[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: May 01-08, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 15:48:31 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201205102248.q4AMmVA6011697_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity on the Road Again! - sols 2941-2947,
May 01-08, 2012:

After being stationary for 130 sols during the winter, Opportunity has
resumed driving again.

On Sol 2947 (May 8, 2012), the rover performed a 12-foot (3.7-meter)
drive down from her winter perch, called "Greeley Haven." As expected,
the rover's northerly tilt decrease from around 15 degrees down to about
8 degrees. All wheel currents, including the right-front wheel, were
nominal. With this drive, Opportunity has concluded the radio Doppler
geo-dynamics campaign with 60 radio Doppler tracking passes successfully
accomplished over the winter.

The plan ahead is first to drive toward a nearby putative dusty target
to examine the nature and origin of Martian dust, then locate a wider,
light-toned vein around the north end of Cape York for further in-situ
investigation, among other objectives.

As of Sol 2947 (May 8, 2012), solar array energy production was 357
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.476 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.526.

Total odometry is 21.35 miles (34,365.04 meters).
Received on Thu 10 May 2012 06:48:31 PM PDT