[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: October 14-19, 2011

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:32:09 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201110211732.p9LHW9Eo021926_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Past 21 Miles of Driving! Will Spend
Winter at Cape York - sols 2745-2750, October 14-19, 2011:

The project has made the decision that Opportunity will winter over on
the north end of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour crater where northern
tilts are favorable for energy production.

On Sol 2746 (Oct. 15, 2011), Opportunity drove 167 feet (51 meters) to
the north/northeast. On Sol 2749 (Oct. 18, 2011), the rover drove
another 167 feet (51 meters) to the northeast. The plan ahead is to
continue to drive toward the north end of Cape York and to capture any
opportunistic in-situ (contact) science alone the way. Light-toned veins
in the rock outcrop, possibly fracture fill, have been seen around Cape
York. If Opportunity encounters one of these veins along the way, a
brief robotic-arm science campaign may be conducted.

As of Sol 2750 (Oct. 19, 2011), solar array energy production was 312
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.764 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.491.

Total odometry is 21.08 miles (33,931.24 meters, or 33.93 kilometers).
Received on Fri 21 Oct 2011 01:32:09 PM PDT