[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: December 2-8, 2015

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:32:34 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201512170132.tBH1WYHb029823_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: A Week of Robotic Arm Activities/ - sols
4215-4221, December 2, 2015-December 8, 2015:

Opportunity is inside "Marathon Valley" on the west rim of Endeavour
Crater.

The rover is positioned on a steep slope with an approximately 19-degree
northerly tilt for improved solar array energy production. On Sol 4215
(Dec. 2, 2015), the robotic arm was used to collect imaging of the Rock
Abrasion Tool (RAT) bit. That imagery will allow the assessment of
remaining grind bit life before the next RAT grind. Also, with the
robotic arm out of the way, unobstructed Panoramic Camera (Pancam)
images of the surface target, "Pvt. Hugh McNeal" were taken. Finally,
the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) was placed on the surface
target by the robotic arm for the next sol's integration. More Pancam
imagery was collected over subsequent sols.

On Sol 4219 (Dec. 6, 2015), the RAT was used to brush the surface target
and then the APXS was placed, slight offset, on the surface target. On
Sol 4220 (Dec. 7, 2015), another tuck of the robotic arm was done to
allow unobstructed images of the surface to be taken. Then, the
Microscopic Imager (MI) was used to collect a detailed surface mosaic,
followed by the placement of the APXS for a short integration. On the
next sol, another MI mosaic was collected and more color Pancam
panoramas were taken.

As of Sol 4221 (Dec. 8, 2015), the solar array energy production was 419
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.430 and an improved
solar array dust factor of 0.660.

Total odometry is 26.49 miles (42.63 kilometers), more than a marathon.
Received on Wed 16 Dec 2015 08:32:34 PM PST