[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: January 17-22, 2013

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:49:39 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201301250049.r0P0nde5000115_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity At Work At 'Whitewater Lake' -
sols 3194-3199, Jan. 17, 2013-Jan. 22, 2013:

Opportunity is on the inboard edge of "Cape York" on the rim of
Endeavour Crater, performing an in-situ (contact) science investigation
of veins in the light-toned outcrop "Whitewater Lake."

On Sol 3194 (Jan. 17, 2013), the rover collected a Microscopic Imager
(MI) mosaic of the target "Ortiz3," then placed the Alpha Particle X-ray
Spectrometer (APXS) on the target for an overnight integration. On Sol
3197 (Jan. 20, 2013), during an attempt to brush the vein surface target
with the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT), a stall in Joint 2 (shoulder
elevation) of the robotic arm occurred. The stall occurred during a very
slow upward movement of the arm. This kind of stall has been experienced
before by the rover. The leading theory is that with such slow motion of
the arm against gravity, the joint motor does not have sufficient
momentum to overcome the magnetic detents within the joint actuator.
Initial assessment indicates no degradation in the joint, but the
project is continuing to investigate this. No "amnesia" events with the
Flash file system have occurred since Sol 3183 (Jan. 6, 2013), and the
rover is otherwise in good health. On Sol 3195 (Jan. 18, 2013), a small
dust-clearing event occurred, improving solar array energy production
slightly.

As of Sol 3199 (Jan. 22, 2013), the solar array energy production was
540 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.11 and an improved
solar array dust factor of 0.651.

Total odometry is 22.03 miles (35455.34 meters).
Received on Thu 24 Jan 2013 07:49:39 PM PST