[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - May 6, 2005
From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri May 6 17:25:05 2005 Message-ID: <200505062124.j46LOIN20215_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov> http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Testing on Earth Before Moving on Mars - sol 449-455, May 06, 2005 Opportunity is imaging the plains and performing atmospheric science observations while waiting for engineers on Earth to give it the go-ahead to move. The team is diligently working to determine why Opportunity dug itself into a small dune, the best way to exit the dune, and what added precautions to use during future driving. Sol summary: Sols 449 to 455 (April 29 to May 5, 2005): In JPL's In-situ Instrument Laboratory sandbox, engineers, scientists and even the project manager have been mixing sandy and powdery materials, digging holes and building dunes. A mixture was concocted to simulate properties of the soil underneath Opportunity, using sand, clay and diatomaceous earth (silica-rich powder composed mainly of microscopic plant shells, used in these tests for its texture, not its fossil origin). The team wants to have a full understanding of how Opportunity will respond before commanding it to back out of its current position. Received on Fri 06 May 2005 05:24:17 PM PDT |
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