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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 14.06.04 13:25l 101 Lines 4517 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : BA0024ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Rovers status, 9/10 June
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0EA<DB0RES<DB0LJ<LX0HST<HA3PG<7M3TJZ<ZL2BAU<
ZL2BAU<ZL2AB
Sent: 040614/1105Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:42044 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
Update: Spirit and Opportunity
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Surpasses 3 Kilometer Mark!
- sol 148-151, June 09, 2004
During sols 148 through 151, Spirit advanced significantly closer to the
"Columbia Hills" and now sits only 220 meters (722 feet) from its first
target at the base, a location informally named "Spur B."
Sol 148 was a driving sol, with Spirit completing a 64.7-meter (212.3
feet) engineer-directed drive. This put the rover in position for some
sol 149 work with the robotic arm, and provided a great view of the
Columbia Hills.
On Sol 149, Spirit took a break from driving and surveyed the Columbia
Hills with the panoramic camera and mini thermal emissions spectrometer.
After that, the rover attained an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
observation of the filter magnet and capture magnet. Spirit takes a look
at its magnets every now and then to assess what magnetically
susceptible materials have accumulated. The last magnet check was on sol
92.
Spirit used its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and Mössbauer
spectrometer to observe a rock called "Joshua" on sol 150.
Unfortunately, the rest of the sol's planned work with the instrument
deployment device did not take place because of a command anomaly, which
made Spirit think that a collision between the rock abrasion tool and
the forearm might occur. Therefore, the tool change and all subsequent
arm motions were prevented for the rest of the sol.
Spirit was back to business on sol 151, and finished observing Joshua
and the science magnets with the tools on the instrument deployment
device. After that, the rover was off, and successfully completed a
73-meter (240 feet) drive toward the Columbia Hills.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity on the Edge
- sol 130-133, June 10, 2004
On sol 130 Opportunity traversed a total of about 45 meters (about 147.6
feet). About 39 meters (about 127.9 feet) of that was counter-clockwise
along the edge of "Endurance Crater," and 6 meters (about 19.7 feet)
toward the crater rim. The sol ended with the rover about 10 meters
(32.8 feet) from the crater rim. The traverse ended up about 1 meter
(about 3.3 feet) short of what was commanded due to a slightly uneven
patch of ground that the rover seemed to run across near the end of the
drive. Driving over this tripped a suspension limit that rover planners
had set to help prevent inadvertently driving into difficult terrain.
Deep sleep was again invoked for the night of sol 130 to 131.
On sol 131 the rover successfully traversed up the slope to the crater
edge, took a detailed set of images and then backed off a little to
optimize its orientation for the rover's communications passes. These
images will aid in the project's assessment of traversing on the
interior slopes of Endurance Crater in this vicinity. Deep sleep was not
invoked on this night, in favor of relaying data to Mars Odyssey in the
early morning on sol 132.
On sol 132 the rover re-approached the crater rim at the location and
orientation most advantageous for the "pre-dip" into the crater. This
approach was designed to just crest the edge of the crater and leave the
rover roughly level (with the front two wheels in the crater). The drive
executed beautifully.
On sol 133 the rover executed the first real "dip" into Endurance
Crater. The intent was to go far enough in that all wheels would be on
the slope of the crater, and then come all the way back out, proving
that the rover was capable of getting back out before going very deep.
The other main objective was to gather information on the degree and
nature of any slip that would be experienced while traversing the crater
wall. The execution went extremely well, with slips and disturbance of
the terrain well below acceptable levels, giving the team confidence
that the rover is capable of going deeper. The engineering team will
continue to characterize the variety of slopes and materials that
Opportunity will encounter deeper in the crater.
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
Message timed: 23:01 on 2004-Jun-14
Quotable quotes
---------------
Computers
---------
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my
telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my
telephone"
--Bjarne Stronstrup (originator of C++ programming language)
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