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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 18.04.04 11:14l 72 Lines 3176 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 800764ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Opportunity status, 17th April
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<7M3TJZ<ZL2TZE<W7NTF<WA7V<VK7AX<
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Sent: 040418/0851Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:39057 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Record-Setting Drive - sol 81 & 82, Apr 17, 2004
Three days after switching to new software with mobility-enhancing
features, NASA's Opportunity shattered the record for a single day's
driving on Mars. The rover covered 140.9 maters (462 feet) during its
82nd sol on Mars, ending at 2:15 p.m. PDT, Saturday, May 17. That is
about 40 meters farther than either the best previous one-day drive, by
Opportunity two weeks ago, or the total distance covered by NASA's
smaller Sojourner rover during its entire three-month mission in 1997.
The first 55 meters (180 feet) was done as a "blind" guided drive based
on images acquired previously. Speed during that session averaged 120
meters (394 feet) per hour. For the rest, Opportunity used autonomous
navigation, watching for obstacles, choosing its own path, and averaging
40 meters (131 feet) per hour. After the drive, the rover took
forward-looking images for planning the next drive.
On the previous martian day, sol 81, Opportunity awoke with its alpha
particle X-ray spectrometer on a soil target called "Beagle Burrow"
inside a trench the rover had dug on sol 73. The rover removed the
instrument arm, stowed it, then backed up to image the trench before
driving toward a crater nicknamed "Fram Crater." Opportunity then
completed a 7.5-meter (24.6-foot) drive to a trough to image a rock
outcrop within it with the panoramic camera. After a bit of guided
driving, the rover set out using its autonomous navigation. The sol 81
drive totaled more than 40 meters (131 feet).
Nearly reaching the second of four waypoints on the way to Fram Crater,
the rover imaged its new surroundings to identify any future driving
hazards. An afternoon nap preceded sol 81's final science session,
atmospheric observations with the miniature thermal emission
spectrometer and the panoramic camera.
Rover controllers devoted sol 82 to driving after some morning
atmospheric observations and a quick look back with the panoramic
camera. The record-setting run took three hours -- a good time for a
marathon. It brought Opportunity to within about 90 meters (295 feet) of
Fram Crater. It also took Opportunity over the 600-meter threshold, a
criterion that had been set for at least one of the Mars Exploration
Rovers to achieve in order for the mission to be called a success.
Opportunity has now traveled 627.7 meters (0.39 mile). Spirit passed the
600-meter threshold two weeks ago.
Rover wake-up music for sol 82 was "I Would Walk 500 Miles," by Less
Than Jake (originally by the Proclaimers).
For sol 83, ending at 2:54 p.m. PDT, Sunday, April 18, another drive day
is planned for Opportunity, with a goal of getting the rover close to
Fram Crater. Scientists then plan to use Opportunity for some
investigations of that location.
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
Message timed: 20:32 on 2004-Apr-18 (NZT)
Message sent using WinPack-AGW V6.80
Points to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rural wisdom
------------
Keep skunks, lawyers and bankers at a distance.
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