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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 22.09.04 20:45l 92 Lines 4179 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Press release, 21 Sept.
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Sent: 040922/1042Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:48209 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
NEWS RELEASE: 2004-234
September 21, 2004
Rover Missions Renewed as Mars Emerges from Behind Sun
As NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers resumed reliable contact with
Earth, after a period when Mars passed nearly behind the Sun, the space
agency extended funding for an additional six months of rover
operations, as long as they keep working.
Both rovers successfully completed their primary three-month missions on
the surface of Mars in April and have already added about five months of
bonus exploration during the first extension of their missions.
"Spirit and Opportunity appear ready to continue their remarkable
adventures," said Andrew Dantzler, solar system division director at
NASA Headquarters, Washington. "We're taking advantage of that good news
by adding more support for the teamwork here on Earth that's necessary
for operating the rovers."
Neither rover drove during a 12-day period this month, while radio
transmissions were unreliable because of the Sun's position between the
two planets. Daily planning and commanding of rover activities
recommenced Monday for Opportunity and today for Spirit.
"It is a relief to get past this past couple of weeks," said Jim
Erickson, project manager for both rovers at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "Not only were communications disrupted,
but the rovers were also going through the worst part of Mars
southern-hemisphere winter from a solar-energy standpoint."
"Although Spirit and Opportunity are well past warranty, they are
showing few signs of wearing out," Erickson said. "We really don't know
how long they will keep working, whether days or months. We will do our
best to continue getting the maximum possible benefit from these great
national resources."
Rover science team members will spend less time at JPL during the second
mission extension. They are able to attend daily planning meetings by
teleconferencing from their home institutions in several states and in
Europe. "All 150 science team members and collaborators have been
provided the tools to be able to participate remotely," said JPL's Dr.
John Callas, science manager for the rover project. Workstations
researchers used at JPL are at their home institutions. Planning tools
include video feeds, workstation display remote viewing, and audio
conferencing.
Besides reducing costs, remote operations allow scientists to spend more
time at home. "We get back to more normal lives, back to our families,
and we still get to explore Mars every day," said Dr. Steve Squyres of
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator.
Another change in operations is a shift from seven days per week to five
days per week from October through December. This accommodates a
temporary trim of about 20 percent in the project's engineering team to
about 100 members. The rovers' reduced energy supply, during the rest of
the martian winter, makes the inactive days valuable for recharging
batteries. By January, the energy situation will have improved for the
solar-powered rovers, provided they are still operating. The team size
will rebound to support daily operations.
As Mars emerges from behind the Sun, Spirit is partway up the west spur
of highlands called the "Columbia Hills," a drive of more than 3
kilometers (2 miles) from its landing site. Opportunity is inside
stadium-size "Endurance Crater," headed toward the base of a stack of
exposed rock layers in "Burns Cliff," and a potential exit route on the
crater's south side.
JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena,
manages the Mars Exploration Rover project for NASA's Science Mission
Directorate, Washington. Images and additional information about the
project are available on the Web at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov
and http://athena.cornell.edu
73, Alan, ZL2VAL @ ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC (Sysop)
IP: zl2val@qsl.net
APRS: 3906.34s/17406.45e]
Message timed: 22:38 on 2004-Sep-22
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Old Age
-------
If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh
at
when you are old.
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