[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - January 5, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 08:27:04 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200701081627.IAA16166_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Martian Weather Delays Travel Plans - sol 1063-1069,
January 05, 2007:

The dust storm season has apparently arrived at Gusev, causing delays in
Spirit's fourth Earth year of exploring the Red Planet. Spirit spent
most of the holiday season of 2006 and 2007 keeping an eye on the sky,
measuring atmospheric dust that could prevent sunlight from reaching the
rover's solar panels.

During the past week, atmospheric dust levels have been typical for this
time of year on Mars, measuring about 1 on the scale used by the rover.
The rover estimates dust levels by measuring opacity -- the degree to
which the atmosphere is impenetrable by light. This value is known as
tau and varies on a continuous scale from 0 on up. During most of
Spirit's mission on Mars, tau values have fallen between 0 and 1. Values
between 1 and 2 can greatly limit the activities the rover can perform.
Values of 2 or greater could be fatal.

In addition to measuring atmospheric dust, Spirit continued to watch for
dust devils and successfully retested step No. 3 of new computer smarts
that will enable the rover to autonomously place scientific instruments
of the rover's robotic arm onto a target of scientific interest. During
the test, Spirit was able to take images of the workspace, unstow the
arm, and plan a path of approach for reaching a target.

Next up for Spirit will be an attempt to approach and conduct scientific
analysis of a layered rock exposure known as "Montalva," part of a
larger outcrop known as "Troll."

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to daily observations that included measuring atmospheric
dust with the panoramic camera, searching for clouds with the navigation
camera, scanning the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer, and imaging the sky with the panoramic camera, Spirit
completed the following activities.

Sol 1063 (Dec. 29, 2006): After completing a short drive the previous
day to a north-facing slope that tilted the rover's solar panels toward
the sun, Spirit monitored atmospheric dust, acquired panoramic camera
images of a place (called "Desolacion") where the rover's tracks cross
each other, surveyed the Martian horizon with the panoramic camera, and
monitored dust accumulation on the rover mast.

Sol 1064: Spirit monitored atmospheric dust and surveyed the sky and
ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1065: Spirit monitored atmospheric dust.

Sol 1066: Spirit monitored atmospheric dust.

Sol 1067: Spirit monitored atmospheric dust and searched for dust devils
by acquiring successive navigation camera images that could be made into
a movie.

Sol 1068 (Third Earth-year anniversary of Spirit's landing): Spirit
monitored atmospheric dust, surveyed surrounding rocks with the
panoramic camera, acquired full-color images of Desolacion with the
panoramic camera, and retested step No. 3 of the robotic arm autonomous
placement code.

Sol 1069 (Jan. 5, 2006): Plans called for Spirit to approach Montalva,
acquire full-color panoramic camera images of a spongy-looking lava rock
known as "Esperanza," and acquire panoramic camera images of Montalva
and another layered rock exposure known as "Riquelme."

Odometry:

As of sol 1062 (Dec. 28, 2006), Spirit's total odometry was 6,891.34
meters (4.28 miles)

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Studies Unusual Rocks on Rim of
'Victoria Crater' - sol 1043-1048, January 05, 2007:

Opportunity continued scientific studies of a rock called "Santa
Catarina" on the rim of "Victoria Crater." Scientists suspect that Santa
Catarina may be a meteorite or a rock blasted out from beneath the
surface of Victoria. Opportunity collected extensive measurements to
determine the iron content of the rock using the Moessbauer spectrometer
and will continue to do so during the coming week.

Other activities included analysis of cobbles nearby that may be similar
to Santa Catarina. Based on the results, members of the science team
will either decide to stay and continue investigating the rocks or drive
toward the next promontory of Victoria Crater.

Opportunity also conducted tests in support of the Phoenix mission to
Mars scheduled for launch later this year. On the rover's 1,037th and
1,047th Martian days, or sols, of exploration (Dec. 24, 2006 and Jan. 3,
2007), Opportunity sent UHF-band transmissions to NASA's Odyssey
spacecraft as it passed overhead. These communications mimicked those to
be used by Phoenix.

During a routine imaging session on New Year's Day (sol 1045),
Opportunity detected a stall in the grind motor of the rock abrasion
tool. Subsequent diagnostic tests found no obstructions. More
diagnostics were planned for sol 1049 (Jan. 5, 2007).

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to daily observations that included measuring atmospheric
dust with the panoramic camera, searching for clouds with the navigation
camera, surveying the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer, and imaging the sky with the panoramic camera, Opportunity
completed the following activities:

Sol 1043 (Dec. 30, 2006): Opportunity studied the elemental composition
of the Martian atmosphere with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer.
The rover surveyed the surrounding plains, dust on the horizon, and the
sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1044: Opportunity acquired panoramic camera images to survey the
soil, measure surface brightness, and scan the horizon. The rover
scanned the plains, sky, and ground with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer.

Sol 1045: Opportunity acquired images of the grinding bit on the rock
abrasion tool and microscopic images of Santa Catarina. The rover
acquired elemental data about Santa Catarina using the alpha-particle
X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 1046: Using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera along with the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer, Opportunity studied nearby
cobbles nicknamed "Joacaba," "Tubarao," and "Igreja." The rover studied
Santa Catarina using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 1047: Opportunity conducted diagnostic tests of the rock abrasion
tool, analyzed the iron composition of Santa Catarina using the
Moessbauer spectrometer, and used all 13 filters of the panoramic camera
along with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer to acquire data
from nearby cobbles nicknamed "Florianopolis" and "Xanxer." The rover
conducted a communications demonstration for the Phoenix mission.

Sol 1048 (Jan. 4, 2006): Opportunity continued analysis of Santa
Catarina with the Moessbauer spectrometer and used all 13 filters of the
panoramic camera along with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer
to study nearby cobbles dubbed "Videira" and "Chapeco."

Odometry:

As of sol 1047 (Jan. 3, 2006), Opportunity's total odometry remained at
9,790 meters (6.1 miles).
Received on Mon 08 Jan 2007 11:27:04 AM PST