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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 07.05.04 14:29l 67 Lines 2709 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : D90838ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Status, 6th May
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0MRW<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0GOS<DB0OVN<DB0LJ<DB0RES<ON0AR<
7M3TJZ<ZL2TZE<ZL2AB
Sent: 040507/1156Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:40004 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
Update: Spirit and Opportunity
SPIRIT UPDATE: 'Columbia Hills' on the Horizon - sol 118-120, May 06, 2004
Spirit is now approximately 1.7 kilometers (1 mile) away from the base
of the "Columbia Hills" after three long sols of driving. Its odometer
currently reads 1,566 meters (.97 miles) and counting.
Sol 118 was a record-breaking driving sol for Spirit. The Gusev Crater
rover moved 92.4 meters (303 feet) across the surface in one sol,
breaking its previous record of around 90 meters (295 feet). The
Opportunity rover still has Spirit beat with a one-sol driving record of
140 meters (459.3 feet).
Sol 119 proved to be a more difficult sol for Spirit. An uplink
configuration error prevented the sequence load from successfully
getting on board the rover. Rover controllers took advantage of the down
day by deleting afternoon communication sessions and enabling the rover
to charge its battery during a long afternoon nap.
It was back to business as usual on sol 120. Before embarking on its
drive, Spirit imaged a rock called "Tulula" with the panoramic camera.
The rover then successfully executed a blind drive before using the
autonomous navigation system to continue into uncharted territory. After
reaching the time-of-day driving limit, Spirit turned and performed
penultimate (next to last stop) imaging. The next move would have taken
the rover 85 centimeters (33.5 inches) to its ultimate stopping point,
but did not execute because Spirit was facing a small sand ridge that
was perceived as a hazard. Without a penultimate/ultimate image pair,
rover controllers could not be sure that the area underneath the rover
was clear of hazards for instrument arm deployment. As a result, Sol 121
will be another driving sol that controllers hope will place Spirit in a
suitable location to use the instruments on its instrument deployment
device.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: An Eyeful at 'Endurance' - sol 98-99, May 06, 2004
Opportunity continues to gaze at the incredible "Endurance Crater" from
its vantage point on the western rim. Remote sensing, including
gathering of imagery of two potential traverse targets just inside the
northern edge and southwestern edge of the crater, will continue on the
rover's 100th sol.
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
Message timed: 23:44 on 2004-May-07 (NZT)
Message sent using WinPack-AGW V6.80
Points to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rural wisdom
------------
Never lay an angry hand on a kid or an animal, it just ain't helpful.
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