Early Morning in the Purple Pigeon Coop

"This gives us two viewing [capabilities]. One is to fly over looking straight down and the other is to [roll the satellite] to choose stereo viewing," Xaypraseuth said.

The team waited and monitored their computer screens. They confirmed that it made the prescribed roll but will have to wait approximately 18 hours before they know how the photo was taken.

In the end the results were a success. Not only did MRO take a picture of the targeted "Victoria Crater" but it also showed the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on the surface near the crater. MRO is doing exactly what the scientists and engineers had hoped for, working with the rovers and other Mars satellites in the planet's exploration.

Xaypraseuth is excited that the roll worked. He hopes to see this project through to its end, which is scheduled for 2010 but, like other JPL projects, may go much longer.

The scientists and engineers will wait until the next early morning tests. Until then they continue to think of ways to improve future spacecrafts and although many do not believe they will walk on Mars in their lifetime they still dream of the possibility.