[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - July 20, 2006

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jul 20 18:59:44 2006
Message-ID: <200607202257.PAA12151_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Next Stop: 'Beagle Crater' - sol 872-878, July 20, 2006:

Opportunity is healthy and continued driving towards "Beagle Crater,"
which is about 140 meters (459 feet) away as of sol 877 (July 12, 2006).
The upload of the flight software files was completed on sol 876, and
the flight software build process is currently planned for sols 879-881.
Opportunity supported a coordinated overflight with the Mars Express
orbiter on sol 877 and drove a total of about 46 meters (151 feet)
between sols 872-877.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 872 (July 7, 2006): Opportunity used its panoramic camera for some
targeted investigations this sol, then had a communication session with
the Mars Odyssey orbiter. The rover also completed a miniature thermal
emission spectrometer sky and ground observation.

Sol 873: On this sol, an attempt to cross a ripple to the southeast (in
order to head towards Beagle Crater) was prematurely halted because the
rover appropriately determined that it was making too little progress
over the ripple. The rover also did some dust monitoring with its
panoramic camera mast assembly (the rover's "head" and "neck"), and
conducted some morning atmospheric science, including a sky and ground
observation with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.
Opportunity also did a calibration of that instrument on this sol.

Sol 874: Opportunity used its panoramic camera to survey the ground,
then took a picture with its navigation camera to determine where to
point the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The miniature thermal
emission spectrometer was also used to observe the sky and ground. The
panoramic camera took thumbnail images of the sky.

Sol 875: On this sol, the rover successfully backed away from the ripple
that saw 80 percent slip on sol 873. Opportunity used its panoramic
camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer on a distant
potential meteorite; those instruments also completed an observation of
the sky and ground.

Sol 876: The rover drove southwesterly towards the edge of a ripple
about 15 meters (49 feet) away to evaluate whether the outcrop adjacent
to the ripple is reachable, and whether there is a path from the outcrop
towards Beagle Crater. The rover also searched for clouds with its
navigation camera and observed the sky and ground with its miniature
thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 877: Opportunity drove about 25 meters (82 feet) on an outcrop path
towards Beagle Crater. The rover did a "quick find attitude" at the end
of the drive, which updates its physical position. The rover supported a
Mars Express overflight, and did remote sensing with its panoramic
camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 878: The rover drove about 25 meters (82 feet) towards Beagle
Crater. Opportunity performed elevation sky and ground surveys during
the Mars Odyssey pass and miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky
and ground stares in the morning. A panoramic camera survey in front of
the rover will be conducted to help pick a soil target for this
weekend's robotic arm activity.

Odometry total as of Sol 877's drive: 8,493.72 meters (5.28 miles).
Received on Thu 20 Jul 2006 06:57:12 PM PDT