Spirit and Opportunity... [Archive] - Thoughts Media Forums

Steven Cedrone

01-25-2004, 02:00 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040124a.html

"Hours before NASA's Opportunity rover will reach Mars, engineers have found a way to communicate reliably with its twin, Spirit, and to get Spirit's computer out of a cycle of rebooting many times a day.

Spirit's responses to commands sent this morning confirm a theory developed overnight that the problem is related to the rover's two "flash" memories or software controlling those memories."

...

"Spirit has 256 megabytes of flash memory, a type commonly used on gear such as digital cameras for holding data even when the power is off. Engineers confirmed this morning that Spirit's recent symptoms are related to the flash memory when they commanded the rover to boot up and utilize its random-access memory instead of flash memory. The rover then obeyed commands about communicating and going into sleep mode. Spirit communicated successfully at 120 bits per second for nearly an hour.

"We have a vehicle that is stable in power and thermal, and we have a working hypothesis we have confirmed," Theisinger said. By commanding Spirit each morning into a mode that avoids using flash memory, engineers plan to get it to communicate at a higher data rate, to diagnose the root cause of the problem and develop ways to restore as much functioning as possible. "

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-25-2004, 02:03 AM

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:
The spacecraft is on a correct course for its landing Saturday night, around 9:05 pm PST (Sunday, 5:05 am UTC). Watch NASA TV (NASA TV schedule / Download Player)

SPIRIT UPDATE: - Jan 24, 2004, 3:30 pm PST
Hours before NASA's Opportunity rover will reach Mars, engineers have found a way to communicate reliably with its twin, Spirit, and to get Spirit's computer out of a cycle of rebooting many times a day. >>

Steve

denivan

01-25-2004, 02:07 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040124a.html
Spirit's responses to commands sent this morning confirm a theory developed overnight that the problem is related to the rover's two "flash" memories or software controlling those memories."

"Spirit has 256 megabytes of flash memory, a type commonly used on gear such as digital cameras for holding data even when the power is off. Engineers confirmed this morning that Spirit's recent symptoms are related to the flash memory when they commanded the rover to boot up and utilize its random-access memory instead of flash memory.
Steve

So, any guesses on what brand of flash memory they used ?
:D :D :D :D :D :D

dlangton

01-25-2004, 02:24 AM

So, any guesses on what brand of flash memory they used ?

Don't know about the brand, but they were probably using SD :crazyeyes:

Steven Cedrone

01-25-2004, 02:25 AM

So, any guesses on what brand of flash memory they used ?
:D :D :D :D :D :D

I knew that was coming... :wink:

Steve

bdegroodt

01-25-2004, 02:44 AM

just wondering...but is there a NASA feed for the PPC for those of us that don't have cable companies that carry the service?

Strike that...I found it. (http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram)

Steven Cedrone

01-25-2004, 08:37 AM

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:
NASA's Opportunity rover has landed on the surface of Mars. Watch the post-landing briefing on NASA TV at 10:30 pm PST

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-25-2004, 08:40 AM

just wondering...but is there a NASA feed for the PPC for those of us that don't have cable companies that carry the service?

Strike that...I found it. (http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram)

Too bad everything seems to be RealMedia...

Man, I do not want to load that on my PC... :roll:

Steve

David Prahl

01-25-2004, 02:32 PM

I CAN'T load it on my PC for some reason! Tried the latest version and the older version, and both pop up with an "error creating folder" problem. :(

Steven Cedrone

01-25-2004, 03:01 PM

Well, I wound up loading it...

Anyway, new update:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125b.html

First Images Of Opportunity Site Show Bizarre Landscape

NASA's Opportunity rover returned the first pictures of its landing site early today, revealing a surreal, dark landscape unlike any ever seen before on Mars.

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 12:29 AM

Latest news:

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:
Opportunity has landed in a crater, and hits scientific jackpot with views of first rock outcrop ever seen on Mars.
55 New Opportunity Raw Images - Jan 25, 2004, 12:30 pm PST

SPIRIT UPDATE: - Jan 24, 2004, 3:30 pm PST
Situation improves in outlook as engineers currently believe that software "file management" problems may be source of Spirit's troubles.

