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ZL2VAL > ROVERS 06.03.04 18:44l 71 Lines 3146 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 5200-ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Rovers status, 4th March
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Sent: 040306/1016Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:37159 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g $:5200-ZL
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : ROVERS@WW
Update: Spirit and Opportunity
SPIRIT UPDATE: Ready to Hit the Road Again - sol 60, Mar 04, 2004
Spirit completed its observations at "Middle Ground" on its 60th martian
sol, ending at 9:11 p.m., PST on March 4. Waking up to "Pictures to
Prove It," by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Spirit finished gathering
data from the rock abrasion tool hole on "Humphrey" with the alpha
particle X-ray spectrometer and the microscopic imager.
The panoramic camera then continued to acquire more images for the
360-degree view from the current rover position at "Middle Ground."
After backing up 0.85 meters (about 2.8 feet), the miniature thermal
emission spectrometer and panoramic camera had their turn to collect
data and images from both of the rock abrasion tool's latest efforts on
"Humphrey" - the triple-brushed area and the depression.
As of this sol, Spirit has traveled 195.24 meters (about 641 feet).
Plans for next sol include backing up and turning to avoid "Ingrid," a
20-centimeter (about 8 inches) rock to the west of "Humphrey," and then
driving approximately 25 meters (82 feet) toward "Bonneville" in the
northeast. Spirit will also snap the final images that will make up the
360-degree panorama of "Middle Ground."
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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Fit At Forty - sol 40, Mar 05, 2004
After 40 good days on the surface, Opportunity is showing no signs of
middle age.
On sol 40, which ended at 9:32 a.m. PST, March 5, 2004, Opportunity
finished a set of overnight alpha particle X-ray spectrometer
measurements at "Last Chance" and completed a morning set of panoramic
camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer remote sensing
observations. At 11:30 Local Solar Time, engineers retracted the alpha
particle X-ray spectrometer off the target, took a final set of 24
microscopic images, and stowed the arm for driving.
Opportunity then scored another first by successfully using visual
odometry to navigate autonomously on Mars. During a drive along the
crater wall, the vehicle properly identified wheel slippage on the steep
slope of the crater wall using features in the navigation camera
imagery. This effectively provided a mid-course correction that landed
the science and engineering team exactly at the target location where
they want Opportunity to do work using the instruments on the rover arm
on sol 41.
The plan for sol 41, which will end at 10:12 a.m. PST, March 6 will be
to take microscopic images of an area dubbed "Wave Ripple" in the "Last
Chance" area, followed by a traverse to "Slick Rock" in the "Berry Bowl"
area.
73 de Alan
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