[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: July 25, 2012 - August 01, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 10:07:30 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201208031707.q73H7U3O008073_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Prepares for Curiosity's Arrival! -
sols 3023-3029, July 25, 2012 - August 01, 2012:

Opportunity has been roving at the north end of Cape York on the rim of
Endeavour Crater. However, activity will be constrained for the period
ahead as Opportunity prepares for the arrival of Curiosity.

The project is preplanning nine day or sols of activity around the
landing time of Curiosity, so as not to require Deep Space Network
tracking antenna coverage. On Sol 3024 (July 26, 2012), Opportunity
drove just over 20 feet (6 meters) to position for some surface targets
at the feature called "Whim Creek." On Sol 3025 (July 27, 2012), the
rover collected an atmospheric argon measurement with the Alpha Particle
X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). On Sol 3027 (July 29, 2012), the robotic arm
was used to collect a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic of the surface
target, called "Rushall," followed by the placement of the APXS for a
multi-sol surface integration.

On Sol 3028 (July 31, 2012), Opportunity served as a trial horse for
possible direct detection at Earth of Curiosity's Ultra High Frequency
(UHF) signal during landing with the Parkes Radio Observatory in
Australia. Opportunity transmitted a UHF signal configured as
Curiosity's UHF will be at landing. The Parkes antenna was able to
detect the Opportunity test signal and will be now be listening during
Curiosity's landing.

As of Sol 3022 (July 24, 2012), the solar array energy production was
547 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.642 and a solar
array dust factor of 0.720.

Total odometry is 21.52 miles (34,639.45 meters).
Received on Fri 03 Aug 2012 01:07:30 PM PDT