Some great pics: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

BTW, changing the topic of this thread to include both rovers...

Steve

bdegroodt

01-26-2004, 12:35 AM

Anyone have any idea what kind of picture we're seeing when we see these images? Are they macro lens or relatively close up? Also, just curious (trying to think if I found some Martian rover on Earth, how I'd react), anyone have any idea how big the rovers are? I see 487lbs, but I haven't seen anything that says how tall/wide/long they are.

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 12:40 AM

This pic will give you a good idea of the size...

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/spacecraft/browse/tworovers_br.jpg
Two generations of rovers

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/spacecraft/images/mer2002_1106_b231_400.jpg
Rover family photo

Members of the Mars Exploration Rovers Assembly, Test and Launch Operations team gather around Rover 2 and its predecessor, a flight spare of the Pathfinder mission's Sojourner rover, named Marie Curie.

Steve

You think NASA will mind that I linked to their pics???

David Prahl

01-26-2004, 01:30 AM

You think NASA will mind that I linked to their pics???

If a rover rings your doorbell in the next 24 hours I would say yes. :lol:

aroma

01-26-2004, 03:12 PM

I'm glad it's now looking like a software problem with Spirit instead of hardware. Should be fixable... just have to visit WindowsUpdate! :)

It's amazing that we were able to succesfully land both rovers. I fully expected the 2nd one to have problems after the first went so smoothly.

- Aaron

David Prahl

01-26-2004, 03:48 PM

Does anyone have an explaination of the problem in geekspeak? I'm sure many members would like to know exactly what happened to it's RAM.

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 03:53 PM

Does anyone have an explaination of the problem in geekspeak? I'm sure many members would like to know exactly what happened to it's RAM.

AFAIK, this is all they have released so far:

Encouraging developments continued for Opportunity's twin, Spirit, too. Engineers have determined that Spirit's flash memory hardware is functional, strengthening a theory that Spirit's main problem is in software that controls file management of the memory. "I think we've got a patient that's well on the way to recovery," said Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager Pete Theisinger at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 03:55 PM

Not to stray too off-topic here, but...

We should be hearing something today about Beagle2 as well. The lack of any press releases from London does not bode well...

Steve

David Prahl

01-26-2004, 04:00 PM

Sorry to answer my own question...

from http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/jan/HQ_04036_Spirit_Update.html

"Spirit has 256 megabytes of flash memory, a type commonly used on gear such as digital cameras for holding data even when the power is off. Engineers confirmed Spirit's recent symptoms are related to the flash memory, when they commanded the rover to boot up and use random-access memory instead of flash memory. The rover obeyed commands about communicating and going into sleep mode. Spirit communicated successfully at 120 bits per second for nearly an hour. "

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 05:37 PM

Beagle2 update:

http://www.beagle2.com/news/index.htm

"No contact has been made with the Beagle 2 lander, despite repeated efforts over the last few days to communicate via the Mars Express and Mars Odyssey spacecraft and the Jodrell Bank radio telescope in Cheshire, UK. "

At a press briefing in London this afternoon, members of the Beagle 2 team described the latest efforts to contact their missing lander.

"We haven't found Beagle 2, despite three days of intensive searching," said Professor Colin Pillinger, lead scientist for Beagle 2. "Under those circumstances, we have to begin to accept that, if Beagle 2 is on the Martian surface, it is not active.

"That isn't to say that we are going to give up on Beagle. There is one more thing that we can do - however, it is very much a last resort. We will be asking the American Odyssey spacecraft (team) tomorrow whether they will send an embedded command - a hail to Beagle with a command inside it. If it gets through, it will tell Beagle to switch off and reload the software. We are now working on the basis that there is a corrupt system and the only way we might resurrect is to send that command."

