[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - February 29, 2004

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:32:44 2004
Message-ID: <200403011633.IAA10238_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Brush, Brush, Brush, Then Step Back -
sol 55, Feb 29, 2004

Spirit used its rock abrasion tool for brushing the dust off
three patches of a rock called "Humphrey," during its 55th sol
on Mars, ending at 5:53 p.m. Saturday, PST. Before applying the
wire-bristled brush, the rover inspected the surface of the rock
with its microscope and with its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer,
which identifies elements that are present. Brushing three different
places on a rock one right after another was an unprecedented use
of the rock abrasion tool, designed to provide a larger cleaned
area for examining.

Afterwards, Spirit rolled backward 85 centimeters (2.8 feet) to a
position from which it could use its miniature thermal emission
spectrometer on the cleaned areas for assessing what minerals are
present. Due to caution about potential hazards while
re-approaching "Humphrey," the rover moved only part of the way
back. Plans for sol 56, ending at 6:33 p.m. Sunday, PST, call for
finishing that re-approach and further inspecting the brushed
areas. If all goes well, the rock abrasion tool's diamond-toothed
grinding wheel will cut into the rock on sol 57 to expose fresh
interior material.

For wake-up music on sol 55, controllers chose "Brush Your Teeth,"
by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, and "Knock Three Times," by Tony
Orlando and Dawn.


OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: "Guadalupe" Under the Microscope -
sol 35, Feb 29, 2004

During its 35th sol on Mars, ending at 6:14 a.m. Sunday, PST,
Opportunity manipulated the microscopic imager at the tip of its
arm for eight observations of the fine textures of an outcrop-rock
target called "Guadalupe." The observations include frames to be
used for developing stereo and color views.

Opportunity also used its Moessbauer spectrometer and, after an
overnight switch, its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to assess
the composition of the interior material of "Guadalupe" exposed
yestersol by a grinding session with the rock abrasion tool.

The panoramic camera up on the rover's mast captured a new view
toward the eastern horizon beyond the crater where Opportunity is
working, for use in evaluating potential drive directions after
the rover leaves the crater.

Jimmy Cliff's "I Can See Clearly Now," was played in the mission
support area at JPL as Opportunity's sol 35 wake-up music.

Plans for sol 36, ending at 6:54 a.m. Monday, PST, called for
finishing the close-up inspection of "Guadalupe," then backing up
enough to give the panoramic camera and miniature emission
spectrometer good views of the area where the rock interior has
been exposed by grinding.
Received on Mon 01 Mar 2004 11:33:26 AM PST


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