[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: August 18-24, 2011

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:33:59 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201108252233.p7PMXxDd006058_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Studies Rocks on Crater Rim -
sols 2690-2696, August 18-24, 2011:

Opportunity has begun the in-situ (contact) investigation of rocks
around the rim of Endeavour crater.

On Sol 2690 (Aug. 18, 2011), the rover began the approach to a large
ejecta block, named "Tinsdale 2" with a 4-meter (13-foot) drive. On Sol
2692 (Aug. 20, 2011), Opportunity completed the approach to Tinsdale 2
with a turn-around to face the rock and a short 2-meter (7-foot) forward
approach to the target. On Sol 2694 (Aug. 22, 2011), Opportunity started
the multi-sol, multi-target in-situ (contact) investigation with a
Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic of a set of surface targets collectively
named "Timmins," followed by a placement of the Alpha Particle X-ray
Spectrometer (APXS) for an overnight integration. On Sol 2695 (Aug. 23,
2011), the rover collected another MI mosaic on a different target spot,
again followed by an overnight APXS integration. On Sol 2696 (Aug. 24,
2011), Opportunity did it again with another set of MI mosaics and an
APXS integration.

As of Sol 2695 (Aug. 23, 2011), solar array energy production was 366
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.07 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.546.

Total odometry is 20.83 miles (33,525.53 meters, or 33.53 kilometers).
Received on Thu 25 Aug 2011 06:33:59 PM PDT