"We can also ask Mars Express to send that command. However, they cannot send it probably until the 2 or 3 February," he added.

More at the link above...

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 05:45 PM

Sorry to answer my own question...

Actually, look at my quote 2 posts above yours. It is from the most recent press release...

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125c.html

Steve

bdegroodt

01-26-2004, 05:46 PM

Call me crazy, but I think the reason Spirit went "offline" is due to a fight to the death with Beagle. It's the ultimate Robot War! Should be on TechTV later this season. :twisted:

Steven Cedrone

01-26-2004, 05:50 PM

Call me crazy, but I think the reason Spirit went "offline" is due to a fight to the death with Beagle. It's the ultimate Robot War! Should be on TechTV later this season. :twisted:

I'm suprised we haven't seen something like that on "Late Night"... :wink:

Steve

David Prahl

01-26-2004, 06:04 PM

Call me crazy, but I'd put my money on the robot with WHEELS! :lol:

Steven Cedrone

01-27-2004, 02:50 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040126a.html

"During the second day on Mars for NASA's Opportunity rover, key science instruments passed health tests and the rover made important steps in communicating directly with Earth.

Halfway around the planet, during its 22nd day on Mars, NASA's Spirit obeyed commands for transmitting information that is helping engineers set a strategy for fixing problems with the rover's computer memory. "

Steve

David Prahl

01-28-2004, 01:05 AM

WHOA! Now Opportunity is having power consumption problems. These rovers have an attitude! :)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=6&u=/nm/20040127/sc_nm/space_mars_dc

Steven Cedrone

01-28-2004, 04:14 PM

January 27, 2004

Martian Landmarks Dedicated to Apollo 1 Crew (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040127b.html)

NASA memorialized the Apollo 1 crew -- Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee -- by dedicating the hills surrounding the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's landing site to the astronauts. The crew of Apollo 1 perished in flash fire during a launch pad test of their Apollo spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., 37 years ago today.

Steven Cedrone

01-29-2004, 02:37 AM

Steven Cedrone

01-29-2004, 02:17 PM

January 28, 2004

Opportunity Rover Begins Standing Up (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040128b.html)

NASA's Opportunity rover has untucked its front wheels and latched its suspension system in place, key steps in preparing to drive off its lander and onto martian soil.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-29-2004, 02:18 PM

Recovering Spirit Sends A New Picture

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040128a/sol25-flhaz.jpg

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took and returned this image on January 28, 2004, the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image from the rover's front hazard identification camera shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack. As it had been instructed a week earlier, the Moessbauer spectrometer, an instrument for identifying the minerals in rocks and soils, is still placed against the rock. Engineers are working to restore Spirit to working order so that the rover can resume the scientific exploration of its landing area.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-29-2004, 06:51 PM

Thinking on Mars: The Brains of NASA's Red Planet Rovers (http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/mer_computer_040128.html)

By Tariq Malik
Staff Writer
posted: 06:00 am ET
28 January 2004

Humans have long depended on machines to explore strange, new worlds; guiding mechanical rovers from millions of miles away, then waiting -- and hoping -- that the robotic beast carried out its instructions.

Spirit and Opportunity, NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), are no exception to the rule. But while their onboard computers are based on past spacecraft computing systems, engineers have beefed up their memory capacities to handle what is hoped to be a slew of data from Mars despite a serious glitch with the rover, Spirit.

David Prahl

01-29-2004, 07:39 PM

engineers have beefed up their memory capacities to handle what is hoped to be a slew of data from Mars despite a serious glitch with the rover, Spirit.

:|
Since when was a 256 MB flash disk considered "beefed up"? Most PPCT members have that much in their pockets right now.

Janak Parekh

01-29-2004, 09:18 PM

Since when was a 256 MB flash disk considered "beefed up"? Most PPCT members have that much in their pockets right now.
It's all relative. Your flash memory is unlikely to survive many Gs of pressure or stray cosmic rays...

