Spirit rover on Mars. Panoramic view of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on the surface of Mars. This is the first image taken by the left-hand stereo camera on the rover after it landed successfully on the planet on 4 January 2004. Images from the right and left cameras will be combined to produce 3-dimensional stereo images of the Martian surface. The lander's airbags (white, bottom right and left) that protected the rover during landing, and the rover's solar panels (black, bottom centre) for generating power are seen. The golf buggy-sized Spirit rover, and an identical one called Opportunity, will study Martian rocks and look for water on the planet.