Mars Exploration Rover Update - March 19, 2004

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/daily/3-19-04.cfm

Spirit Status for sol 74
'Stub Toes' Won't Stop Spirit
posted Mar. 19, 10:30 am PST

Spirit began the morning of Sol 74, which ended at 6:25 a.m. PST on
March 19, 2004, by completing an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
integration on the target "Panda," inside the scuff on "Serpent" drift.
Then Spirit placed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer back down on
the target "Polar" for a 30-minute integration. During that integration,
Spirit took some images of disturbed soil with the panoramic camera, and
acquired some ground temperatures with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer. Spirit then switched the tools on its robotic arm to the
Moessbauer spectrometer for an hour-long integration on Polar. During that
integration, the rover took some sky and ground measurements with the mini
thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit finished its arm activities for the
day by acquiring three microscopic images of Polar and three more of Panda.

Starting around 12:35 p.m. Mars Local Solar time, Spirit made a direct drive
of about six meters (19.7 feet) to another section of the Serpent drift
complex, called "Stub Toe." There the rover repeatedly scuffed the drift and
advanced .15 meters (half a foot) in a series of five "scuff and drives."
After the five scuffs and advances were made, Spirit roved forward another
3 meters (9.8 feet) and then looked back over its shoulder using the mini
thermal emission spectrometer and navigation cameras to analyze the damage.
The rover continued along the Bonneville crater rim with a 16-meter direct
drive, and then an auto-navigation drive for 9 meters (29.5 feet). Spirit
completed a final set of drives to set up for a touch and go on sol 75 at
around 2:10 p.m. Mars Local Solar time. The total amount of driving for
sol 74 was an impressive 34.3 meters (112.5 feet).

Spirit then took navigation camera and panoramic camera images of the drive
directions for planning the sol 75 traverse. The rover acquired some mini
thermal emission spectrometer reconnaissance images and then took a 30-minute
siesta before the afternoon Odyssey relay pass. During that pass, Spirit
used the mini thermal emission spectrometer to acquire a sky profile and
ground temperature observations.

On sol 75, which will end at 7:05 a.m. PST on March 20, 2004, Spirit will
place the microscopic imager on a soil target and drive about 22 meters
(72.2 feet) around the Bonneville crater rim. Spirit will also conduct
atmospheric observations with the mini thermal emission spectrometer and
panoramic camera.