[meteorite-list] Opportunity Rolls Onto Martian Ground

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:19 2004
Message-ID: <200402020658.WAA09024_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

>
> Although the rovers are designed for 90 days of Martian surface work, have
> there been any speculations if they are to exceed that due to the positive
> deployments thus far?

The rovers can probably go for some months beyond the 90 days.
The main obstacle would probably be getting the funding from NASA for
an extended mission.

> Also, out of that "90 days" - is that considered to start from the time of
> landing or is another measurement being used.

There are actually two sets of mission success criteria, one for Full Mission Success, and
the other for Minimum Mission Success. In terms of how long they
are required to last, in the "Full Mission Success" category, the "rovers shall
each acquire science data and conduct in-situ analysis for 90 sols". That would
include the time on the lander, as it did acquire science data from the Pancam and
mini-TES instruments. In the "Minimum Mission Success" category, the criteria
is "operate at least one MER rover for 90 sols. It is recognized that Mars
environmental considerations may preclude successful completion of this requirement
(ie: global dust storms), in which case at least 60 sols of operation is required."

Ron Baalke
Received on Mon 02 Feb 2004 01:58:42 AM PST