[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - March 26-31, 2009

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:14:34 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200904072214.PAA05521_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: More Bright Soil Exposed by Driving - sols 1859-1864,
March 26-31, 2009:

Spirit is running under new flight software, version R9.3, and all is
working well. The rover continued driving around the west of "Home Plate."

A drive on Sol 1861 (March 28, 2009) achieved almost 23 meters (75 feet)
and something extra. Light-toned soil was unearthed by the right-front
wheel as the rover drove along this western portion of Home Plate. The
science team, suspecting that this may be more silica, developed a
contact science campaign for this revealed material. On Sol 1863 (March
30, 2009), the robotic arm (IDD) was deployed and extended to the
light-toned soil. A microscopic imager (MI) stack of images was
collected and then the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) was
placed right on the target soil. Integration with the APXS continued
through Sol 1864 (March 31, 2009). Observations of this light-toned
material were also made with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer
(Mini-TES).

As of Sol 1864 (March 31, 2009), Spirit's solar array energy production
is 223 watt-hours. Atmospheric opacity (tau) remains elevated at 1.19.
The dust factor on the solar array has worsened slightly to 0.297,
meaning that 29.7 percent of sunlight hitting the solar array penetrates
the layer of accumulated dust on the array. The rover is in good health
despite dusty skies. Spirit's total odometry is 7,686.61 meters (4.78
miles).

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Examining Rock's Interior - sols 1838-1843,
March 26-31, 2009:

Opportunity remains positioned on an exposed rock outcrop and is
continuing a contact science campaign with the robotic arm (IDD). On Sol
1838 (March 26, 2009), the rock abrasion tool (RAT) was operated for 3
hours to grind 3 millimeters (one-tenth of an inch) into the selected
rock outcrop target. The grind, using the work-around for the failed
encoder, worked as sequenced. Documentary imagery was collected of the
new RAT hole. Then the Moessbauer (MB) spectrometer was placed in the RAT
hole for a long integration. On Sol 1840 (March 28, 2009), stereo
imagery by the microscopic imager (MI) was collected and the MB
positioned for further readings. On Sol 1843 (March 31, 2009), after a
few sols of MB integration, images documenting the MB placement on the
RAT tailings were collected and then the alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer (APXS) was placed on the target for its integration.

As of Sol 1843 (March 31, 2009), Opportunity's solar array energy
production is 346 watt-hours, equivalent to the amount used by a
100-watt bulb lit for about three and a half hours. Atmospheric opacity
(tau) remains elevated at 1.20. The dust factor on the solar array has
improved slightly to 0.512, meaning that 51.2 percent of sunlight
hitting the solar array penetrates the layer of accumulated dust on the
array. Both rovers are experiencing elevated atmospheric opacity as
large storms to the south generate a lot of high-altitude dust.

Opportunity is in good health, with total odometry remaining at
15,051.44 meters (9.35 miles).
Received on Tue 07 Apr 2009 06:14:34 PM PDT