[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: December 9-15, 2015

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 16:34:00 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201512220034.tBM0Y0Pd020677_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Rover On Steeper Slopes - sols 4222-4228,
December 9, 2015-December 15, 2015:

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

The rover is positioned on steep slopes for improved solar array energy
production. The near-term object is to position the rover to be able to
grind a high-value surface target with the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT).
This target may hold some of the clues as to the origin of the clay
spectral signature detected in Marathon Valley.

On Sol 4222 (Dec. 9, 2015), Opportunity bumped back about 12 feet (3.65
meters) to set up for an approach to this target on a very steep slope.
On the next sol, the rover bumped forward about 28 inches (70
centimeters), but because of the steep slopes the drive stopped as wheel
currents exceeded protective set points for this steep terrain. A second
attempt was made on the next sol to approach this same target. Again the
steep terrain caused the drive to stop after only 3.6 feet (1.1 meters)
of wheel motion. Slips as high as 50 percent (not uncommon for this
steep terrain) were seen on the last drive step.

The rover used the next sol to perform a robotic arm salute to allow
unobstructed imagery in front of the rover. Then on Sol 4227 (Dec. 14,
2015), Opportunity backed down slope about 10 feet (3 meters),
collecting both pre-drive and post-drive imagery. On the next sol, the
rover drove about 14 feet (4.4 meters) to approach the target from a
more lateral direction. An approach bump is planned for the next sol.

As of Sol 4221 (Dec. 8, 2015), the solar array energy production was 407
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.438 and an improved
solar array dust factor of 0.660.

Total odometry is 26.50 miles (42.65 kilometers), more than a marathon.
Received on Mon 21 Dec 2015 07:34:00 PM PST