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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 19.03.04 01:12l 89 Lines 3612 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : D70660ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Status, 18th March
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Sent: 040318/2234Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:37744 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
Update: Spirit and Opportunity
SPIRIT UPDATE: A Close-Up of 'Serpent' - sol 73, Mar 18, 2004
Spirit spent most of sol 73, which ended at 5:46 a.m. PST on March 18,
2004, analyzing targets in the drift dubbed "serpent" with the
microscopic imager. But before the close-ups began, Spirit acquired
miniature thermal emission spectrometer inertia measurements on a
disturbed area of soil. It also caputred panoramic camera images of the
scuffed area, dubbed "Bear Paw," the wheel that did the digging, and a
nearby rock target named "White Elephant."
The microscopic imager work began at 11:00 am Mars Local Solar Time and
was targeted at four points within the scuffed area on Serpent. The
targets were given the bear-type names of Polar, Spectacled, Kodiak and
Panda. For each target, seven microscopic images were taken to assure
proper focus. At the Spectacled and Kodiak targets, a microscopic image
with the filter in place was also taken for pseudo-color. Then the
Moessbauer was placed on Panda and started an overnight integration. The
arm activities were completed by about noon Mars Local Solar time, and
were followed by the second thermal inertia measurement on the disturbed
soil.
The rover took a siesta until 1:00 p.m. Mars Local Solar time, and then
woke up for a series of mini thermal emission spectrometer observations
on the rocks named "White Elephant," "Fruitcake," and "Dihedral." Then
the third and last thermal inertia measurement was taken on the
disturbed soil.
Spirit took another quick nap in the afternoon, and then completed sky
measurements with the mini thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic
camera.
Spirit will have an early start on sol 74, which will end at 6:25 a.m.
PST March 19, 2004. Sol 74 will include a tool change to the alpha
particle X-ray spectrometer and the beginning of an integration on the
drift target named Panda. Before the sol is over, Spirit will also
analyze an undisturbed area of the Serpent drift before continuing to
drive around the rim of "Bonneville" crater.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Scrutinizing the Soil - sol 52, Mar 17, 2004
Sol 52, which ended at 5:27 p.m. PST on March 17, was a full day for
Opportunity, punctuated by short naps. The rover arm was deployed on the
first of five targets in the rover's current soil survey. The soil was
examined by all the rover's spectrometers and the panoramic camera.
In the afternoon, the rover moved about 6 meters (about 20 feet) to the
second soil target, performing several remote observations along the
way. Closing out the sol, Opportunity's alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer began to inspect the capture magnets on the front of the
rover. Clues about Mars' watery history are present even in the smallest
dust grains that settle on these magnet arrays.
Images of Opportunity's "scuff" experiment on the rock "Carousel"
reached Earth this sol. Scientists are currently examining the results.
In honor of Opportunity's 52nd sol on Mars, engineers chose "Rock
Lobster" by the B52s as a wake-up tune.
In the coming sols, the rover will travel to the final targets in the
soil survey.
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
Message timed: 11:23 on 2004-Mar-19 (NZT)
Message sent using WinPack-AGW V6.80
Points to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marriage
~~~~~~~~
Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking
they had no faults at all.
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