--janak

Kati Compton

01-29-2004, 09:47 PM

January 28, 2004

Space Shuttle Challenger Crew Memorialized on Mars (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040128a.html)

NASA announced plans to name the landing site of the Mars Opportunity rover in honor of the Space Shuttle Challenger's final crew. The area in the vast flatland called Meridiani Planum, where Opportunity landed this weekend, will be called the Challenger Memorial Station.

I wonder when they'll memorialize the Columbia crew. While the Challenger disaster was also horrible, Columbia is more topical. I suppose they're just going in time-order of disasters.

Jeff Rutledge

01-29-2004, 09:52 PM

I just wanted to say a quick Thank you to Steve for the updates. I'm really enjoying this thread!

JackTheTripper

01-29-2004, 10:08 PM

Steven Cedrone

01-29-2004, 10:14 PM

I wonder when they'll memorialize the Columbia crew. While the Challenger disaster was also horrible, Columbia is more topical. I suppose they're just going in time-order of disasters.

That was done the first week spirit was on Mars. See the post above for the link.

I just wanted to say a quick Thank you to Steve for the updates. I'm really enjoying this thread!

I'm just glad that I'm not the only one visiting this thread.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-30-2004, 01:57 PM

January 29, 2004

Healthier Spirit Gets Back to Work While Opportunity Prepares to Roll (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040129a.html)

NASA's Spirit rover on Mars has resumed taking pictures as engineers continue work on restoring its health. Meanwhile, Spirit's twin, Opportunity, extended its rear wheels backward to driving position last night as part of preparations to roll off its lander, possibly as early as overnight Saturday-to-Sunday.

Spirit shot and transmitted a picture yesterday to show the position of its robotic arm. "The arm is exactly where we expected," said Jennifer Trosper, mission manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. It is still extended in the same position as when the rover developed communication and computer problems on Jan. 22. A mineral-identifying instrument called a Moessbauer spectrometer, at the tip of the arm, is positioned at a rock nicknamed Adirondack.

Engineers have been carefully nursing Spirit back toward full operations for the past week. They are sending commands today for the rover to begin making new scientific observations again, starting with panoramic camera images of nearby rocks. Today's commands also tell the rover to send data stored by two instruments since they took readings on Adirondack last week -- the Moessbauer spectrometer and the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, which identifies the chemical elements in a target.

More at the link above.

Steve

JackTheTripper

01-30-2004, 06:39 PM

Maybe we should send the team a "Get Well Soon" card. :lol:

Steven Cedrone

01-30-2004, 08:28 PM

Spirit Getting Back to Business Scientists say Adirondack is volcanic based on first microscopic image and first Mössbauer spectrum. New pancam images of Spirit's next potential rock targets: "Cake" and "Blanco."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rover Stand Up Complete, Ready to Roll Off First ever 3D model from inside a crater on another planet. 3D model helps engineers plan for eventual journey out of crater.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NASA TV coverage of Opportunity egress, Saturday, January 31
Tentative time: Commentary 3:00 am PST Press Briefing 4:15 am PST (+8 UTC)

Steve

David Prahl

01-30-2004, 11:00 PM

Thanks Steve! I was visiting NASA news sites for the first few days of Spirit, but have slowed down since then. It's great to have these (free) updates.

Do you know why I can't re-install Real Player on my PC? It was working fine a while ago, but then suddenly went bad. Now I can't re-install (any version). Keep getting an error that says "Installion Failed. Cannot create folder %RN_COMMON%."

JonnoB

01-31-2004, 12:07 AM

Does anyone know what operating system is being used on the rovers? Was it a home-brewed system or based on existing solutions?

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 07:19 AM

January 30, 2004

Two Working Rovers on Martian Soil Expected by Saturday Morning (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040130a.html)

Ground controllers plan to tell Opportunity to drive off its lander early Saturday, and with Spirit now back in working order, NASA should soon have two healthy rovers loose on Mars.

