[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 1-8, 2009

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:51:02 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200904102151.OAA08009_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Four Drives Add to Progress - sols 1865-1871,
April 01-08, 2009:

Spirit has been busy making good progress around the western edge of
"Home Plate." The rover drove four out of the past seven sols, making
more than 40 meters (131 feet) of total distance.

First, Spirit completed a science campaign on light-toned material
unearthed the preceding week, then the rover resumed driving on Sol 1866
(April 3, 2009; no sol number for Spirit corresponded to April 2, 2009,
using the criterion of the date in Los Angeles at local solar noon on
Mars). The Sol 1866 drive achieved only about 3 meters (10 feet) of
progress due to excessive slip. On the next drive sol, Sol 1868 (April
5, 2009), Spirit avoided the troubled terrain and completed about 17.5
meters (57 feet). A pair of drives on Sols 1870 and 1871 (April 7 and 8,
2009) added another 20 meters (66 feet) of progress.

As of Sol 1871 (April 8, 2009), Spirit's solar array energy production
is 240 watt-hours, equivalent to what it takes to light a 100-watt bulb
for 2.4 hours. Atmospheric opacity (tau) has improved slightly to 0.99.
The dust factor is 0.304, meaning that 30.4 percent of sunlight hitting
the solar array penetrates the layer of accumulated dust on the array.
The rover is in good health as it makes progress around Home Plate.
Spirit's total odometry is 7,726.78 meters (4.80 miles).

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Cleaning Event Boosts Energy - sols 1844-1851,
April 01-08, 2009:

Opportunity completed a contact science campaign on an exposed rock
outcrop and then resumed driving.

On Sol 1845 (April 2, 2009), the rover's robotic arm (IDD) placed the
M?ssbauer (MB) spectrometer on the outcrop target "Penrhyn" for a
multi-sol integration. On Sol 1850 (April 7, 2009), a temporary
stand-down on driving was provisionally lifted and Opportunity resumed
driving. The MB was retracted and the arm moved into the driving stow
position. Opportunity then drove backward about 62.5 meters (205 feet).
Diving backward was a continuation of mitigation techniques used in
recent weeks in response to elevated current observed in the right-front
wheel. The mitigation also has included resting the drive actuator for
several sols, which coincided with the just-completed contact science
campaign. The drive went well and the right-front actuator exhibited
currents near normal levels, good news.

Opportunity also benefited from a solar array cleaning event which
boosted energy levels by about 40 percent, a big increase. Now if only
Spirit could get such a cleaning.

As of Sol 1850 (April 7, 2009), Opportunity's solar array energy
production has increased to 515 watt-hours. Atmospheric opacity (tau)
remains elevated at around 0.95. The dust factor has improved to 0.642,
meaning that 64.2 percent of sunlight hitting the solar array penetrates
the layer of accumulated dust on the array. The rover is in good health
with a rested actuator and extra energy.

As of Sol 1851 (April 8, 2009) Opportunity's total odometry is 15,113.97
meters (9.39 miles).
Received on Fri 10 Apr 2009 05:51:02 PM PDT