[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - October 11, 2007

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:18:24 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200710121518.IAA20610_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Hardy Rover Continues to Celebrate Milestones -
sol 1337-1342, October 11, 2007:

After enduring seasonal dust storms much stronger than the rover was
designed to survive, Spirit has now been exploring the Red Planet for
two Martian years. That is a period of time longer than three years on
Earth and more than 10 times the duration of the original 90-day
mission. In fact, on Oct. 1, 2007, the rover entered the fifth extension
of its original mission!

Spirit has arrived at a field of boulders that the science team is
nicknaming after Colorado 14'ers -- Earth peaks taller than 14,000 feet.
Atmospheric dust levels continue to wane, and Spirit took advantage of
additional sunlight by using solar power to transmit data to Earth at
night when the Odyssey orbiter passed overhead. These transmissions will
free up more of Spirit's on-board computer memory.

Spirit began studies of a rock known as "Humboldt Peak" at "Site 3a."
This particular rock is dark and angular and appears to be similar to
"Comanche"-class rocks encountered by the rover earlier in the mission
on "Husband Hill."

On sol 1339 (Oct. 9, 2007), the rover conducted a communications test
with the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. Mars Express will
provide backup communications during the entry, descent, and landing of
the Phoenix mission, due to arrive near the north pole of Mars on the
United States' Memorial Day weekend of 2008.

The relays with Mars Express are a prime example of the value of having
multiple spacecraft at Mars -- by using the same UHF radio frequencies
as those used by the rovers and Mars Express, Phoenix will benefit from
tried-and-true communications links already in place. Another example is
Spirit's ability to take thermal measurements looking up into the
atmosphere that fill in data that cannot be collected from above by
orbiters looking down. The result is a more complete profile of the
Martian atmosphere.

Sol-by-sol summary

In addition to measuring atmospheric dust levels (known as tau
measurements) with the panoramic camera and surveying the sky and ground
with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, Spirit completed the
following activities:

Sol 1337 (Oct. 7, 2007): Spirit acquired full-color images, using all 13
filters of the panoramic camera, of boulders at Site 3a. The rover
approached Humboldt Peak and acquired post-drive images with the hazard
avoidance and navigation cameras.

Sol 1338: Spirit completed a survey of rock clasts and acquired
thumbnail images of the sky with the panoramic camera. The rover
calibrated the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and acquired data
from "Mt. Elbert" with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The
rover transmitted data to Earth overnight via the Odyssey orbiter.

Sol 1339: Spirit calibrated the miniature thermal emission spectrometer
and performed late-night tests of communications with the Mars Express
orbiter.

Sol 1340: Spirit searched for morning dust devils with the navigation
camera and checked for drift (changes with time) in the miniature themal
emission spectrometer. Spirit acquired a stereo mosaic of microscopic
images of Humboldt Peak and placed the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer
on the target for overnight studies prior to brushing the surface. The
rover surveyed a target known as "Crestone Needle" with the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer and then conducted an 18-hour, overnight
study of Humboldt Peak with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, while
also relaying data to Earth via the Odyssey orbiter.

Sol 1341: Spirit took spot images of the sky with the panoramic camera,
checked for drift in the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and
brushed the surface of Humboldt Peak with the rock abrasion tool. The
rover placed the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer on the newly brushed
surface. Spirit surveyed targets dubbed "Snowmass" and "Castle Peak"
with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover conducted a
19-hour, overnight study of the brushed surface of Humboldt Peak with
the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 1342 (Oct. 12, 2007): Plans called for Spirit to look for morning
clouds with the navigation camera and check for drift in the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer. The rover was to switch tools to the
Moessbauer spectrometer and spend 23 hours collecting data from the
brushed surface of Humboldt Peak with the instrument. Spirit was also
scheduled to relay data to Earth during the overnight pass of the
Odyssey orbiter and acquire data from a target known as "Mt. Evans"
using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The next morning, the
rover was expected to survey the sky with the panoramic camera.

Odometry:

As of sol 1337 (Oct. 7, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7,261.29
meters (4.5 miles).
Received on Fri 12 Oct 2007 11:18:24 AM PDT