[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - May 1, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 15:01:10 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200705012201.l41M1A502823_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Gets a Boost of Energy and Continues
Imaging - sol 1152-1156, May 01, 2007:

Scientists and engineers are still deciding on when and if Opportunity
will enter "Victoria Crater." In the meantime, Opportunity has a lot to
accomplish, such as driving back to the area of its original arrival at
Victoria, approximately 600 meters away (over one-third of a mile).

In addition, Opportunity must complete checkouts of its new technologies
such as the D-star hazard avoidance path planner, Visual Target
Tracking, and IDD (robotic arm) auto-place. Also, on the way to "Duck
Bay," several imaging campaigns require completion at the "Cape of Good
Hope" and "Cape St. Mary."

Currently Opportunity is conducting long-baseline stereo imaging of
"Cape St. Vincent" from a perch on the edge of "Tierra del Fuego." On
sol 1157 the rover will drive north approximately 35 meters (115 feet)
to a collection of rocks called "Granada" for a D-star test.

On sols 1151 and 1152 Opportunity experienced a modest dust-cleaning
event. The wind cleared the solar arrays of enough dust to result in
approximately 75 Watt-hours more energy per sol.

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to Opportunity's daily science observations, the rover
completes routine panoramic camera tau measurements and miniature
thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground stares.

Sol 1152 (April 21, 2007): On this sol, Opportunity's panoramic camera
took images, including a 13-filter image of target "Jaen." The miniature
thermal emission spectrometer stared at targets: "Badajoz," "Castellon,"
"Coruna," "Rioja" and Jaen. The alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
checked for atmospheric argon. The panoramic camera then looked to the
sky and the navigation camera looked for clouds.

Sol 1153: Opportunity stowed its robotic arm and then drove to the
first-eye position for long baseline. The rover took post-drive images
with its panoramic and navigation cameras. Overnight the rover sent data
through Mars Odyssey.

Sol 1154: This sol involved a handful of miniature thermal emission
spectrometer sky & ground stares. The panoramic camera looked at the sky
and the navigation camera searched for clouds.

Sol 1155: Opportunity began to take the first eye of long-baseline
stereo image of Cape St. Vincent. The robotic arm was then stowed and
the rover drove 6 meters (19.7 feet) northwest to second eye position.
The rover then unstowed its arm and took post-drive images with its
navigation and panoramic cameras. The navigation camera also looked for
clouds and monitored for dust on the rovers panoramic mast assembly (the
"head" and "neck"). Overnight, the rover sent data through Mars Odyssey.

Sol 1156: On this sol, the miniature thermal emission spectrometer
stared at its external calibration target and then conducted a long sky
stare. The instrument also completed stares on targets "Melilla" and
"Canarias." The rover's panoramic camera took a pre-sunset image and
then surveyed the sky. The navigation camera looked for clouds.

Current Odometry:

Opportunity's total odometry as of sol 1155 is 10,509.41 meters (6.53
miles).
Received on Tue 01 May 2007 06:01:10 PM PDT