Mission planners for NASA's Spirit rover on Mars are using this view from above to help plan the remainder of the robot's travels. It shows the Columbia Hills in Gusev Crater.

The picture was made by draping an image from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor over a digital elevation model that was derived from two other images from the orbiter.

As of sol 135, or May 21, 2004 on Earth, Spirit sat approximately 0.4 miles (680 meters) away from its first target at the western base of the hills, a spot informally called West Spur. The team estimates that Spirit will reach West Spur by sol 146, or June 1, 2004. Spirit will most likely remain there for about a week to study the outcrops and rocks associated with this location.

When done there, Spirit will head approximately 0.38 miles (620 meters) to a higher-elevation location informally called Lookout Point. Spirit might reach Lookout Point by around sol 165 (June 20, 2004). On the way, the rover will pass by and study ripple-shaped wind deposits that may reveal more information about wind processes on Mars.

Lookout Point will provide a great vantagepoint for scientists to remotely study the inner basin area of the Columbia Hills, according to a statement released last week. This basin contains a broad range of interesting geological targets including Home Plate and other possible layered outcrops. These features suggest that the hills contain rock layers. Spirit might investigate the layers to determine whether they are water-deposited sedimentary rock.

Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS/USGS