[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - March 7, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 09:45:07 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200703071745.l27Hj7603232_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Checks Out 'Cape of Good Hope' -
sol 1097-1103, March 07, 2007:

Opportunity is healthy and is currently driving on the promontory called
"Cape of Good Hope." The rover performed some miniature thermal emission
spectrometer measurements and took panoramic camera images of "Madrid"
and "Alava," which are outcrops on the western side of Cape of Good
Hope. Opportunity also performed some miniature thermal emission
spectrometer and long baseline stereo of dunes at the base of the next
promontory.

On sol 1100, Opportunity executed step two of the Visual Target Tracking
technology checkout.

On sol 1102, Opportunity had a joint 1 (shoulder azimuth) stall during
the instrument deployment device (rover "arm") sequence. It was
determined that this stall was similar to past stalls, so on sol 1103 a
diagnostic test will be performed. If this is successful, the rover will
take a confirmation microscopic image, then drive towards the rim of
Cape of Good Hope.

Opportunity drove about 84 meters (276 feet) between sols 1097 and 1102.

Sol-by-sol summary:

Each sol there is a panoramic camera tau at the beginning of the plan
and before the afternoon Mars Odyssey pass. There is a miniature thermal
emission spectrometer elevation sky and ground during the Odyssey pass.
There is also a mini- miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and
ground in the morning of each sol, just prior to handing over to the
next sol's master sequence.

Sol 1097 (February 23, 2007): On this sol, the rover used its panoramic
camera to image "Madrid" and "Alava" (outcrop on the west side of Cape
of Good Hope). The miniature thermal emission spectrometer was used to
examine dunes at the base of the next promontory, a long baseline image
of the dunes was taken and a panoramic camera image of Cape of Good
Hope. A pre-Odyssey tau measurement was taken and during the Odyssey
pass, miniature thermal emission spectrometer measurements of Madrid and
"Coslada" were completed. A post-Odyssey argon measurement was taken.

Sol 1098: In the morning of this sol the rover looked at the sky with
its panoramic camera and conducted mini-miniature thermal emission
spectrometer sky and ground measurements. Opportunity then stowed its
arm, drove to Cape of Good Hope, unstowed its arm, took post-drive
navigation camera "end of drive" images, post-drive panoramic camera
images in the drive direction and a post-drive panoramic camera tau;

Sol 1099: Opportunity used its panoramic camera to take images of the
sky this morning. The cameras (on the rover's "head") and the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer conducted a mini-sky azimuth measurement
and a and sky and ground observation. The panoramic camera then
conducted a soil survey and then examined the ground in front of the
rover. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a
systematic soil observation.

Sol 1100: In the morning of this sol, the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer conducted a mini sky and ground observation. The rover then
stowed its "arm," checked out its visual target tracking sequence and
drove toward Cape of Good Hope. The rover then unstowed its "arm," took
post-drive navigation and panoramic camera images in the drive
direction. A panoramic camera tau measurement was taken.

Sol 1101: Opportunity used this morning to get thumbnail images of the
sky with its panoramic camera and to assess the sky and ground with its
miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover then stowed its
"arm," used its front hazard avoidance cameras to image the area in
front of it. The "arm" was then unstowed and Opportunity took a
13-filter panoramic camera image. The miniature thermal emission
spectrometer conducted a 7-point sky and ground observation. Before the
Odyssey pass, the panoramic camera conducted a sky survey.

Sol 1102: On this sol, the panoramic camera took a 13-filter calibration
for dust on the low-gain antenna, the camera was then used to image
"Cabo Corrientes." Before an attempt to use the microscopic imager,
there was a joint failure. A tau measurement was taken and then a
miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground observation.

Sol 1103 (March 2, 2007): Opportunity completed a miniature thermal
emission spectrometer sky and ground observation in the morning of this
sol. A diagnostic test was run on the rover's instrument deployment
device ("arm"). Depending on the results of the test, another attempt
will be made to take a microscopic stereo image of target "Donut." The
plan then calls for the "arm" to be stowed, the rover to bump back and
take a panoramic camera image of Donut. Opportunity will then be set to
drive toward the rim of Cape of Good Hope.

As of sol 1102, Opportunity's odometry is 10,202 meters (6.34 miles).
Received on Wed 07 Mar 2007 12:45:07 PM PST