[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - September 29, 2005

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Sep 30 11:51:34 2005
Message-ID: <200509301550.j8UFoA625291_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Reaches True Summit - sol 614-619, Sept 29, 2005:

Spirit is healthy and has provided a spectacular view from the top of
"Husband Hill." The rover has acquired numerous panoramas from both the
navigation camera and panoramic camera. Spirit took coordinated
observations with the panoramic camera and the miniature thermal
emission spectrometer, and observed the moons Phobos and Deimos at
night. Spirit has reached the true summit, which is in the eastern
portion of the nearly level hilltop crest that Spirit reached in late
August. Plans are to drive to a good imaging location. From the new
location, Spirit will acquire a panorama of the plains and valleys below.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 614 (Sept. 24, 2005): Spirit took a panorama of "Tennessee Valley,"
and performed targeted remote sensing and atmospheric science. A planned
Moessbauer spectrometer reading was not completed, due to a sequencing error.

Sol 615: Spirit used the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the
compositional calibration target and took a picture of the compositional
calibration target with the microscopic imager. The compositional
calibration target provides an independent, external reference source
for calibrating the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and Moessbauer
spectrometer. Both instruments also have their own internal calibration
reference targets. The compositional calibration target is made of a
piece of magnetite rock from Earth, bonded to an aluminum base plate and
covered by a protective coating that the Moessbauer spectrometer cannot
detect. On sol 615, Spirit also performed targeted remote sensing.

Sol 616: Spirit drove about 10 meters (33 feet) towards the true summit
and observed Phobos and Deimos at night.

Sol 617: Spirit took pictures from "Position 2" for a stereo panorama.
Spirit also observed Phobos and Deimos at night.

Sol 618: Spirit drove 14 meters (46 feet) closer to "True Summit."
Mid-drive, Spirit stopped to take a picture of a target called
"Hillary." The informal name is in honor of Edmund Hillary. Hillary and
Tenzing Norgay were the first to climb to the top of Mount Everest. They
reached the summit on May 29, 1953. That summit, at 8,850 meters (29,035
feet) above sea level, is the highest place on Earth. The summit of
Husband Hill is 106 meters (about 348 feet) above the Spirit landing site.

Sol 619: The plan is for Spirit to drive about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) to
the summit imaging location. Once at the new location, the plan is for
Spirit to take a 360-degree panorama using the navigation camera.

As of the end of sol 618, (Sept. 29, 2005), Spirit has driven 4,973
meters (3.09 miles).
Received on Fri 30 Sep 2005 11:50:09 AM PDT