[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: Dec 27, 2012 - Jan 3, 2013

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 09:51:36 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201301041751.r04Hpat3029501_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Dust Cleaning At 'Vermillion' Targets -
sols 3174-3180, Dec. 27, 2012-Jan. 3, 2013:

Opportunity is on the inboard edge of "Cape York" on the rim of
Endeavour crater. The rover has been conducting in-situ (contact)
science investigations with the robotic arm instruments at a location
called "Copper Cliff."

On Sol 2174 (Dec. 27, 2012), the robotic arm was used to reposition the
Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on a target called "Vermilion
Lake 1" for a multi-sol integration. On Sol 3177 (Dec. 31, 2012), the
Microscopic Imager (MI) was used to collect images of a new target,
"Vermilion Lake 2." This was followed by a placement of the APXS for
another integration. On Sol 3179 (Jan. 2, 2013), the rover's robotic arm
repositioned the APXS on yet another target, "Vermilion Cliffs 2," for
further integration measurements.

A small dust cleaning event occurred on Sol 3175 (Dec. 29, 2012),
improving the energy production by about 40 watt-hours per sol. As of
Sol 3180 (Jan. 3, 2013), the solar array energy production was 542
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.961 and an improved
solar array dust factor of 0.633.

Total odometry remains at 22.02 miles (35438.37 meters).
Received on Fri 04 Jan 2013 12:51:36 PM PST