Mars Exploration Rover Update - December 12, 2005

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Studying 'Algonquin' - sol 680-688, Dec 12, 2005:

This week Spirit drove to an outcrop area informally named "Algonquin."
On sol 685, Spirit successfully drove for 15 meters (49 feet) and
prepared for a series of robotic-arm activities planned for sol 687 to
690 at Algonquin. Plans are to proceed downhill to "Comanche" after
that.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 680 (Dec. 1, 2005): Spirit drove 30 meters (98 feet) toward a
feature between "Miami" and Comanche.

Sol 681: Spirit performed remote sensing during the day and observed
the
moon Phobos at night.

Sol 682: Spirit took images of Algonquin, "Miami," "Pima," and "Yaqui"
with the panoramic camera. Spirit observed Yaqui, Pima, Algonquin,
"Meentwioni," and "Myammia" with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer.

Sol 683: A planned drive toward Algonquin was not executed.

Sol 684: Spirit took images of a dust devil, did a near-field survey
with the panoramic camera, and used the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer during the day and at night.

Sol 685: Spirit successfully drove 16 meters (52 feet) to the Algonquin
outcrop.

Sol 686: Spirit performed remote sensing during the day and observed
the
moon Phobos at night.

Sol 687: Spirit used the microscopic imager and alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer to study a feature informally called "Iroquet," which is
located on the Algonquin outcrop.

Sol 688: Spirit used the rock abrasion tool's brush on Iroquet for 25
minutes, and then continued observations of Iroquet with the
microscopic
imager and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

As of the end of sol 686, (Dec. 8, 2005), Spirit had driven 5,510
meters
(3.42 miles).