[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 16-22, 2009

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:55:02 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200904242255.PAA02151_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Another Reset and a Cleaning Event - sols 1879-1885,
April 16-22, 2009:

Spirit experienced another reset event over the weekend, but otherwise
has been well-behaved.

The investigation into Spirit's recent anomalous behavior continues, but
there is still no explanation. A team of experts involved in the
original design and construction of the rover has been consulted.
Although the anomalous behavior is frustrating, the rover continues to
be healthy in terms of power, temperature and communication.

The plan going forward is to implement some enhanced data-collecting
techniques in order to gather more information from any future anomalous
events, and to resume near-normal operations. A short drive for Spirit
has been sequenced on Sol 1886 (April 23, 2009).

Spirit also had a small dust cleaning event on her solar arrays on Sol
1881 (April 18, 2009). Solar array energy improved by more than 10 percent

As of Sol 1885 (April 22, 2009), Spirit's solar array energy production
is 306 watt-hours, about as much as is used in lighting a 100-watt bulb
for three hours. Atmospheric opacity (tau) is estimated around 0.964.
The dust factor has improved to about 0.377, meaning that about 37.7
percent of sunlight hitting the solar array penetrates the layer of
accumulated dust on the array. Spirit's total odometry remains at
7,726.78 meters (4.80 miles).

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Five Long Drives - sols 1859-1865, April 16-22, 2009:

Opportunity has been driving "great guns" southward this week on her way
to Endeavour crater, driving five out of the last seven sols and
covering almost half a kilometer.

Sols 1859, 1860, 1863, 1864 and 1865 (April 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23, 2009)
had drives of 62 meters (203 feet), 88 meters (289 feet), 96 meters (315
feet), 137 meters (449 feet) and 95 meters (312 feet), respectively. The
right-front wheel on Opportunity remained well-behaved, with motor
currents very near normal levels. More driving is planned for the sols
ahead.

As of Sol 1865 (April 23, 2009), Opportunity's solar array energy
production is 447 watt-hours. Atmospheric opacity (tau) is around 0.831.
The dust factor is 0.607, meaning that 60.7 percent of sunlight hitting
the solar array penetrates the layer of accumulated dust on the array.
Opportunity is in good health, with an odometry total of 15,737.05
meters (9.78 miles).
Received on Fri 24 Apr 2009 06:55:02 PM PDT