[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update: January 6-14, 2010

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:40:19 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201001152340.o0FNeJK7003988_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Little Forward Progress - sols 2137-2143,
January 6-12, 2010:

Spirit remains embedded at the location called "Troy" on the West side
of Home Plate. Extrication drives were tried on sols 2138, 2140 and 2142
(Jan. 7, 9 and 11, 2010). Each of these drives employed a new technique
of steering the wheels back and forth before driving. This has shown
some efficacy at sweeping material out of the wheel tracks and allowing
fresh material to slough off the leading trench face providing traction
under the wheel. Slower wheel speeds were also tried on two of the
drives. However, even with these new techniques, little forward progress
has been achieved. And excessive sinkage continues to occur with each
attempt.

Both the right-front and right-rear wheel continue to be non-functional.

Next, Spirit will switch directions and attempt to drive backward to see
if that provides better progress.

As of Sol 2143 (Jan. 12, 2010), Spirit's solar-array energy production
is 225 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.490 and a dust
factor of 0.539. Total odometry is 7,730.12 meters (4.80 miles).

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Leaving Marquette Behind - sols 2118-2124,
January 7-14, 2010:

Opportunity spent Sols 2118 to 2121 (Jan. 7-11, 2010; no sol number
corresponds to Jan. 8 because no noon at Opportunity's location fell
during that date's 24 hours Pacific Standard Time) completing the
investigation of "Marquette Island," a curious rock on the plains of
Meridiani. The alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) and the
microscopic imager (MI) were used to examine a target on Marquette
Island which was exposed by the rock abrasion tool (RAT) grind
activities the previous week.

Opportunity drove away from Marquette Island on Sol 2122 (Jan. 12, 2010)
continuing on the path toward Endeavour Crater. Further drives where
executed on Sols 2123 and 2124 (Jan. 13 and 14, 2010). On Sol 2124,
Opportunity crossed the 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) odometry milestone! A
near-term science objective along the path towards Endeavour Crater is a
relatively fresh impact crater, called "Conception," approximately 250
meters (820 feet) to the south.

As of Sol 2124 (Jan. 14, 2010), Opportunity's solar-array energy
production is 336 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.500
and a dust factor of 0.533. Total odometry is 19,025.92 meters (11.82
miles).
Received on Fri 15 Jan 2010 06:40:19 PM PST