Early today, the controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., decided to move up the time for Opportunity's roll-off by nearly 24 hours, to the rover's seventh martian day since landing last weekend. "We're ahead of schedule and taking advantage of the fact that Opportunity treats us well," said JPL's Daniel Limonadi, rover systems engineer. "We feel it's good to egress today and get ready to do science earlier with six wheels on the ground in Meridiani Planum."

Dr. Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis, deputy principal investigator for the rover science instruments, said, "We're totally ecstatic that we're going to be on the surface."

If a final check finds conditions OK for sending the egress commands at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Pacific Standard Time, confirmation of the roll-off would be expected between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. PST.

Opportunity's twin Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, has sent back its first new science data in more than a week. On Thursday, it took and transmitted panoramic camera images including views of two light-colored rocks, nicknamed Cake and Blanco. Scientists are considering those rocks as possible targets for up-close examination after Spirit finishes inspection of the rock called Adirondack over the next few days.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040130a/Spirit_Sol26_Pancam-B006R1_br.jpg

Spirit has also returned microscopic images and Mössbauer spectrometer readings of Adirondack taken the day before the rover developed computer and communication problems on Jan. 22. Both are unprecedented investigations of any rock on another planet.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 07:27 AM

30-Jan-2004

Opportunity Lowers for Egress (animation)

This animation strings together three images from the rear hazard-identification camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The "movie" shows the lander before and after it successfully tilted itself forward by hyperextending its rear lander petal downward. This manuever was performed in preparation for egress, or rolling off the lander at Meridiani Planum, Mars. Opportunity will roll north off the lander, opposite this viewpoint.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040130a/hyperextend_br.gif

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 02:57 PM

Do you know why I can't re-install Real Player on my PC? It was working fine a while ago, but then suddenly went bad. Now I can't re-install (any version). Keep getting an error that says "Installion Failed. Cannot create folder %RN_COMMON%."

Not sure, remove the broken version, and make sure you delete any folders the original install created! Then reinstall. I really think Real Player is an awful program, if I had a choice it would not be on my machine!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 03:00 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040131a/1R128814818EFF0215P1004L0M1-B007R1_br.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040131a/1F128814868EFF0215P1003L0M1-B007R1_br.jpg

Opportunity Drives Onto Surface Of Mars. Hematite Confirmed at Meridiani by Opportunity's Mini-TES Instrument. - Jan 31, 2004, 3 am PST

Steve

David Prahl

01-31-2004, 04:52 PM

Awesome photographs! It looks like you can even see the Martian dust sticking to the wheel treads in the first egress shot.

Thanks, Steve!

Pat Logsdon

01-31-2004, 05:57 PM

Thanks, Steve!
Yes, thank you, Steve! This thread is awesome, and I really appreciate you taking the time to put the news and photos up here. 8)

aroma

01-31-2004, 09:28 PM

This is soooo cool. Even with Spirit's problems, I can't belive that BOTH rovers have worked as well as they have!

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 11:12 PM

January 31, 2004

Opportunity Rolls Onto Martian Ground (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040131a.html)

This image captured by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's rear hazard-identification camera shows the now-empty lander that carried the rover 283 million miles to Meridiani Planum, Mars.
View all images from this press release

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity drove down a reinforced fabric ramp at the front of its lander platform and onto the soil of Mars' Meridiani Planum this morning.

Also, new science results from the rover indicate that the site does indeed have a type of mineral, crystalline hematite, that was the principal reason the site was selected for exploration.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 11:13 PM

Gald you guys are enjoying the posts! Since I check the Nasa site anyway, I might as well keep this thread updated!

What do you think: should I post the full text of the press releases here or continue to just put up a few paragraphs and a link?

Steve

Kati Compton

01-31-2004, 11:19 PM

What do you think: should I post the full text of the press releases here or continue to just put up a few paragraphs and a link?
I like the current post length... But do whatever's easier for you. ;)

Steven Cedrone

01-31-2004, 11:20 PM

I like the current post length... But do whatever's easier for you. ;)

I like it too! But I'm not the one that's really reading them! :wink:

Steve

Pat Logsdon

01-31-2004, 11:45 PM

What do you think: should I post the full text of the press releases here or continue to just put up a few paragraphs and a link?
I agree with Kati - I think the way you've been doing it is just fine!

aroma

01-31-2004, 11:55 PM

Yep, keep 'em brief. Give us the highlights and we can check NASA for the rest!

