Opportunity rover takes in view from top of Martian hill

Opportunity rover
Opportunity on a Martian crater (simulated view). Credit: NASA

NASA's Opportunity rover is soaking in the view from its perch atop a Martian hill as engineers continue to fix a problem with its computer memory.

The aging rover beamed new images to Earth on Wednesday, confirming it reached the hill informally called Cape Tribulation.

Opportunity landed on Mars more than a decade ago and has recently suffered bouts of amnesia stemming from an issue with its flash memory. The six-wheel rover has been able to drive despite the occasional memory lapse.

Opportunity will spend several days at the summit snapping pictures that engineers will stitch into a color panorama.

Project manager John Callas says the rover will try to find interesting rocks to study. If there are none to be found, it will keep driving.

  • Opportunity rover takes in view from top of Martian hill
    This image sent by NASA's Opportunity rover on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 shows a view from atop a Martian hill. Opportunity will spend several days at the summit making pictures that engineers will stitch into a color panorama. (AP Photo/NASA)
  • Opportunity rover takes in view from top of Martian hill
    This image sent by NASA's Opportunity rover on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 shows a view from atop a Martian hill. Opportunity will spend several days at the summit making pictures that engineers will stitch into a color panorama. (AP Photo/NASA)
  • Opportunity rover takes in view from top of Martian hill
    This image sent by NASA's Opportunity rover on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 shows a view from atop a Martian hill. Opportunity will spend several days at the summit making pictures that engineers will stitch into a color panorama. (AP Photo/NASA)

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