A Space & astronomy forum. SpaceBanter.com

Go Back   Home » SpaceBanter.com forum » Space Science » News
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 21, 2006



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old April 24th 06, 04:58 AM posted to sci.space.news
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 21, 2006

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Studies New Terrain - sol 812-819, Apr 21, 2006:

Spirit remains healthy and is enjoying the winter sun on Mars. This
week, Spirit began acquiring a full-color, high-resolution, 360-degree
panorama nicknamed the "McMurdo Pan." The panorama campaign will take a
few weeks because of power and data limitations. In addition, Spirit
conducted a scientific study of a soil target called "Mawson" using
instruments on the rover's robotic arm.

All the rock and soil targets in this area are being named after
Antarctic research stations and explorers.

Sol-by-sol highlights:

Sol 812 (April 16, 2006): Spirit performed targeted remote sensing with
the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and acquired microscopic
images of undisturbed soil.

Sol 813: Spirit conducted targeted remote sensing with the panoramic
camera.

Sol 814: Spirit began acquisition of the "McMurdo Pan." The rover
studied a soil target called "Mawson" with the alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer.

Sol 815: Spirit conducted targeted remote sensing with the panoramic
camera and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 816: Rather than pause for new instructions, Spirit continued to
acquire panoramic camera data following master sequences already
transmitted to the rover.

Sols 817 to 819 (April 21-23, 2006): Plans called for Spirit to
continue
work on the "McMurdo panorama," complete overnight studies of the soil
target called "Mawson" with the Moessbauer spectrometer, and conduct
targeted remote sensing.

Odometry:

As of sol 816 (April 20, 2006), Spirit's total odometry remained at
6,876.18 meters (4.27 miles).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Making Progress Toward 'Victoria' - sol 789-797,
Apr
21, 2006:

Opportunity is healthy and making good progress towards "Victoria
Crater." The rover remains on a restricted schedule, driving only every
other day. Last weekend, the rover stopped for some brief robotic arm
work, to characterize the outcrop between "Erebus Crater" and Victoria
Crater. Next week Opportunity is back to a normal schedule, and
engineers hope to get the rover moving every day.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 789 (April 13, 2006): The plan was to drive to outcrop about 26
meters (85 feet) away. However, the drive stopped about 10 meters (33
feet) short by a slip check.

Sol 790: Opportunity conducted untargeted remote science.

Sol 791: The rover did some robotic arm work including: taking
microscopic images and using the rock abrasion tool brush. The rover
attempted a short alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration;
however
it failed due to a sequencing error.

Sol 792: Opportunity drove about 35 meters (115 feet) over an outcrop
and crossed a few ripples.

Sol 793: The rover conducted untargeted remote science.

Sol 794: Opportunity drove about 30 meters (98 feet) towards Victoria
Crater.

Sol 795: The rover conducted untargeted remote science.

Sol 796: After taking pre-drive images of the target "Fort
Leavenworth,"
the team plans to drive about 27 meters (86 feet) down a trough, with
ripple crossings at the start and end.

Sol 797 (April 21, 2006): Opportunity did untargeted remote sensing,
systematic ground surveys with the panoramic camera and miniature
thermal emission spectrometer.

As of 794, Opportunity's total odometry was 7,334.56 meters (4.56
miles).

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mars Exploration Rovers Update - March 11, 2006 [email protected] Astronomy Misc 5 March 19th 06 03:50 AM
Mars Exploration Rovers Update - February 24, 2006 [email protected] News 0 February 27th 06 07:29 AM
Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 15, 2004 Ron Astronomy Misc 0 April 16th 04 05:02 PM
Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 5, 2004 Ron Astronomy Misc 0 April 6th 04 05:08 AM
Mars in opposition: One for the record books (Forwarded) Andrew Yee Astronomy Misc 0 August 3rd 03 04:56 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:36 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 SpaceBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.