[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 3, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 09:34:50 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200704041634.l34GYoK03428_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Begins to Look for Best Access to 'Home Plate' -
sol 1145-1151, April 03, 2007:

Spirit is healthy and has finished her science campaign at "Mitcheltree
Ridge." The rover is now heading south along the outside edge of "Home
Plate" toward an outcrop named "Madeline English." After the
investigation of Madeline English the rover will head back north to one
of several possible "on-ramps" for making its way onto Home Plate. In
the early morning of sol 1151 Spirit will perform its first overnight
communications relay with Mars Odyssey since before winter (sol 846)!

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to specific daily activities, Spirit's conducted routine
atmospheric observations, which include: panoramic camera tau
measurements, miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground
stares, and panoramic camera sky spots.

Sol 1145 (March 24, 2007): On this sol, the rover continued Moessbauer
spectrometer observations on targets "Torquas 2," and completed Mini-TES
stares on "Throxus," "Arbok," "Malagor," "Glorestra," "Syl" and
"Polodona." Spirit also began a panoramic camera image of Mitcheltree
Ridge (North).

Sol 1146: Spirit took a microscopic stereo image of target "John Carter"
and completed miniature thermal emission spectrometer stares on targets
"Forandus," "Iss" and "Thavas." The rover took an alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer reading on John Carter and continued its panoramic camera
image of Mitcheltree Ridge (North).

Sol 1147: Spirit captured a navigation camera dust devil sequence and
continued on dust devil watch. The rover also began a panoramic camera
13-Filter of Mitcheltree Ridge. The miniature thermal emission
spectrometer was used to stare at targets "Darseen" and "Faget." The
rover also conducted some panoramic camera photometry experiments.

Sol 1148: The rover stowed its instrument deployment device ("arm"),
drove towards Home Plate and then conducted post-drive navigation and
panoramic camera imaging. The panoramic camera captured sky thumbnails
and the navigation camera shot another dust devil sequence.

Sol 1149: On this sol, the panoramic camera conducted a high sun survey.
The rover also took a miniature thermal emission spectrometer 5-point
sky & ground stare and a navigation camera dust devil sequence.

Sol 1150: Spirit used its panoramic camera to image nearby outcrop, then
drove 8 meters (26 feet) south-southeast toward Madeline English. After
the drive, the navigation camera and the panoramic cameras took images.

Sol 1151: Overnight, there was an Odyssey data relay. The panoramic
camera conducted a clast survey (looking at rock fragments) and then
monitored for dust.

Odometry:

As of sol 1150, Spirit's total odometry was 7,066 meters (4.39 miles).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Looking For an 'In' - sol 1126-1130, April 03, 2007:

Opportunity is healthy and working on obtaining a long baseline stereo
image of the bay "Valley without Peril."

On Sol 1128 a test of a work around for the failed RAT (rock abrasion
tool) grind encoder was successful. A temporary software addition allows
the rover to bypass a check that was causing it to fail.

The remainder of the week was spent driving toward a lookout point above
the Valley without Peril. From this vantage point, Opportunity will
acquire a long baseline stereo image of the vicinity. Valley Without
Peril is being considered as a possible ingress location into "Victoria
Crater."

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to specific daily activities, Opportunity's routine
observations include: panoramic camera tau, navigation camera bitty
cloud, miniature thermal emission sky and ground stares and panoramic
camera sky spots.

Sol 1126 (March 25, 2007): Opportunity took a pre-drive navigation
camera long baseline stereo image before it drove 39 meters (128 feet)
toward the Valley without Peril. After the drive, the rover took
navigation and panoramic camera images and took an alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer measurement of atmospheric Argon.

Sol 1127: On this sol, the rover approached the Valley without Peril.
The drive stopped prematurely after 2.11 meters (7 feet) because the
rover's antennas obstructed the view from the onboard navigation
software. The rover did a location check and then began post-drive
imaging. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer was then used for
navigation camera support and to assess the ground in front of the rover.

Sol 1128: This sol consisted of RAT (rock abrasion tool) grind
diagnostics tests. The tests were successful! The panoramic camera took
a 13-filter image of "Gerona." The miniature thermal emission
spectrometer stared at "Burgos" and Gerona. The panoramic camera took a
13-filter of Burgos.

Sol 1129: On this sol, Opportunity drove about 8.71 meters (29 feet) on
the approach to the first-eye position of long baseline stereo panoramic
camera image of the Valley without Peril area. The rover then took a set
of post-drive navigation camera images.

Sol 1130: Opportunity took a panoramic camera 13-filter image of
"Albacete," a panoramic camera image of "Toledo,"and several panoramic
camera images of "Cadiz." The miniature thermal emission spectrometer
was then used to stare at Toledo and the area around it. The rover then
bumped about 2.5 meters (8 feet) to the first-eye position for stereo
imaging of the Valley without Peril. After the drive, the navigation
camera took images.

Current Odometry:

As of sol 1129, Opportunity's total odometry was 10,349.70 meters (6.43
miles).
Received on Wed 04 Apr 2007 12:34:50 PM PDT