Opportunity game plan
As Opportunity was descending to the surface, a camera package on the lander snapped three photographs. The imagery shows a much larger crater -- about 500 feet across -- within a half-mile of the landing site.
"It is surely, I think, within our reach," said Squyres.
"The way I envision this mission going: we drive off the lander, we look at the soil, we investigate this hematite mystery, we go to the outcrop, we explore it in some detail because it is right there in front of us, ripe for the pickin', we look at that carefully, we understand that geologic unit, then we climb out of the crater, look around and then head for the big one. And it is going to be a wonderful adventure."
I can't wait to get this baby rolling! Imagine how excited the folks at JPL must be!