Gallery: The Incredible Landing That Started NASA's Epic 10-Year Mars Mission
01Celebration
Engineers at mission control celebrate getting the first signal back from Spirit. *Image: [NASA/JPL](http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/people/20040103_Sp_EDL_01-br.html)*
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Dr. Steve Squyres, principal investigator for the science instruments on both Mars Exploration Rovers reacts to the images of Spirit leaving its lander. (*Image and caption: NASA*)
03Gusev From Above
This pic was snapped as the rover came down to land at Gusev crater. *Image: [NASA/JPL](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040104b.html)*
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From left: Dave Lavery, program executive for Solar System Exploration at NASA Headquarters; Dr. Ed Weiler, associate administrator, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters; Pete Theisinger, (former) Mars Exploration Rover project manager and JPL lab director; and Dr. Charles Elachi celebrate the success of Spirit's landing and transmission of first images.(*Image and caption: NASA*)
05Color image
The first color image from Spirit. *Image: [NASA/JPL/Cornell](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040106c.html)*
063-D Image
Spirit used its two offset cameras to take its first 3-D pic of the Martian surface. Image: *[NASA/JPL](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040105a.html)*
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The Mars Exploration Rover team looks at some of Spirit's first images in 3-D. (*NASA*)
08Wind Streaks
An early image showing streaks or tails of loose debris in the Martian soil, revealing the direction of prevailing winds. *Image: [NASA/JPL/Cornell](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040106c.html)*
09Standing Up
An animation shows Spirit standing up on its landing platform, ready to get rolling. Image: *[NASA/JPL](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040109a.html)*
10Stowing Arm
Spirit practices stowing and unstowing its arm. *Image: [NASA/JPL](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040111a.html)*
11Overhead
Spirit takes its first overhead shot, showing the rover ready to roll down from its lander to the Martian surface. *Image: [NASA/JPL](http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040111a.html)*
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It took many people to assemble, test and launch Spirit and Opportunity. Pictured here in JPL's Spacecraft Assembly Facility is just part of the team of engineers and technicians who were critical to the success of the mission. The team surrounds Spirit and Opportunity, with their predecessor, Sojourner, in the middle. (*Image and caption: NASA*)
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Entry, descent and landing manager, Rob Manning (facing camera), hugs Richard Cook, the current Mars Exploration Rover project manager after Opportunity's successful landing at Meridiani Planum, Mars. To their right, Miguel San Martin, member of the attitude control systems team, cheers the victory. (*Image and caption: NASA*)
