[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update: October 13-22, 2010

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:17:57 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201010222317.o9MNHvrW019237_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Remains Silent at Troy - sols 2410-2416,
October 13-23, 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 is listening for Spirit with the Deep Space Network and Mars
Odyssey orbiter for autonomous recovery communication from the low-power
fault case, and conducting a "Sweep & Beep" strategy to stimulate the
rover in the case of a mission clock fault. Improving solar insolation
levels should provide an environment for the rover batteries to
recharge, with increasing likelihood of hearing from Spirit in the
period ahead.

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


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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Past the 15-Mile Mark on Mars -
sols 2389-2395, October 13-19, 2010:

Opportunity crossed the 24-kilometer (15-mile) odometry mark on her way
to Endeavour crater.

The rover ended last week with the data backlog which limited activities
over the weekend. On Sol 2390 (Oct. 14, 2010), the alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer (APXS) was sequenced to collect an atmospheric argon
measurement along with light remote sensing. Not until Sol 2393 (Oct.
17, 2010), were onboard data volumes improved so a drive could be
sequenced. On that sol, Opportunity drove over 100 meters (328 feet),
crossing the 24-kilometer (15 mile) odometry mark.

The rover drove again on Sol 2395 (Oct. 19, 2010), again reaching over
100 meters (328 miles). Even though the Miniature Thermal Emission
Spectrometer (Mini-TES) instrument is still under investigation, the
Mini-TES elevation mirror continues to be opened to the environment at
regular intervals in the chance of catching a wind-induced cleaning event.

As of Sol 2395 (Oct. 19, 2010), solar array energy production was 627
watt-hours with a slightly elevated atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.639
and a solar array dust factor of 0.7015.

Total odometry is 24,192.63 meters (24.19 kilometers, or 15.03 miles).
Received on Fri 22 Oct 2010 07:17:57 PM PDT