Mars Exploration Rovers Update - April 23, 2004

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/daily/4-23-04.cfm

Spirit Status for sol 106 - 108
A Little Science, a Lot of Driving
posted Apr. 23, 1:45 pm PDT

Spirit spent most of sol 106, which ended at 4:32
a.m. PDT on April 21, performing remote sensing
on the inside of "Missoula Crater." It acquired
panoramic camera and mini thermal emission
spectrometer panoramas and navigation camera
images of the crater, along with some panoramic
camera images looking back toward "Bonneville"
crater.

On the morning of sol 107, which ended at 5:12
a.m. PDT on April 22, Spirit got some atmospheric
and cloud observations with the panoramic camera
and mini thermal emission spectrometer. The rover
then took a look with the panoramic camera at
three targets called "Gratteri Piazza," "Wallula
Gap," and "Clark Fork." Finally it was time to
drive. Spirit completed a 73.8-meter (242-feet)
traverse that included a jog around a sandy hollow
to the east of Missoula. Most of the drive was in
the southeast direction on course to the "Columbia
Hills." After the drive, Spirit acquired additional
panoramic camera and navigation camera
observations. The total odometry at the end of sol
107 was 976.77 meters (.6 miles).

Spirit continued driving toward the Columbia Hills
on sol 108, which ended at 5:51 a.m. PDT on April
23, and will drive some more on sol 109, which
ends at 6:31 a.m. on April 24.

The wakeup song on sol 109 was "(Take me)
Driving in my Car" by Woodie Guthrie.



Opportunity Status for sol 86
Rock Abrasion Tool Pesters 'Pilbara'
posted Apr. 23, 11 am PDT

Opportunity's 86th sol, which ended at 4:53 p.m.
PDT on April 21, was another record-breaker! A
nearly two-and-a-half hour grind produced an
impressive 7.2 millimeter (about 0.28 inches) hole
in the rock called "Pilbara."

The plan for the rest of the sol called for placing the
alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the new
impression to determine the elemental composition
of the exposed area. It was determined, however,
that the rover position would not allow for a safe
integration of the instrument. Rover planners
amended the plan for the sol so the rover would
back up and reposition itself for a safe placement of
the spectrometer after the rock abrasion tool
completed the grind.

On sol 87 the rover will analyze the rock abrasion
tool hole with the alpha particle X-ray and
Moessbauer spectrometers.