken by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's lander in 2004, shows a view of Gusev Crater as the lander descends to Mars. Numerous small impact craters can be seen on the surface of the planet.
PIA04985
Credits: NASA/JPL
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Description

This image, taken by the descent image motion estimation system camera located on the bottom of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's lander, shows a view of Gusev Crater as the lander descends to Mars. The picture is taken at an altitude of 1983 meters. Numerous small impact craters can be seen on the surface of the planet. These images help the onboard software to minimize the lander's horizontal velocity before its bridal is cut, and it falls freely to the surface of Mars.