[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update: November 23-30, 2010

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 15:55:52 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201012032355.oB3Ntqp7004765_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Remains Silent at Troy - sols 2450-2457,
November 23-30, 2010:

Spirit remains silent at her location on the west side of Home Plate. No
communication has been received from the rover since Sol 2210 (March 22,
2010).

The project continues to listen for Spirit with the Deep Space Network
and Mars Odyssey orbiter for autonomous recovery communication from the
low-power fault case. The project is also conducting a paging technique
called "Sweep & Beep" to stimulate the rover in the case of a
mission-clock fault. The period of peak solar insolation (energy
production) is not until mid-March 2011. So Spirit has plenty of
occasion to respond.

Total odometry is unchanged at 7,730.50 meters (4.80 miles).

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Imaging Small Craters on the Way to Endeavour -
sols 2429-2436, November 23-30, 2010:

Opportunity continues to make good progress towards Endeavour crater
while collecting remote-sensing science observations (imaging) of small
craters along the way.

The rover drove on Sols 2429 (Nov. 23, 2010), 2433 (Nov. 27, 2010), and
2436 (Nov. 30, 2010), covering over 81 meters (266 feet), 89 meters (292
feet) and 100 meters (328 feet), respectively. An alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer (APXS) atmospheric argon measurement was performed on Sol
2430 (Nov. 24, 2010). The miniature thermal emission spectrometer
(Mini-TES) elevation mirror is opened to the environment at regular
intervals in the possibility of eventual cleaning by wind events. Wheel
currents continue to be well-behaved during the extensive driving.

As of Sol 2436 (Nov. 30, 2010), solar array energy production was 587
watt-hours with a slightly elevated atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.753
and a solar array dust factor of 0.645.

Total odometry is 25,555.33 meters (25.56 kilometers, or 15.88 miles).
Received on Fri 03 Dec 2010 06:55:52 PM PST