[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - March 12-18, 2009

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:03:17 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200903250003.RAA27596_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Getting Away from a Trouble Spot - sol 1845-1851,
March 12-18, 2009:

Although Spirit will now attempt the western route around the low
plateau "Home Plate," it must first safely move away from difficult
terrain around the northeast corner of Home Plate. One tactical concern
was a potato-size rock near the inside of the right rear wheel that
posed a risk of getting stuck inside the wheel. Short maneuvers on Sol
1845 (March 12, 2009) and Sol 1847 (March 14, 2009) carefully moved the
rover away from this hazard. On Sol 1850 (March 17, 2009), Spirit moved
about 5 meters (16 feet), getting completely away from this trouble spot.

Spirit also conducted some panoramic camera (Pancam) imaging and
miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectral measurements
of various science targets in the vicinity and performed an atmospheric
argon measurement with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS).

Atmospheric conditions have worsened lately over the Gusev site,
although no storm conditions have been reported.

As of Sol 1851 (March 18, 2009), Spirit's solar array energy production
has decreased to 230 watt-hours, down 18 percent from a week earlier.
Atmospheric opacity (tau) has increased sharply, to 1.19. The dust
factor on the solar array is 0.313, meaning that 31.7 percent of
sunlight hitting the solar array penetrates the layer of accumulated
dust on the array. The rover is in good health in spite of dustier skies.

As of Sol 1850 (March 17, 2009), Spirit's total odometry is 7,612.49
meters (4.73 miles).

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: At Outcrop with Endeavour in Sight - sol 1824-1831,
March 11-19, 2009:

Opportunity has positioned itself at an exposed rock outcrop and is in
the middle of an "in situ" (contact) science campaign with the robotic
arm (IDD). Because of the project team's desire to rest the right-front
wheel actuator and to limit driving while an earlier drive sequence
error is remedied, Opportunity took advantage of the nearby rock
outcrop. This fits with the strategic science campaign to periodically
stop and "taste" the geology along the route to Endeavour crater.

Part of the rim of Endeavour can now be seen on the distant horizon.

On Sol 1824 (March 11, 2009), Opportunity drove about 5 meters (16 feet)
to the exposed rock outcrop. The rover bumped (fined tuned its location)
only about half a meter (1.5 feet) on the next sol to reach a position
where surface targets are within the reach of the IDD. Because of the
degraded IDD Joint 1 (shoulder azimuth), positioning the IDD has become
more challenging, but it was accomplished successfully.

On Sol 1826 (March 13, 2009), Opportunity began the IDD work, first with
a M?ssbauer spectrometer (MB) touch, then with a microscopic imager (MI)
mosaic. On Sol 1829 (March 17, 2009), additional MI mosaics were
collected, followed by the placement of the MB for several sols.
Additional ground testing was completed to prepare for the first use of
the rock abrasion tool (RAT) since the earlier failure of another of its
encoders.

As of Sol 1831 (March 19, 2009), Opportunity's solar array energy
production has dipped to 391 watt-hours in connection with atmospheric
opacity (tau) increasing to 0.934. The dust factor on the solar array is
0.533. The rover is in good health. Opportunity's total odometry is
15,051.41 meters (9.35 miles).
Received on Tue 24 Mar 2009 08:03:17 PM PDT