MER-B Takes The Opportunity To Bite Into A Rock Called Strawberry

MARSDAILY

illustration only

Pasadena CA (JPL) Aug 22, 2005
Opportunity completed a study of the cobble area by taking a close look at the cobble "Arkansas" and a nearby soil target named "Reiner Gamma" with the instruments on the robotic arm.

A 3-meter (10-foot) bump took the rover to an outcrop dubbed "Fruit Basket" for an intensive investigation of targets there. So far Opportunity has studied "Lemon Rind" with its complete suite of robotic arm instruments, and begun an inspection of "Strawberry." The plan is to drive east to the "Erebus Highway" after finishing work at Fruit Basket.

Sol-by-sol summaries

Sol 552 (Aug. 12, 2005): Opportunity took pictures with the microscopic imager of soil target Reiner Gamma and took alpha particle X-ray spectrometer readings on cobble Arkansas.

Sol 553 and 554: Opportunity took more Moessbauer spectrometer readings on Arkansas and took alpha particle X-ray spectrometer readings on Reiner Gamma.

Sol 555: Opportunity finished work with the robotic arm on the cobble area and drove to a new outcrop, Fruit Basket.

Sol 556 and 557: Opportunity performed robotic arm work on Lemon Rind, a target on Fruit Basket. The microscopic imager took pictures before and after the rock abrasion tool brushed the area. The rover also used the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and Moessbauer spectrometer.

Sol 558: Opportunity performed robotic arm work on another target, Strawberry, taking pictures with the microscopic imager before and after a light grinding with the rock abrasion tool. Spirit also used the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 559 (Aug.19, 2005): The plan is to use the Moessbauer spectrometer on Lemon Rind.

As of the end of its 558th sol on Mars, Opportunity has driven 5,729 meters (about 3.56 miles).

MARSDAILY

Opportunity Entering Cobble Field

Pasadena CA (JPL) Aug 19, 2005
Opportunity had a busy week! The rover has been using the rock abrasion tool and all of its spectrometers and imaging instruments. It has been healthy but slightly constrained in the flash memory.

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