[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: May 14-22, 2014

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 11:56:27 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201406061856.s56IuRCF001160_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Busy Week of Activities on Several Rock Targets -
sols 3663-3671, May 14, 2014-May 22, 2014

Opportunity is exploring south of 'Solander Point' on the west rim of
Endeavour Crater.

The rover is conducting an in-situ (contact) science campaign in the
region of aluminum/hydroxyl clay minerals seen from orbit. Because of
ample energy levels, Opportunity collects an atmospheric argon with the
Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on each evening when the rover
wakes for battery conditioning and the robotic arm is not on a surface
target, as it did on Sols 3663 and 3670 (May 14 and May 21, 2014).

On Sol 3664 (May 15, 2014), the rover began its surface campaign in this
region with the collection of a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic and the
placement of the APXS on the surface target, called 'Bristol Well,' a
light-toned vein.

On Sols 3666 and 3667 (May 17 and 18, 2014), Opportunity repositioned
the APXS each time in order to collect an offset measurement on the
vein. On Sol 3669 (May 20, 2014), Opportunity bumped about 10 feet (2.9
meters) forward to reach a new surface target. On Sol 3671 (May 22,
2014), the rover began the investigation of the target, called
'Sarcobatus Flat,' with the collection of a MI mosaic and the placement
of the APXS.

As of Sol 3671, the solar array energy production was 751 watt-hours
with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.667 and a solar array dust factor
of 0.955.

Total odometry is 24.49 miles (39.41 kilometers).
Received on Fri 06 Jun 2014 02:56:27 PM PDT