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Finishing Up Scuff Work And Heading For Emma Dean
Pasadena CA (SPX) Sep 13, 2006 Opportunity is healthy and just over 100 meters (328 feet) from "Victoria Crater." The rover completed robotic arm work on a scuff mark it made on sol 919. On sol 929 (Sept. 4, 2006), Opportunity almost got a hole-in-one by driving 100.31 meters (329 feet) to the small crater "Emma Dean." The rover arrived just 5 meters (16 feet) short of Emma Dean. On sol 931 the rover photographed the bit of the rock abrasion tool (RAT) to help engineers estimate how many more grinds might be possible with the tool. The hazard avoidance camera took several high-resolution images at different angles. The RAT engineers are examining them to see how much "bite" is left in the RAT. Also on sol 931, a short bump to an ejecta rock was attempted in the hopes of grinding it. Another bump (tentatively scheduled for sol 937) will have to be attempted before the rover can actually grind it. The remainder of the week had Opportunity acquiring remote-sensing science at Emma Dean. Following the robotic arm campaign at Emma Dean, Opportunity will continue its drive to Victoria Crater. Sol-by-sol summaries: Sol 928 (Sept. 3, 2006): Opportunity used the microscopic imager on the robotic arm to look at scuff-mark targets "Powell" and "Powell's Brother." The rover also used the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on Powell's Brother. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer was also used on this sol. Sol 929: The rover bumped back this sol and used its panoramic camera. It also drove forward toward the small crater referred to as Emma Dean. The rover also took some post-drive images. Sol 930: This sol consisted of untargeted remote sensing. Sol 931: Opportunity bumped to a rover arm target at Emma Dean and conducted untargeted remote sensing. Sol 932: The rover conducted untargeted remote sensing. Sol 933: Opportunity conducted targeted remote sensing. Sol 934: Opportunity conducted targeted remote sensing. Sol 935 (Sept. 10, 2006): Opportunity conducted targeted remote sensing. As of sol 931 (Sept. 6, 2006), Opportunity's total odometry was 9,128.84 meters (5.67 miles). Related Links Mars Rovers at JPL Mars Rovers at Cornell Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Reaches Planned Flight Path
Pasadena CA (SPX) Sep 13, 2006NASA's newest spacecraft at Mars has completed the challenging half-year task of shaping its orbit to the nearly circular, low-altitude pattern from which it will scrutinize the planet. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter fired its six intermediate-size thrusters for 12.5 minutes Monday afternoon, Sept. 11, shifting the low point of its orbit to stay near the Martian south pole and the high point to stay near the north pole. |
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