[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - August 16, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:02:01 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200708171602.JAA13348_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Gloomy Skies Show Signs of Clearing - sol 1274-1283,
August 16, 2007:

Spirit is healthy as the amount of dust hoisted into the atmosphere by
recent wind storms has leveled off and solar energy levels have held
steady at about 280 to 300 watt-hours of energy (100 watt-hours is the
amount of energy needed to light a 100-watt bulb for one hour). Since
the rover's 1,271st Martian day, or sol, of exploration (July 31, 2007),
atmospheric opacity, a measurement known as Tau, has stabilized at about
3.8. Given the apparent relative stability of the atmosphere, the
rover's handlers have returned to somewhat more normal planning
procedures, allowing the rover to take on more science activities.
Spirit studied a crushed rock target known as "Innocent Bystander" using
the Moessbauer spectrometer on sols 1275, 1278, and 1281 (Aug. 4, Aug. 7,
and Aug. 10, 2007).

Spirit appears to have accumulated some dust contamination on the optics
of the microscopic imager at some point during a period of 10 Martian
days between sol 1257 (July 17, 2007) and sol 1277 (Aug. 6, 2007). On
sol 1282 (Aug. 11, 2007), Spirit got a look at the microscopic imager
with the dust cover closed using the panoramic and hazard avoidance
cameras. The rover's handlers are considering using the front hazard
avoidance cameras to try to get a better look at the microscopic imager
with the dust cover open. They are also considering strategies for
removing dust if necessary.

Spirit remains parked just to the east of the elevated plateau known as
"Home Plate" with the Moessbauer spectrometer placed on Innocent Bystander.

Sol-by-sol summary:

Except where noted, daily communications included morning,
direct-from-Earth uplinks over the rover's high-gain antenna and evening
relays of data to Earth at UHF frequences via the Odyssey orbiter. In
addition, Spirit completed the following activities:

Sol 1274 (Aug. 3, 2007): Spirit acquired wide-range, panoramic camera
images for measuring atmospheric dust, searched for clouds using the
navigation camera, acquired movie frames in search of dust devils, and
acquired images of surface ripples to the front and rear of the rover
with the hazard avoidance cameras. The rover surveyed the external
calibration target with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1275: Spirit conducted studies with the Moessbauer spectrometer,
acquired a 3x1 mosaic of images of ripples with the navigation camera,
acquired wide-range, panoramic camera images for measuring atmospheric
dust, and took images of ripples with the front and rear hazard
avoidance cameras. The rover scanned the sky and ground with the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1276: Spirit acquired images of ripples with the front and rear
hazard avoidance cameras, acquired wide-range, panoramic camera images
for measuring atmospheric dust, acquired a 360-degree panorama of the
rover's surrounding with the navigation camera, and searched for clouds
with the navigation camera.

Sol 1277: Spirit acquired a stack of microscopic images of targets known
as "Stealing Second" and "Stealing Third," a microscopic image of
Innocent Bystander, and both wide-range, panoramic camera images and
navigation camera images for measuring atmospheric dust. The rover
monitored dust on the rover mast, acquired images of ripples with the
front and rear hazard avoidance cameras, and surveyed the sky and ground
with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1278: Spirit studied Innocent Bystander using the Moessbauer
spectrometer, acquired images of ripples using the navigation camera,
and measured atmospheric dust by acquiring wide-range, panoramic camera
images as well as navigation camera images. The rover took thumbnail
images of the sky and acquired movie frame images in search of dust
devils with the navigation camera.

Sol 1279: Spirit acquired images of surface ripples using the rear and
front hazard avoidance cameras, acquired a microscopic image looking
through the dust cover, and acquired images of the microscopic imager
from the outside using the panoramic and navigation cameras. The rover
acquired wide-range, panoramic camera images as well as navigation
camera images for measuring atmospheric dust, took spot images of the
sky, and surveyed the horizon.

Sol 1280: Spirit measured atmospheric properties using the
alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer and measured atmospheric opacity with
the panoramic and navigation cameras. The rover took images of ripples
with the front and rear hazard avoidance cameras, searched for clouds
with the navigation camera, and conducted a mini-survey of the sky and
ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1281: Spirit acquired wide-range, panoramic camera images and
navigation camera images to measure atmospheric dust. The rover
conducted studies with the Moessbauer spectrometer, completed a survey at
high sun with the panoramic camera, and took images of surface ripples
using the navigation and panoramic cameras.

Sol 1282: Spirit extended the robotic arm for panoramic camera images,
retracted the robotic arm for hazard avoidance camera images, and
extended the rock abrasion tool into ready position. The rover acquired
images of ripples using the front and rear hazard avoidance cameras,
acquired wide-range, panoramic camera images to measure atmospheric
dust, and monitored dust on the rover mast. Spirit conducted a
mini-survey of the sky and ground using the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer.

Sol 1283 (Aug. 12, 2007): Spirit acquired wide-range, panoramic camera
images and navigation camera images for measuring atmospheric dust, took
spot images of the sky, surveyed the horizon, acquired a 3x1 mosaic of
navigation camera images of surface ripples, and completed a mini-survey
of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Odometry:

As of sol 1283 (Aug. 12, 2007), Spirit's total odometry remained at
7,153 meters (4.44 miles).
Received on Fri 17 Aug 2007 12:02:01 PM PDT