Mars Exploration Rovers Update - February 20, 2004

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
woke Spirit up to the song "Dig Down Deep," by Hot Soup, and
that's exactly what Spirit proceeded to do. The two-hour
operation performed by Spirit's left front wheel resulted in a
trench 7-8 centimeters deep (2.8 to 3.1 inches) that uncovers
fresh soil and possibly ancient information.

Spirit dug this trench at "Laguna Hollow" the same way that
Opportunity dug its 9-10 centimeter (3.5 to 3.9 inch) trench
at Meridiani. However, because the ground at this location is
harder, Spirit had to dig for twice as long as Opportunity -
going back and forth over the surface 11 times instead of 6.

After the trench was completed, Spirit backed up one meter, or
more than a yard, and analyzed the area with the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer before driving forward 0.4 meters
(15.7 inches) and imaging the excavation site with the panoramic
camera. A final move forward of another 0.4 meters allowed
Spirit to take front hazard avoidance camera images of the arm
work volume which was then centered on the trench.

After stowing the arm, the rover did a series of miniature
thermal emission spectrometer observations of several nearby
rocks, "Buffalo," "Cherry," "Cotton," and "Jiminy Cricket,"
and a combined miniature thermal emission spectrometer and
panoramic camera observation of "Beacon." Spirit also took
panoramic camera images of its deck to observe dust
accumulation on the instrumented solar cells and on the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer calibration target.

Spirit then took a siesta from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mars Local
Solar time and woke up for some more panoramic camera and
miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of
"Beacon," and miniature thermal emission spectrometer ground
and sky stares. All activities up through the afternoon pass
by the Mars Odyssey orbiter were completed successfully.



OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Enter the Rock Abrasion Tool - sol 26,
Feb 20, 2004

On sol 26, which ended at 12:18 a.m. Friday, February 19, PST,
Opportunity successfully obtained one final Moessbauer
spectrometer reading of the trench, stowed the rover arm, and
drove 15 meters (50 feet) to the "El Capitan" area. The drive
was Opportunity's longest yet and required the vehicle and
planners to skirt the trench and avoid the lander.

The plan for sol 27, which will end at 12:57 a.m. Saturday, PST,
is to first "supersize" the measurements of the "El Capitan"
area with the panoramic camera, miniature thermal emission
spectrometer, and microscopic imager. The mineralogy and
geology teams have requested a minimum of three hours worth of
"super resolution" and "super spectral" observations for the
science instruments to get the most comprehensive coverage of
this interesting site, which has varying textures and layers
of dirt and rock.

After a short siesta in the early afternoon, Opportunity will
drive 30 centimeters (12 inches) to sneak a bit closer to the
rocks in "El Capitan" to get ready for the rock abrasion tool
to do its work. After the drive, the Opportunity team plans to
take a picture of the martian sky with the panoramic camera
and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. If time permits,
Opportunity will attempt to aim its cameras toward the heat
shield in the far distance.

Over the weekend, Opportunity plans to find the perfect spot
to use the abrasion tool and set it loose to grind away on
"El Capitan," which will be the first use of the rock abrasion
tool by Opportunity.

February 20, 2004

Ron wrote:

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
woke Spirit up to the song "Dig Down Deep," by Hot Soup, and

We don't give a roving **** about Spirit and Opportunity anymore Ron,
because we lost our spirit when we lost our opportunity to have equal
access to the data that we paid for. So **** off, or show us the
spectroscopy, asshole.

What we do want to know, however, is how much the NASA DJ gets paid, and
how many NASA funded scientists it takes how long in JPL a committee to
decide what song gets played, to wake up the inanimate rover.

Can you please enlighten US? Dig deep.

Thomas Lee Elifritz
http://elifritz.members.atlantic.net

"Thomas Lee Elifritz" wrote in message
...
February 20, 2004

Ron wrote:

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
woke Spirit up to the song "Dig Down Deep," by Hot Soup, and

We don't give


You got a mouse in your pocket? You speak for no one but yourself, and you
do that very poorly.

"Ron" wrote in message
om...
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
woke Spirit up to the song "Dig Down Deep," by Hot Soup, and
that's exactly what Spirit proceeded to do. The two-hour
operation performed by Spirit's left front wheel resulted in a
trench 7-8 centimeters deep (2.8 to 3.1 inches) that uncovers
fresh soil and possibly ancient information.

