[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - March 8, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 08:53:04 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200703091653.l29Gr4109494_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Studies Rock Outcrops, Drives Near 'Home Plate' -
sol 1118-1124, March 08, 2007:

Spirit is healthy and making progress on the return trip to "Home
Plate." The rover headed north along Home Plate to fill in gaps in
imagery left behind when Spirit rushed to find a winter haven.

Use of the rover's robotic arm remains on hold until more diagnostics
can be performed.

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to daily observations that included measuring atmospheric
opacity caused by dust with the panoramic camera, scanning the sky for
clouds with the navigation camera, surveying the sky and ground with the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and taking reference images of
the sky, Spirit conducted the following activities:

Sol 1118 (Feb. 24, 2007): Spirit took panoramic camera images of rock
outcrops "Dorothy Kamenshek" and "Olive Little" as well as Home Plate.
The rover surveyed Olive Little and targets known as "Kamtol" and
"Korvas" with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1119: Spirit drove 7.94 meters (26.1 feet) toward Home Plate, took
navigation camera images after the drive, acquired navigation camera
movies in search of dust devils, and monitored atmospheric dust.

Sol 1120: Spirit searched for clouds using the WATCH computer sequence.

Sol 1121: Spirit acquired panoramic camera images of Home Plate, drove
14.24 meters (46.72) feet, acquired post-drive navigation camera images,
surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera, and searched for clouds
using the WATCH computer sequence.

Sol 1122: Spirit measured atmospheric argon using the alpha particle
X-ray spectrometer and monitored atmospheric dust.

Sol 1123: Spirit acquired panoramic camera images of Home Plate,
surveyed a target known as "Madeline English" with the miniature thermal
emission spectrometer, drove 7.95 meters (26.1 feet) toward Home Plate,
and acquired post-drive images, including looking toward the rear, with
the navigation camera.

Sol 1124 (March 2, 2007): Spirit completed a survey of rock clasts using
the panoramic camera.

Odometry:

As of sol 1123 (March 1, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7007.84
meters (4.35 miles).
Received on Fri 09 Mar 2007 11:53:04 AM PST