[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: Oct 31 - Nov 6, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 14:59:23 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201211082259.qA8MxNlE028333_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: More Driving And Imaging At 'Matijevic Hill' -
sols 3118-3124, Oct. 31, 2012-Nov. 6, 2012:

Opportunity is continuing the local area survey around the location
called Matijevic Hill (named in honor of Jake Matijevic) at the inboard
edge of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater.

The rover performed three survey drives on Sols 3119, 3121 and 3124
(Nov. 1, 3 and 6, 2012), driving 125 feet (38 meters) south-southeast,
82 feet (25 meters) south-southeast, and 98 feet (30 meters) south,
respectively.

Each drive was preceded by the collection of targeted imagery and then
followed by taking a 360-degree Navigation camera (Navcam) panorama. Two
direct-to-earth (DTE) X-band sessions where supported on Sols 3120 and
3122 (Nov. 2 and 4, 2012), and an atmospheric argon measurement with the
Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) was performed on Sol 3122 (Nov.
4, 2012).

The project also implemented a new daily nadir check sequence. This new
sequence significantly reduces the number of power cycles on the rover's
inertial measurement unit (IMU). For the next week the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter will be providing exclusive Ultra High Frequency
relay support during the Mars Odyssey side-swap campaign.

As of Sol 3124 (Nov. 6, 2012), the solar array energy production was 586
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.605 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.604.

Total odometry is 21.96 miles (35,345.23 meters).
Received on Thu 08 Nov 2012 05:59:23 PM PST