Spirit dug this trench at "Laguna Hollow" the same way that
Opportunity dug its 9-10 centimeter (3.5 to 3.9 inch) trench
at Meridiani. However, because the ground at this location is
harder, Spirit had to dig for twice as long as Opportunity -
going back and forth over the surface 11 times instead of 6.

After the trench was completed, Spirit backed up one meter, or
more than a yard, and analyzed the area with the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer before driving forward 0.4 meters
(15.7 inches) and imaging the excavation site with the panoramic
camera. A final move forward of another 0.4 meters allowed
Spirit to take front hazard avoidance camera images of the arm
work volume which was then centered on the trench.

After stowing the arm, the rover did a series of miniature
thermal emission spectrometer observations of several nearby
rocks, "Buffalo," "Cherry," "Cotton," and "Jiminy Cricket,"
and a combined miniature thermal emission spectrometer and
panoramic camera observation of "Beacon." Spirit also took
panoramic camera images of its deck to observe dust
accumulation on the instrumented solar cells and on the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer calibration target.

Spirit then took a siesta from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mars Local
Solar time and woke up for some more panoramic camera and
miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of
"Beacon," and miniature thermal emission spectrometer ground
and sky stares. All activities up through the afternoon pass
by the Mars Odyssey orbiter were completed successfully.



OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Enter the Rock Abrasion Tool - sol 26,
Feb 20, 2004

On sol 26, which ended at 12:18 a.m. Friday, February 19, PST,
Opportunity successfully obtained one final Moessbauer
spectrometer reading of the trench, stowed the rover arm, and
drove 15 meters (50 feet) to the "El Capitan" area. The drive
was Opportunity's longest yet and required the vehicle and
planners to skirt the trench and avoid the lander.

The plan for sol 27, which will end at 12:57 a.m. Saturday, PST,
is to first "supersize" the measurements of the "El Capitan"
area with the panoramic camera, miniature thermal emission
spectrometer, and microscopic imager. The mineralogy and
geology teams have requested a minimum of three hours worth of
"super resolution" and "super spectral" observations for the
science instruments to get the most comprehensive coverage of
this interesting site, which has varying textures and layers
of dirt and rock.

After a short siesta in the early afternoon, Opportunity will
drive 30 centimeters (12 inches) to sneak a bit closer to the
rocks in "El Capitan" to get ready for the rock abrasion tool
to do its work. After the drive, the Opportunity team plans to
take a picture of the martian sky with the panoramic camera
and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. If time permits,
Opportunity will attempt to aim its cameras toward the heat
shield in the far distance.

Over the weekend, Opportunity plans to find the perfect spot
to use the abrasion tool and set it loose to grind away on
"El Capitan," which will be the first use of the rock abrasion
tool by Opportunity.


Ron,

Thanks for the post. Keep them coming!

Thomas Lee Elifritz wrote:

We don't give a roving **** about Spirit and Opportunity anymore Ron,
because we lost our spirit when we lost our opportunity to have equal
access to the data that we paid for. So **** off, or show us the
spectroscopy, asshole.

You are, of course, speaking for yourself.

*I* appreciate these updates.
--
D. Jay Newman
http://enerd.ws/robots/

jbeck wrote:
"Ron" wrote in message
om...

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
snip

Ron,

Thanks for the post. Keep them coming!


I am curious about one non geological thing--why do the rovers have to
wake up to music?

Now, we had the morning march on the radio in St. Louis at 5 to 7 a.m.,
but it was waking up people...

Jo

"Jo Schaper" wrote
I am curious about one non geological thing--why do the rovers have to
wake up to music?

Now, we had the morning march on the radio in St. Louis at 5 to 7 a.m.,
but it was waking up people...

It is for people. They don't actually send the music to Mars. Morning
reveille for the troops.

Joe

"Jo Schaper" wrote in message
...
jbeck wrote:
"Ron" wrote in message
om...

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
snip

Ron,

Thanks for the post. Keep them coming!


I am curious about one non geological thing--why do the rovers have to
wake up to music?

Now, we had the morning march on the radio in St. Louis at 5 to 7 a.m.,
but it was waking up people...

