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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 29.06.04 13:38l 93 Lines 4288 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 5C0071ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Status, 25th June
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0MRW<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<ZL2BAU<ZL2AB
Sent: 040629/1124Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:43090 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
Update: Spirit and Opportunity
*SPIRIT UPDATE:
Edging Up on 'Pot-of-Gold' - sol 164-166, June 25, 2004
Spirit spent the last few sols getting into position on the rock target
"Pot-of-Gold" for an upcoming grind with the rock abrasion tool. This
repositioning has not been easy due to slippage in the sandy-sloped
terrain at the base of the "Columbia Hills."
On sol 164, Spirit completed an overnight alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer observation on Pot-of-Gold and then gathered additional
microscopic images of the rock. In the afternoon, rover planners tried
to reposition Spirit from a heading of about 170 degrees to a heading of
about 95 degrees to improve the instrument deployment device positioning
on Pot-of-Gold for the upcoming rock abrasion tool work. The planned
traverse sent Spirit past Pot-of-Gold, down a slope on the west side of
"Hank's Hollow," then turned the rover to re-approach at the desired
heading. The slope and slippage was greater then expected, leaving the
rover at a westerly tilt of 19 degrees and almost 2 meters (6.6 feet)
away from the target.
Spirit worked toward getting into position in front of Pot-of-Gold on
sol 165, but given the slippage and need to avoid overshooting the
target, engineers anticipated it would take at least two sols to get
properly repositioned. Unfortunately, the drive made less progress than
desired due in part to a collection of rocks encountered by the left
rear wheel.
On sol 166, Spirit took advantage of its current position and used the
gathered Moessbauer data and microscopic images of the soil in front of
it before continuing the hill climb. Spirit's front wheels made it over
the crest, leaving the rover at about a 13-degree tilt and still about 1
meter (3.3 feet) from Pot-of-Gold.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:
Edging Down 'Endurance' - sol 141-143, June 22, 2004
Opportunity is showing no signs of middle age as it continues to work in
"Endurance Crater." The rover has spent the last few sols inching
farther down into the crater, making observations and pushing the
limits. Managing resources as the rover's tilt angle changes is
challenging and keeps the rover planning team very busy.
On sol 141 Opportunity completed post-rock abrasion tool Moessbauer
spectrometer observations on the rock called "Tennessee." Having spent
the last four sols investigating Tennessee, Opportunity stowed its arm
and moved deeper into Endurance Crater. A 0.70-meter (2.3 feet) drive
positioned the vehicle to begin observations on the first contact point,
a transition between two different geologic layers. As it turns out,
after arriving at the rover's new location and taking images, there
appears to be not one contact point, but three contact points all within
reach of the arm. Opportunity then performed 2.5 hours of remote
observations using the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission
spectrometer. The rover then went into deep sleep mode for the night.
On sol 142 Opportunity begin another series of microscopic imager
observations on three different targets: "Bluegrass," "Siula Grande" and
"Churchill." The rover then performed alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
and Moessbauer spectrometer integrations overnight.
On sol 143 Opportunity again used its rock abrasion tool, but not
without some consternation from the uplink team. In order to grind using
the rock abrasion tool, a minimum of force must be used to push the tool
onto the target. With the vehicle tilted 23.2 degrees, there was concern
that applying too much force could cause the vehicle to lose traction on
the slope and slide farther into the crater, possibly damaging the arm.
Concerns were pacified when the rock abrasion tool operation worked
flawlessly, abrading approximately 3 millimeters (about 0.12 inches)
into the rock called "Cobble Hill."
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
Message timed: 23:19 on 2004-Jun-29
Wackiest Warning Labels Ever
----------------------------
* A warning on an electric router made for carpenters cautions, "This
product not intended for use as a dental drill."
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