[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: November 19-28, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:24:33 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201211290024.qAT0OXaS006249_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Gets To Work On Interesting Rock
Targets - sols 3137-3145, Nov. 19, 2012-Nov. 28, 2012:

Opportunity, after completing 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, has started
conducting an in-situ (contact) science campaign on some high-value
surface targets.

On Sol 3137 (Nov. 19, 2012), Opportunity began her in-situ investigation
on the surface target, called "Sandcherry" with a Microscopic Imager
(MI) mosaic, followed by the placement of the Alpha Particle X-ray
Spectrometer (APXS).

The plan on Sol 3139 (Nov. 22, 2012), was the use the Rock Abrasion Tool
(RAT) to brush the target. However, the robotic arm experienced a stall
in the shoulder elevation joint and stopped all further robotic arm
activity. The sequenced APXS measurement on Sol 3140 (Nov. 23, 2012),
then fortuitously became an atmospheric argon measurement. The joint
stall had been experienced before with Opportunity when slow moves are
commanded as in this instance. However, the engineering team did review
all the associated telemetry and found no indication of any change in
the health of the joint.

As a further step, a diagnostic move was included at the start of the
plan on Sol 3144 (Nov. 27, 2012). That diagnostic showed a nominally
functioning joint. The subsequent activity on Sol 3144 (Nov. 27, 2012),
included a successful RAT brushing of the target followed by a MI mosaic
and placement of the APXS. Also, over the last several sols, the rover
has been collecting an extensive color panorama (Pancam), called the
"Matijevic pan."

As of Sol 3145 (Nov. 28, 2012), the solar array energy production was
559 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.793 and a solar
array dust factor of 0.608.

Total odometry is 22.01 miles (35,429.63 meters).
Received on Wed 28 Nov 2012 07:24:33 PM PST


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