Obviously the rovers don't need it. NASA has used themed wake up music for
years to wake up human crews. (I think it started with the space shuttle,
but I don't know that for sure.) It makes for a nice "PR stunt/morale
booster/inside joke" to do it with the rovers, too. Just a little nerdy
humor, that's all.

"D. Jay Newman" wrote in message :

Thomas Lee Elifritz wrote:

We don't give a roving **** about Spirit and Opportunity anymore Ron,
because we lost our spirit when we lost our opportunity to have equal
access to the data that we paid for. So **** off, or show us the
spectroscopy, asshole.

You are, of course, speaking for yourself.

Of course, JPL and NASA scientists and the majority of the American
public are apparently too stupid to understand the ramifications of
the mission spectroscopy. That might change if NASA and the media
quits dumbing them down.

*I* appreciate these updates.

Sure you do. Are you NASA's DJ?

Thomas Lee Elifritz
http://elifritz.members.atlantic.net

I have noticed that coverage of the mars missions is winding down.
there is now only one news briefing a week. I guesse all good things
most come to a end. Sigh

On 20 Feb 2004 13:44:05 -0800, (Ron) wrote:

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers
woke Spirit up to the song "Dig Down Deep," by Hot Soup, and
that's exactly what Spirit proceeded to do. The two-hour
operation performed by Spirit's left front wheel resulted in a
trench 7-8 centimeters deep (2.8 to 3.1 inches) that uncovers
fresh soil and possibly ancient information.

Spirit dug this trench at "Laguna Hollow" the same way that
Opportunity dug its 9-10 centimeter (3.5 to 3.9 inch) trench
at Meridiani. However, because the ground at this location is
harder, Spirit had to dig for twice as long as Opportunity -
going back and forth over the surface 11 times instead of 6.

After the trench was completed, Spirit backed up one meter, or
more than a yard, and analyzed the area with the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer before driving forward 0.4 meters
(15.7 inches) and imaging the excavation site with the panoramic
camera. A final move forward of another 0.4 meters allowed
Spirit to take front hazard avoidance camera images of the arm
work volume which was then centered on the trench.

After stowing the arm, the rover did a series of miniature
thermal emission spectrometer observations of several nearby
rocks, "Buffalo," "Cherry," "Cotton," and "Jiminy Cricket,"
and a combined miniature thermal emission spectrometer and
panoramic camera observation of "Beacon." Spirit also took
panoramic camera images of its deck to observe dust
accumulation on the instrumented solar cells and on the
miniature thermal emission spectrometer calibration target.

Spirit then took a siesta from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mars Local
Solar time and woke up for some more panoramic camera and
miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of
"Beacon," and miniature thermal emission spectrometer ground
and sky stares. All activities up through the afternoon pass
by the Mars Odyssey orbiter were completed successfully.



OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Enter the Rock Abrasion Tool - sol 26,
Feb 20, 2004

On sol 26, which ended at 12:18 a.m. Friday, February 19, PST,
Opportunity successfully obtained one final Moessbauer
spectrometer reading of the trench, stowed the rover arm, and
drove 15 meters (50 feet) to the "El Capitan" area. The drive
was Opportunity's longest yet and required the vehicle and
planners to skirt the trench and avoid the lander.

The plan for sol 27, which will end at 12:57 a.m. Saturday, PST,
is to first "supersize" the measurements of the "El Capitan"
area with the panoramic camera, miniature thermal emission
spectrometer, and microscopic imager. The mineralogy and
geology teams have requested a minimum of three hours worth of
"super resolution" and "super spectral" observations for the
science instruments to get the most comprehensive coverage of
this interesting site, which has varying textures and layers
of dirt and rock.

After a short siesta in the early afternoon, Opportunity will
drive 30 centimeters (12 inches) to sneak a bit closer to the
rocks in "El Capitan" to get ready for the rock abrasion tool
to do its work. After the drive, the Opportunity team plans to
take a picture of the martian sky with the panoramic camera
and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. If time permits,
Opportunity will attempt to aim its cameras toward the heat
shield in the far distance.

Over the weekend, Opportunity plans to find the perfect spot
to use the abrasion tool and set it loose to grind away on
"El Capitan," which will be the first use of the rock abrasion
tool by Opportunity.