[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: September 6-12, 2012

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:19:01 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201209172219.q8HMJ1PA028155_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Robotic Arm Goes To Work - sols 3064-3070,
Sept. 6, 2012-Sept. 12, 2012:

Opportunity is continuing the in-situ (contact) science campaign at a
putative location of clay minerals at the inboard edge of Cape York on
the rim of Endeavour Crater.

On Sol 3064 (Sept. 6, 2012), the rover collected a Microscopic Imager
(MI) mosaic of the target outcrop Kirkwood, followed by the placement of
the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) for integration. On Sol
3066 (Sept. 8, 2012), the rover experienced an X-band fault as Earth was
below the deck of the rover. Due to seasonal geometry, time of day and
rover tilt, there was a known risk that Earth might be too low on the
horizon for the high-gain antenna to track. A small error in the rover's
tilt knowledge resulted in the track of the Earth dropping too low at
the end of the X-band pass. The rover sequences transmitted during that
pass were successfully received by the rover and executed as planned.
The X-band fault was cleared by real-time commands sent later on Sol
3069 (Sept. 11, 2012).

On Sol 3066 (Sept. 8, 2012), Opportunity raised her robotic arm for a
clear camera shot of the targets in front of the rover. Then on the next
sol, the rover performed a brushing with the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT).
This was followed with another MI mosaic and then the placement of the
APXS on the brushed surface.

On Sol 3070 (Sept. 12, 2012), the rover then performed a 3-sided drive
around the exposed fin-like outcrop to reach light-toned blocky outcrop
for further in-situ investigation for putative clay minerals.

As of Sol 3070 (Sept. 12, 2012), the solar array energy production was
569 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.689 and a solar
array dust factor of 0.672.

Total odometry is 21.78 miles (35,047.47 meters).
Received on Mon 17 Sep 2012 06:19:01 PM PDT