[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - June 9, 2004

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jun 9 20:22:09 2004
Message-ID: <200406100022.RAA16106_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Surpasses 3 Kilometer Mark! -
sol 148-151, June 09, 2004

During sols 148 through 151, Spirit advanced significantly
closer to the "Columbia Hills" and now sits only 220 meters
(722 feet) from its first target at the base, a location
informally named "Spur B."

Sol 148 was a driving sol, with Spirit completing a 64.7-meter
(212.3 feet) engineer-directed drive. This put the rover in
position for some sol 149 work with the robotic arm, and
provided a great view of the Columbia
Hills.

On Sol 149, Spirit took a break from driving and surveyed the
Columbia Hills with the panoramic camera and mini thermal
emissions spectrometer. After that, the rover attained an
alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observation of the filter
magnet and capture magnet. Spirit takes a look at its magnets
every now and then to assess what magnetically susceptible
materials have accumulated. The last magnet check was on sol 92.

Spirit used its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and
M?ssbauer spectrometer to observe a rock called "Joshua" on
sol 150. Unfortunately, the rest of the sol's planned work
with the instrument deployment device did not take place
because of a command anomaly, which made Spirit think that a
collision between the rock abrasion tool and the forearm might
occur. Therefore, the tool change and all subsequent arm
motions were prevented for the rest of the sol.

Spirit was back to business on sol 151, and finished observing
Joshua and the science magnets with the tools on the instrument
deployment device. After that, the rover was off, and
successfully completed a 73-meter (240 feet) drive toward the
Columbia Hills.
Received on Wed 09 Jun 2004 08:21:56 PM PDT