Mars photo donated to UTSA science college
(March 12, 2004)--A large, panoramic photo of Mars taken by the NASA Spirit Rover after its Jan. 24 landing was recently donated to the UTSA College of Sciences.
The 14-by-12-foot photo was given by local optometrist William Elizondo and his wife, Maria Oralia, who were guests at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., as the lander's signals were received. The photo was presented to them by NASA.
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RSS FeedsPictured from left to right are College of Sciences Interim Dean Deborah Armstrong, UTSA President Ricardo Romo, Maria Oralia Elizondo, William Elizondo, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Department of Physics and Astronomy Chair Patrick Nash.
"We wanted it to go to help out the students at UTSA," said Elizondo. "I wanted the UTSA science and astronomy students and faculty to have the chance to see it."
The Elizondos were among a small group that received Mars photos at a high-profile event, which included California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Vice President Al Gore, former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, and several Nobel prize winners.
The Spirit Rover completed a seven-month, 303-million-mile journey before landing on the planet and capturing the surface photo with one of seven cameras.