Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 14, 2004

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Brushing Down Route 66 - sol 99, Apr 14, 2004

Spirit began Sol 99, which ended at 11:55 p.m. PDT on April 13,
2004, by doing a systematic ground survey with the miniature
thermal emission spectrometer. After that, the rover completed
a six-position brush mosaic on the rock "Route 66" with the
rock abrasion tool. Once the brushing was complete, Spirit
analyzed the area with the microscopic imager and Moessbauer
spectrometer.

The afternoon science for the sol included imaging of rocks
called "Back Lot" and "Cameo" with the panoramic camera and
the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit took a
short nap and woke up for the afternoon Odyssey pass.

During the martian night, Spirit changed from using the
Moessbauer spectrometer to using the alpha particle
X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 100, which will end at 12:35 a.m. PDT, April 15, 2004,
will be a sol full of roving as Spirit continues toward
the "Columbia Hills."


OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Wakes with New "Brainpower" -
sol 79, Apr 14, 2004

Waking up to the Ramones' "Teenage Lobotomy," Opportunity
began operating with new flight software on its 79th sol on
Mars, which ended at 12:16 p.m. PDT on April 14.

Yestersol, the rover took daytime readings with its
Moessbauer spectrometer on "Jeff's Choice" -- a soil
target in the tailings of the trench that the vehicle dug
on Sol 73. This sol, the rover performed a free-air
integration of its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. This
procedure measures the effect of the Moessbauer's
radiation source on the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer's
sensor, allowing the science team to subtract out the
Moessbauer influence for an accurate calibration.

In the coming sols, Opportunity will examine the trench with
its microscopic imager and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.