Mars Exploration Rovers Update: July 23-29, 2009

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Robotic Arm Diagnostics - sols 1975-1980,
July 24-29, 2009:

Spirit is continuing its ambitious remote sensing and in-situ
(contact)
science campaign using all her payload elements while embedded at the
location called Troy on the west side of Home Plate.

During in situ (contact) work with the robotic arm on Sol 1975 (July
24,
2009), the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD) Joint 2 (shoulder
elevation) stalled. The stall occurred between two Microscopic Imager
(MI) mosaics. A series of diagnostics were sequenced on Sol 1979 (July
28, 2009).

The diagnostics included an elbow and turret motion (Joints 3, 4 and
5)
to reduce torque on Joint 2, a rotor resistance test of the Joint 2
motor, and then a series of small Joint 2 diagnostic motions, a MI
mosaic and a placement of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS)
on a surface target. The IDD Joint 2 motor resistances are normal and
the IDD Joint 2 moved successfully to all commanded diagnostic
motions.
All MI images were taken and the APXS is positioned on the surface
target. There are no mobility/IDD errors or preclusions. The IDD Joint
2
appears to be okay.

On Earth, the surface system testbed (SSTB) rover extraction testing
continues with end-to-end testing in differentiated soil in
preparation
for the first extraction moves on Mars.

As of Sol 1980 (July 29, 2009), the rover solar array energy
production
was 914 watt-hours, with atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.380 and a dust
factor of 0.831.

Total odometry as of Sol 1980 (July 29, 2009): 7,729.93 meters (4.80
miles)


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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Approaching 'Block Island' Cobble - sols
1924-1959,
July 23-28, 2009:

Opportunity has spied a dark, meter-scale cobble in the opposite
direction from which she has been traveling. On Sol 1954 (July 23,
2009), the rover headed back toward this large coble, called "Block
Island," with over a 100 meter (328-foot) drive.

Opportunity drove again on Sol 1957 (July 26, 2009) with an 87-meter
(285-foot) drive, putting the cobble less than 30 meters (some 95
feet)
away. Opportunity approached the cobble on Sol 1959 (July 28, 2009)
with
a 24-meter (79-foot) drive.

In-situ (contact) analysis using the robotic arm will now begin on
this
70-centimeter-size (28-inch) cobble. The miniature thermal emission
spectrometer (Mini-TES) shroud continues to be left open on scheduled
sols to allow the environment to clean minor dust contamination from
the
elevation mirror. No improvement in Mini-TES performance has been
observed so far, but the rover has seen no wind events.

As of Sol 1959 (July 28, 2009), the solar array energy production was
467 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.517 and a dust
factor of 0.534.

Total odometry as of Sol 1959 (July 28, 2009): 17,224.82 meters (10.70
miles).