[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: February 01-08, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:06:55 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201202102306.q1AN6tfP002097_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Energy Levels Decreasing - sols 2853-2859,
February 01-08, 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.

While positioned for the winter, Opportunity is conducting regular radio
Doppler tracking measurements to support geo-dynamic investigations of
the planet, in-situ (contact) science investigations of the rock target,
"Amboy," including an extended Microscopic Imager mosaic, and continued
collection of the 13-filter 360-degree "Greeley" panorama.

Additionally, during the late afternoon radio Doppler tracking passes,
the rover is collecting spectacular low-light (low sun elevation)
images. Decreasing energy levels with the approach to the winter
solstice has constrained conducting both a radio Doppler tracking pass
and an afternoon Ultra High Frequency relay pass on the same sol. The
operations team performs energy trades on the tactical timeline as to
which, if not both, of these communication passes are performed on a
given sol.

On Sol 2852 (Feb. 1, 2012), the Mossbauer Spectrometer was placed on
Amboy for a multi-sol integration and subsequently 24 hours of
integration has occurred. Also, there were three radio Doppler tracking
passes during this time on Sols 2853, 2855, and 2856 (Feb. 2, 4 and 5).
And finally, on Sol 2858 (Feb. 7, 2012), the robotic arm continued its
extended Microscopic Imager mosaic campaign of the surface area that
includes the target Amboy.

As of Sol 2859 (Feb. 8, 2012), solar array energy production was 283
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.648 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.478.

Total odometry is unchanged at 21.35 miles (34,361.37 meters).
Received on Fri 10 Feb 2012 06:06:55 PM PST