[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - May 27, 2005

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue May 31 13:05:29 2005
Message-ID: <200505311704.j4VH4pd07183_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit is Power Positive - sols 490-498, May 27, 2005

Spirit is healthy and power positive. Spirit is doing some remarkable
science at "Larry's Outcrop," moving along the edge of this spot that
looks stereotypically Mars-like. As Spirit drives from place to place,
the rover reaches out with its robotic arm and samples rocks.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sols 490 to 493 (May 19 to 22, 2005):
Over the weekend, Spirit traveled to a location informally called
"Paros." On Earth, Paros is one of the Cyclades Islands and lies 96
miles southeast from Athens, Greece. While stopped at Paros on Mars,
Spirit used the microscopic imager, the alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer and the Moessbauer spectrometer to examine surface details.

Sols 494 to 496:
Spirit finished up observing Paros with the microscopic imager, stowed
the robotic arm, and moved to a new spot. While making a final approach,
Spirit typically takes images with the hazard-identification cameras.
Spirit uses these images to determine whether or not it is safe to
deploy the robotic arm. Fortunately, this time, not only did Spirit
discover that it was safe to deploy the robotic arm, but the camera also
captured a lone dust devil far off in the image.

Sol 495-498 (May 24 - May 27, 2005):
With Spirit now secure in a new location, the team's plan is for the
rover to take pictures with the microscopic imager, brush rocks with the
rock abrasion tool, use the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, and place
the Moessbauer spectrometer on a target to read it for about 46 hours.

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Still Progressing Through Dune - sols 469-475,
May 27, 2005:

Opportunity continues to make slow progress through the sand dune, at a
slip rate of roughly 99.5 percent. From the time Opportunity resumed
driving after digging into the dune until May 26, drives totaling 64.8
meters (about 213 feet) of wheel rotations have been commanded and
executed, producing 34.8 centimeters (1.1 feet) of forward progress.

Opportunity has also been performing atmospheric observations. Each sol
the rover takes two measurements of how clear the sky is, checks for
clouds, and does a Sun survey. A few sols ago a daily horizon survey was
added, and Opportunity also imaged its magnets with the panoramic camera.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 469 (ending on May 20):
Two meters (6.6 feet) of commanded motion, resulting in 1.1 centimeters
(0.4 inch) of progress.

Sol 470:
Twelve meters (39 feet) of commanded motion; about 6 centimeters (2.4
inches) of progress.

Sol 471:
Twelve meters (39 feet) of commanded motion; about 6 centimeters (2.4
inches) of progress.

Sol 472:
Twelve meters (39 feet) of motions was commanded. Only the first 2
meters were executed. After that step, the rover stopped the drive by
itself due to uncertainty about its own position. One centimeter (0.4
inch) of progress was made.

Sol 473:
Planning was suspended today due to issues with the ground data system.
The rover executed a pre-loaded science sequence.

Sol 474:
Eight-meter (26-foot) drive planned, yielding 3.7 centimeter (1.5
inches) of progress.

Sol 475 (ending on May 26, 2005):
Ten-meter (33-foot) drive planned; 8.8 meters (29 feet) executed; 3.5
centimeters (1.4 inches) of progress

Looking ahead:
Thursday, May 26, the team planned two sols (476 and 477), and Friday,
May 27, the team is planning three sols to cover the holiday weekend.
Sol 476 will command 12 meters (39 feet), and every other sol will
require a "go/no-go" decision that will allow for 0 meters, 2 meters (7
feet), or 12 meters (39 feet) of commanded motion per sol.
Received on Tue 31 May 2005 01:04:49 PM PDT