[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: June 25 - July 1, 2014

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2014 12:15:34 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201407081915.s68JFYxs003329_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/status.html#opportunity

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Rover Uses Arm to Study Several Rocks and Takes
Panoramic Images - sols 3704-3710, June 25, 2014-July 1, 2014:

Rover Uses Arm to Study Several Rocks and Takes Panoramic Images

Opportunity is exploring south along the west rim of Endeavour Crater.
The rover is currently surveying a region where orbital data suggests
the presence of aluminum-hydroxyl clay minerals.

On Sol 3705 (June 26, 2014), after collecting some color Panoramic
Camera (Pancam) observations; Opportunity bumped 5 feet (1.5 meters) to
reach some interesting surface targets with the robotic arm instruments.
A full 360-degree Navigation Camera (Navcam) panorama was taken to
document the rover's location and potential drive directions.

On Sol 3707 (June 28, 2014), the rover began three sols worth on in-situ
(contact) investigations. A Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic was collected
of the surface target "Sodaville," followed by a placement of the Alpha
Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) for an overnight integration on the
same. On the next sol, Opportunity collected a MI mosaic of the target
"Tuscaloosa," followed by another APXS placement. On the third sol, the
rover investigated a target just offset from "Sodaville," with another
MI mosaic and APXS placement. With the work complete at this target
area, on Sol 3710 (July 1, 2014), Opportunity drove over 85 feet (26
meters) south with mid-drive Pancam imagery. Another full 360-degree
Navcam panorama was taken to document the new rover location and
potential drive directions. Opportunity is in good health with no resets
or faults, well-behaved wheel currents and ample energy.

As of Sol 3710 (July 1, 2014), the solar array energy production was 745
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.762 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.872.

Total odometry is 24.62 miles (39.62 kilometers).
Received on Tue 08 Jul 2014 03:15:34 PM PDT