[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - March 12, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:16:05 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200703131616.l2DGG5411082_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Studies "Home Plate" from the West - sol
1125-1131, March 12, 2007:

Spirit is healthy after wrapping up a week of remote sensing
observations on the west side of the elevated circular plateau known as
"Home Plate."

Sol-by-sol summary:

Sol 1125 (March 3, 2007): Spirit took images of darkness, when the
panoramic camera is exposed to no light, for calibration purposes.
Spirit acquired microscopic images of the dust capture and filter
magnets and surveyed several targets known as "Lothar," "Manator,"
"Morbus," "Ombra," "Otz Valley," and "Pankor" using the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer. The rover monitored atmospheric dust
levels with the panoramic camera, surveyed the sky and ground with the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and searched for clouds using
the navigation camera.

Sol 1126: Spirit's first task of the day was acquiring panoramic camera
images of the dune field known as "El Dorado." The rover then drove 3.5
meters toward "Home Plate," acquired images using the front and rear
hazard avoidance cameras and navigation camera, and monitored
atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera. The rover scanned the sky
and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1127: The first thing in the morning, Spirit scanned the sky for
clouds using the navigation camera. The rover surveyed the sky at high
sun using the panoramic camera. Spirit scanned the sky and ground with
the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1128: Spirit started the day by looking for Martian dust devils with
the navigation camera. The rover re-acquired images with the front
hazard avoidance camera and tested the switch on the contact plate of
the Moessbauer spectrometer by touching the filter magnet with the
instrument. Spirit acquired navigation camera images and a panoramic
camera mosaic of Home Plate. Spirit acquired remote sensing data from
targets known as "Irene Hickson," "Joanne Winter," "Bette Trezza," and
"Carolyn Morris." The rover surveyed the sky and ground with the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer and measured atmospheric dust
levels with the panoramic camera.

Sol 1129: Spirit started the day by looking for morning clouds. The
rover conducted a survey using the panoramic camera at high sun. Spirit
scanned the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer and used the same instrument to acquire remote sensing data
from targets known as "Anna Mae Hutchison," "Faye Dancer," "Dorothy
Hunter," and "Velma Abbott."

Sol 1130: Spirit searched for morning clouds with the navigation camera
and acquired images, using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera, of
Home Plate. The rover also acquired data from targets known as "Fredda
Acker" and "Jean Gilchrist" with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer. The rover took calibration images of darkness and
monitored atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera. Spirit acquired
data from a target known as "Betty Warfel" using the miniature thermal
emission spectrometer.

Sol 1131 (March 9, 2007): Spirit took images of the sky with the
panoramic camera and surveyed the sky and ground with the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer. The rover acquired miniature thermal
emission spectrometer data and panoramic camera images of a target known
as "Evelyn Adams." Spirit took full-color images, using all 13 filters
of the panoramic camera, of a target called "Joanne Winter." The rover
acquired miniature thermal emission spectrometer data from targets known
as "Bethany Goldsmith," "Betty Whiting," and "Melba Alspaugh." Spirit
took panoramic camera images and prepared to spend the next morning
acquiring two movies in search of dust devils using the panoramic camera.

Odometry:

As of sol 1130 (March 8, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7,012.34
meters (4.36 miles).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Onward to the 'Valley Without Peril' - sol
1104-1111, March 12, 2007:

Opportunity is healthy and continues its long baseline stereo survey of
"Victoria Crater." The rover is currently perched atop the "Cape of Good
Hope," making its way northeast to the mouth of the "Valley Without Peril."

On sol 1104 Opportunity performed an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
integration on the martian atmosphere. This is a long-term monitoring of
the density of Argon in the atmosphere, looking at how the Argon/Carbon
dioxide mixing ratio changes as the polar caps acquire and sublimate
carbon dioxide.

On Sol 1109 the rover performed a preliminary test of a new method for
rock abrasion tool grinds which does not rely on a failed encoder.
Another test is scheduled for sol 1112.

Next week Opportunity will conduct an extensive long baseline stereo
survey of the Valley Without Peril and "Cape St. Vincent." This will
allow the team to perform a comparative analysis of other bays in order
to continue characterization of possible ingress and egress points in
Victoria Crater.

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to Opportunity's daily science observations, the rover also
performs panoramic camera tau measurements and miniature thermal
emission spectrometer sky and ground stares.

Sol 1104 (March 3, 2007): The rover took a color postcard panoramic
camera image of "Cabo Corrientes," navigation camera imaging of the
tracks, miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky & ground
observation and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration on the
atmosphere to look for Argon.

Sol 1105: On this sol, Opportunity drove 8 meters (26 feet) southwest
toward the edge of the Cape of Good Hope. The rover then began the first
half of a long baseline stereo panoramic camera image of Cabo Corrientes
across "Golfo (Gulf) San Matias." The rover then completed navigation
camera imaging for next drive.

Sol 1106: Opportunity conducted a panoramic camera horizon survey,
looked for clouds with its navigation camera and monitored for dust. The
rover also did a miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky &
ground observation and a panoramic camera sky survey.

Sol 1107: On this sol, the rover drove 4 meters (13 feet)
south-southwest and completed navigation and panoramic camera imaging
for next drive. Opportunity then began the second half of a long
baseline stereo panoramic camera image of Cabo Corrientes across Golfo
San Matias. The panoramic camera then had a look at the sky.

Sol 1108: Opportunity drove 8 meters (26 feet) toward the Valley Without
Peril, then used its navigation and panoramic cameras to image for the
next drive. The panoramic camera looked at the sky.

Sol 1109: Opportunity conducted a rock abrasion tool (RAT) grind test,
then the panoramic camera did a 13-filter foreground survey and took a
mosaic of the rover tracks. The navigation camera imaged the tracks and
then the miniature thermal emission spectrometer assessed the foreground.

Sol 1110: On this sol, the panoramic camera completed a 13-filter
foreground survey and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer
completed a 7-point sky and ground observation and foreground stare.

Sol 1111 (March 10, 2007): The rover drove 40 meters (131 feet)
northeast to the mouth of the Valley Without Peril. Opportunity then did
navigation and panoramic camera imaging for next drive. The panoramic
camera also had a look at the sky.

As of sol 1108, Opportunity's odometery is 10,238.95 meters (6.36 miles).
Received on Tue 13 Mar 2007 12:16:05 PM PDT