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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 03.04.05 00:17l 106 Lines 4565 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 570944ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Rovers status, 31st March
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0SON<DB0HBN<DB0SWR<DK0WUE<7M3TJZ<ON0AR<IW2OAZ<
ZL2BAU<ZL2AB
Sent: 050402/1141Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:59974 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
*SPIRIT UPDATE:
Using Extra Energy to Head Uphill - sol 430-435, March 24, 2005
After a very busy weekend, Spirit packed up the robotic arm and headed
away from an area dubbed "Paso Robles." Spirit should be able to make
good progress towards the "Husband Hill" summit in the upcoming sols,
using as much of the abundant solar energy as it can. Extra power comes
courtesy of an early-March windstorm that blew off year-old dust from
Spirit's electricity-producing solar panels.
*Sol-by-sol summaries:*
On sol 430 (March 19, 2005), Spirit took readings of a soil target
called "Paso Dark" with the Moessbauer spectrometer, made
atmospheric-science observations, shot targeted panoramic camera images
and collected miniature thermal emission spectrometer readings. Then the
rover performed an overnight alpha particle X-ray spectrometer reading
on an area of soil that had a mix of light and dark colors.
On sol 431, Spirit took pictures of the solar panel, some undisturbed
soil, and Paso Dark with the microscopic imager. Spirit also took
another short reading of Paso Dark using the Moessbauer spectrometer
before stowing the robotic arm. The rover then made a short drive
backwards to get in good position for taking images of the area where it
had used the instruments on the robotic arm. After taking those images,
Spirit resumed its drive toward the summit of Husband Hill, rolling a
total of 10 meters (33 feet) for the day. Then it took images from its
new location.
On sol 432, Spirit took panoramic camera images of its own deck for a
little self portrait and made atmospheric-science observations.
On sol 433, Spirit continued with atmospheric readings, took panoramic
camera images of its magnets, and searched for dust devils.
On sol 434, Spirit drove 20 meters (66 feet), did post-drive imaging,
and took atmospheric readings.
On sol 435, Spirit did more atmospheric readings and a survey of the
ground. As of sol 435 (March 24, 2005), Spirit has driven a total of
4,197.5 meters (2.61 miles).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:
Soil Survey - sol 415-420, March 31, 2005
Sometimes Opportunity needs to stop and smell the roses - uh, or the
soil as the case may be. This week, the science team chose to examine
the mineral content of the rippled ground before continuing the
southward trek. The team is interested in comparing the chemical makeup
of the ripples' troughs to that of the ripples' crests. Opportunity
stopped at a nice trough, extended its robotic arm and investigated the
soil. It then drove up onto one of the ripples to examine the crest.
*Sol-by-sol summaries:*
Sols 415 to 417 (March 25-27, 2005):
Zeroing in on a soil target called "Mobarak" in honor of Persian New
Year, Opportunity has had its head down in a trough for three sols
trying to figure out what the trough soil is made of. During an
observation like this, it uses all of its in-situ instruments taking
microscopic images, alpha particle X-ray spectrometer readings and
Mössbauer spectrometer readings.
Sol 418:
After Opportunity had looked at the soil in the trough, it was time to
examine the soil at the top of the ripple. The rover planners perfectly
executed a 7-meter (23-foot) drive that placed the rover right at the
top of the ripple. Opportunity deployed its arm once again and inspected
the soil.
Sols 419 and 420:
Here, Opportunity has the chance to look at two targets, "Norooz" and
"Mayberooz," again studying the soil properties.
Sols 421 and 422 (March 31 and April 1, 2005):
Actually, this is kind of neat. As this report is being written,
Opportunity is on Mars driving away from this soil survey spot and
heading toward the "Viking" crater. When it gets there, it will stop and
image the crater for two days.
-=###=-
73, Alan
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Message timed: 23:22 on 02-Apr-2005, Local time.
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