NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its front
hazard-identification camera to obtain this image at the end of a drive on
the rover's 1,271st sol, or Martian day (Aug. 21, 2007).
Due to sun-obscuring dust storms limiting the rover's supply of solar
energy, Opportunity had not driven since sol 1,232 (July 12, 2007). On sol
1,271, after the sky above Opportunity had been gradually clearing for
more than two weeks, the rover rolled 13.38 meters (44 feet). Wheel tracks
are visible in front of the rover because the drive ended with a short
test of driving backwards.
Opportunity's turret of four tools at the end of the robotic arm fills the
center of the image. Victoria Crater, site of the rover's next science
targets, lies ahead.