This overview map made from Mars Orbiter camera images illustrates the path that the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has taken from its first sol on the red planet through its 107th sol. As of sol 112 (April 26, 2004), Spirit has passed “Missoula” crater and sits approximately 1,900 meters (1.18 miles) away from its destination at the western base of the “Columbia Hills.” While most of Spirit’s journey has been over the very angular rocks that make up the ejecta fields surrounding “Bonneville” crater, the rover’s next 50 or so sols will be spent traversing over martian plains that are dominated by rounder, vesicle-filled rocks.

This overview map made from Mars Orbiter camera images illustrates the path that the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has taken from its first sol on the red planet through its 87th sol. After thoroughly examining its “Eagle Crater” landing-site, the rover moved onto the plains of Meridiani Planum, stopping to examine a curious trough and a target within it called “Anatolia.” Following that, Opportunity approached and remotely studied the rocky dish called “Fram Crater.” As of its 91st sol (April 26, 2004), the rover sits 160 meters (about 525 feet) from the rim of “Endurance Crater.”

On Sol 98, which ended at 10:36 p.m. PST on April 12, Spirit woke up to the song “Where Is My Mind?” by The Pixies in honor of its software transplant. The good news is that Spirit’s “mind” is updated and operating as expected.
Controllers gave the go to reboot the rover’s computer, which would then run the new software during the morning of sol 98. The command was sent, and a little over a half hour later, engineers saw the carrier beep that indicated that the command was received.