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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 27.02.04 11:32l 86 Lines 3853 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 3E0562ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Rovers Status, 26th Feb
Path: DB0FHN<DB0THA<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0GOS<DB0EEO<DB0RES<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<ZL2BAU<
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Sent: 040227/0959Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:36675 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
Update: Spirit and Opportunity
SPIRIT UPDATE: Eyeing Martian Dust Devils - sol 53, Feb 26, 2004
On sol 53, which ends at 4:34 p.m. PST on February 26, Spirit woke up to
the 70s ballad "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas, with the anticipation of
possibly capturing dust devils spinning across the martian surface. The
rear hazard avoidance camera was commanded to "roll tape" from 12:00 to
12:30 local solar time to record these so-called "mini-tornadoes." The
behavior of dust devils helps scientists track the transfer of dust on
the red planet.
A final, .85-meter (about 2.8 feet) drive brought Spirit to its exact
target at the "Middle Ground" site. The rover also conducted an
examination, using its microscopic imager and alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer, of the magnet arrays that are collecting airborne dust.
In the coming sols Spirit will inspect the soil at its current position
with the tools on its arm. Following that, the plans call for the rover
to approach the rock called "Humphrey." After a thorough assessment of
"Humphrey," the rock abrasion tool will be used to brush and then grind.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: New Communications Plan - sol 32, Feb 26, 2004
On sol 32, which ended at 4:15 a.m. Thursday, February 26, Opportunity
awoke to "Let It Be" by the Beatles. Opportunity's day was focused on
getting a second Mössbauer instrument measurement of the hole created by
the rock abrasion tool at the "McKittrick" rock site. The Mössbauer can
detect spectral signatures of different iron-bearing minerals.
The data from the first Mössbauer spectrum of "McKittrick" was received
on Earth Wednesday afternoon. The alpha proton X-ray spectrometer data
from yestersol at this target was retransmitted to Earth again Wednesday
to get missing packets of data that were not received during the first
data communications relay. Opportunity also snapped pictures of the rock
areas named "Maya" and "Jericho" with the panoramic camera and took
miniature thermal emission spectrometer measurements of the sky and "El
Capitan" throughout the sol.
The amount of power Opportunity is able to generate continues to dwindle
due to the decreasing amount of sunlight (energy) reaching the solar
panels during the martian seasonal transition to winter. Because of
this, the engineers are adjusting the rover's daily communications
activities. To minimize power use for communications sessions, engineers
began a new "receive only" morning direct-from-earth communication
relay. This lower-power communication mode was successful. Opportunity
will continue with this approach to maximize the available power for
driving and science activities as Mars moves farther away from Earth and
the Sun in its elliptical orbit.
In conjunction with the morning communications session change, engineers
added a second afternoon Mars Odyssey orbiter relay pass, which uses
less power in transmitting data volume than direct-to-Earth
communication. This additional Odyssey pass more than compensated for
the elimination of the morning direct-to-Earth downlink. Engineers also
continue to effectively use rover "naps" throughout the day to maximize
energy savings.
The plan for sol 33, which ends at 4:55 a.m. Friday, February 27, is to
take a very short trip (10 to 20 centimeters or 4 to 8 inches) towards
the next rock abrasion tool target site, "Guadalupe."
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
Message timed: 22:49 on 2004-Feb-27 (NZT)
Message sent using WinPack-AGW V6.80
Points to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marriage
~~~~~~~~
You have two choices in life: you can stay single and be miserable,or get
married and wish you were dead
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