[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: April 18-25, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:15:13 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201204280015.q3S0FDQL016203_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Studies of 'Amboy' Rock Continue as Solar Energy
Improves - sols 2927-2934, April 18-25, 2012:

Opportunity is positioned on the north end of Cape York on the rim of
Endeavour Crater with an approximate 15-degree northerly tilt for
favorable solar energy production.

The solar insolation is improving and the rover has benefitted from some
small, dust cleaning events. Radio Doppler tracking passes for the
geo-dynamic investigation were performed on Sols 2927, 2931 and 2933
(April 18, 22 and 24, 2012).

The project is also continuing the regular campaign of Microscopic
Imager mosaics of the extended region of the rock target "Amboy,"
followed by Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer measurements of the imaged
area. These measurements were performed on Sols 2929, 2931 and 2933
(April 20, 22 and 24, 2012). More dust cleaning events have occurred,
improving the solar array dust factor by small amounts.

As of Sol 2934 (April 25, 2012), solar array energy production was 366
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.521 and an improved
solar array dust factor of 0.546.

Total odometry is unchanged at 21.35 miles (34,361.37 meters).
Received on Fri 27 Apr 2012 08:15:13 PM PDT