[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - August 1-7, 2008

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:18:21 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200808152218.PAA00187_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Waiting Out the Winter - sol 1628-1634, August 01-07, 2008:

Spirit's battery levels are slowly edging upward, thanks to a slight
decrease in atmospheric dust (Tau) and a gradual increase in sunlight as
winter gives way to spring.

Early in the week, Spirit spent two Martian days carrying out
contingency plans following a temporary delay in data transmission from
Earth. Spirit implemented the so-called "runout" portion of an earlier
master sequence on sols 1628 and 1629 (Aug. 1-2, 2008). Subsequent
relays of new instructions from Earth on sols 1629 and 1632 (Aug. 2 and
Aug. 5, 2008) went off without a hitch.

Spirit remains healthy, with all subsystems performing as expected as of
sol 1630 (Aug. 3, 2008).

Sol-by-sol summary

In addition to using the panoramic camera to make daily measurements of
dust-related changes in atmospheric clarity, Spirit completed the
following activities:

Sol 1628 (Aug. 1, 2008): Spirit implemented the runout portion of the
master sequence of commands already on board the rover.

Sol 1629: Upon awakening, Spirit continued to implement the runout
portion of the master sequence sent earlier. Spirit then received new
instructions directly from Earth via the rover's high-gain antenna.

Sol 1630: Spirit acquired column 13 of the "Bonestell panorama" using
all 13 color filters of the panoramic camera. The rover relayed fresh
data from Mars at UHF radio frequencies to NASA's Odyssey orbiter to be
transmitted to Earth.

Sol 1631: Spirit recharged the batteries.

Sol 1632: Spirit received new instructions from Earth via the rover's
high-gain antenna.

Sol 1633: Spirit acquired six freeze frames for a time-lapse movie in
search of Martian clouds using the navigation camera. The rover took
spot images of the sky for calibration purposes with the panoramic
camera and monitored dust on the panoramic-camera mast assembly.

Sol 1634 (Aug. 7, 2008): Spirit transmitted fresh data to Odyssey to be
relayed to Earth.

Odometry:

As of sol 1634 (Aug. 7, 2008), Spirit's total odometry remained at
7,528.0 meters (4.7 miles).
Received on Fri 15 Aug 2008 06:18:21 PM PDT