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Spirit Still Sitting Pretty For This Time Of Year
Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 23, 2008 Despite a slight increase in atmospheric opacity caused by dust, Spirit is still enjoying higher-than-expected energy levels for this time of year. Solar array input has been approximately 240 watt-hours per Martian day, or sol (100 watt-hours is the amount of energy needed to light a 100-watt bulb for one hour). Clear skies have had the unfavorable effect, however, of causing a drop in temperatures at the surface of Mars, increasing the bitter cold experienced by Spirit's rover electronics module. Nighttime temperatures are creeping closer to the point where they will trigger the survival heaters, which draw a large amount of power. A much more desirable strategy is to keep Spirit awake long enough each day to keep the electronics module sufficiently warm with heat from normal operations, providing more time for science observations. "Awake time" vs. heating time is just one of the many trade-offs the team makes each day to keep Spirit going through the Martian winter. In addition to daily communications that include direct-from-Earth instructions via the rover's high-gain antenna and, as power permits, data relays to Earth via the Odyssey orbiter, Spirit continues to monitor atmospheric dust levels each day with the panoramic camera. In addition, during the past week, Spirit completed the following activities: Sol 1517 (April 9, 2008): Spirit completed a mini-survey of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer; acquired column 8, part 3 of the full-color "Bonestell Panorama" using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera; and shot movie frames in search of clouds with the navigation camera. Sol 1518: Spirit completed a mini-survey of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer; acquired a 2-by-1-by-1 stack of microscopic images of the rover's solar array; acquired column 9, part 1 of the Bonestell panorama; and took spot images of the sky for calibration purposes with the panoramic camera. Sol 1519: Spirit surveyed the rover's external calibration target with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and acquired column 9, part 2 of the Bonestell panorama. To conserve energy, the rover did not relay data to Odyssey. Sol 1520: Spirit completed a mini-survey of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer; measured atmospheric opacity caused by dust with the navigation camera (as well as the panoramic camera); and acquired movie frames in search of clouds with the navigation camera. The rover took spot images of the sky and surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera. Spirit did not relay data to Odyssey. Sol 1521: Spirit completed a mini-survey of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer; calibrated the elevation of the miniature thermal emission spectrometer; and acquired column 9, part 3 of the Bonestell panorama. Sol 1522: Spirit completed a mini-survey of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer; took thumbnail images of the sky and surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera; and acquired lossless-compression images of wind-blown deposits next to the rover with the hazard-avoidance cameras. Spirit did not relay data to Odyssesy. Sol 1523: Spirit recharged the battery and did not relay data to Odyssey. Sol 1524: (April 16, 2008): Spirit recharged the battery. Odometry: As of sol 1524 (April 16, 2008), Spirit's total odometry remained at 7,528.07 meters (4.68 miles). Related Links the missing link Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Lunar Dreams and more
Driving on Mars Is Hard
Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 23, 2008This week Opportunity demonstrated the challenges of operating a vehicle on the surface of another planet. The rover is en route to Cape Verde to acquire high-resolution images of the layering in the rocks. To get there, Opportunity must cross some sandy stretches. Before entering the sandy areas, Opportunity will need to stop and take a "toe dip'' -- that is, drive forward a short distance and back out again -- to characterize the terrain. |
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