JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Solar System
.

Martian Reminder of a Pioneering Flight

May 21, 2015
Names related to the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic have been informally assigned to a crater NASA's Opportunity Mars rover is studying.› Full image and caption
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ.

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is studying an elongated crater called "Spirit of St. Louis" and a rock spire called "Lindbergh Mound" within the crater.

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is studying an elongated crater called "Spirit of St. Louis" and a rock spire called "Lindbergh Mound" within the crater.

The crater and several features in and near it are shown in a recent image from Opportunity's panoramic camera (Pancam).

Throughout Opportunity's 11-plus years on Mars, the science team for the rover has picked crater names from a list of "vessels of exploration," including ships, spacecraft and aircraft. The names informally assigned for this crater and features in it refer to Charles Lindbergh's May 1927 flight from New York to Paris in the airplane he named Spirit of St. Louis, the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis help lead the Opportunity mission. A news release from the university describes the connection between St. Louis and Lindbergh, at:

https://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/St.Louis-crater.aspx

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Exploration Rover Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. For more information about Opportunity's exploration of Mars, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/rovers

and

http://mars.nasa.gov/mer

News Media Contact

Guy Webster

818-354-6278

guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov

2015-174

Related News

Mars .

Touchdown! NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover Safely Lands on Red Planet

Mars .

Searching for Life in NASA’s Perseverance Mars Samples

Mars .

The Mars Relay Network Connects Us to NASA’s Martian Explorers

Mars .

NASA Invites Public to Share Thrill of Mars Perseverance Rover Landing

Mars .

InSight Is Meeting the Challenge of Winter on Dusty Mars

Mars .

Where Should Future Astronauts Land on Mars? Follow the Water

Mars .

Tricky Terrain: Helping to Assure a Safe Rover Landing

Asteroids and Comets .

NASA’s Psyche Mission Moves Forward, Passing Key Milestone

Mars .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover 22 Days From Mars Landing

Solar System .

NASA’s Deep Space Network Welcomes a New Dish to the Family

Explore More

Image .

Deep Jet Streams in Jupiter's Atmosphere

Image .

Power On: Psyche Spacecraft

Video .

What's Up - February 2021

Image .

Juno's Mission Goes On

Topic .

Solar System

Image .

Jupiter's Storm Oval BA As Viewed By An Artist

Image .

Jupiter North Pole Detail

Image .

A Hot Spot on Jupiter

Image .

A Jupiter Circumpolar Cyclone

Image .

Two Views of Jupiter Hot Spot

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Universe Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono