[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update - August 15-22, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:54:54 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201208302154.q7ULssVi026290_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

Opportunity Drives And Images Rock Outcrop -
sols 3043-3050, August 15-22, 2012:

Opportunity is moving south along the inboard edge
of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater.

On Sol 3044 (Aug. 16, 2012), the rover drove just
over 131 feet (40 meters) staying close to the outcrop
terrain along Cape York. As Opportunity drives she has
been heavily documenting the exposed outcrop with both
Navigation Camera and Panoramic Camera color imagery.

On Sol 3046 (Aug. 18, 2012), the rover completed a drive
of over 328 feet (100 meters), again collecting outcrop
imagery along the way. Sol 3049 (Aug. 21, 2012), saw
another 131 feet (40 meter) drive, assembling an
extensive image set of the outcrop.

It is in this region of Cape York where orbital data
indicate the presence of phyllosilicate clay minerals.
Opportunity is documenting this area in order to allow
the science team to select the best region for an
extensive in-situ (contact) investigation for these
clay minerals.

As of Sol 3050 (Aug. 22, 2012), the solar array
energy production was 530 watt-hours with an
atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.696 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.683.

Total odometry is 21.65 miles (34,846.61 meters).
Received on Thu 30 Aug 2012 05:54:54 PM PDT