Steven Cedrone

02-02-2004, 01:23 AM

Off-topic. I thought it was great that they did a tribute to Columbia (http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/home/index.html) today at the Superbowl!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=96&ncid=753&e=10&u=/space/20040201/sc_space/nflplanscolumbiatributeatsuperbowlxxxviii

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-02-2004, 01:26 AM

February 01, 2004

Spirit is alive and well!

Mars Rover Spirit Restored To Health (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040201a.html)

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is healthy again, the result of recovery work by mission engineers since the robot developed computer-memory and communications problems 10 days ago.

"We have confirmed that Spirit is booting up normally. Tomorrow we'll be doing some preventive maintenance," Dr. Mark Adler, mission manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., said Sunday morning.

Spirit's twin, Opportunity, which drove off its lander platform early Saturday, will be commanded tonight to reach out with its robot arm early Monday, said JPL's Matt Wallace, mission manager. Opportunity will examine the soil in front of it over the next few days with a microscope and with a pair of spectrometer instruments for determining what elements and minerals are present.

More at the link above!

Steve

baker

02-02-2004, 02:37 AM

Yes! :clap:

Steven Cedrone

02-02-2004, 08:42 PM

Latest News From Spirit and Opportunity - Feb 02, 2004

Spirit news:
Spirit Is Healthy Again. Next up: brush dust off the rock Adirondack and apply Rock Abrasion Tool. When analysis finished, the driving mission begins!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Opportunity News:
"Mission success" panorama complete. Engineers confirm all instruments on the rover's arm are "working great."

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040202a/IDD_composite_top_th512.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040202a/MSPan_B1_2x-B009R1_z512h.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040202a/MSPan_B1_2x-B009R1_th512h.jpg

Links to larger pictures here. (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html)

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-03-2004, 01:56 AM

A little off-topic: Nasa has put up a tribute to STS-107.

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sts107/columbia.html

Some related pages:

http://history.nasa.gov/columbia/index.html
http://www.nasa.gov/columbia/home/index.html

Video: "16 minutes from home"

http://vstream1.ksc.nasa.gov/ramgen/odv/ksc_direct/sts107/16-minutes2.rm

Steve

Jeff Rutledge

02-03-2004, 03:24 AM

Steven Cedrone

02-03-2004, 02:27 PM

February 02, 2004

Opportunity And Spirit Reach Out (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040202a.html)

Each of NASA's two Mars Exploration Rovers is using its versatile robotic arm for positioning tools at selected targets on the red planet.

Also, a newly completed 360-degree color panorama from Opportunity shows a trail of bounce marks coming down the inner slope of the small crater where the spacecraft came to rest when it landed on Mars nine days ago.

Opportunity extended its arm early today for the first time since pre-launch testing. "This was a great confirmation for the team," said Joe Melko of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Melko is mechanical systems engineer for the arm, which is also called the instrument deployment device.

Mission controllers at JPL are telling Opportunity to use two of the instruments on the arm overnight tonight to examine a patch of soil in front of the rover. A microscope on the arm will reveal structures as thin as a human hair and a Mössbauer Spectrometer will collect information to identify minerals in the soil, according to plans. Tomorrow, the rover will be told to turn the turret at the end of the arm in order to examine the same patch of soil with another instrument, the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, which reveals the chemical elements in a target.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-03-2004, 02:29 PM

February 02, 2004

NASA Dedicates Mars Landmarks To Columbia Crew (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040202b.html)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040202b/PIA05200_br.jpg

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe today announced the martian hills, located east of the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover's landing site, would be dedicated to the Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 crew.

"These seven hills on Mars are named for those seven brave souls, the final crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Columbia crew faced the challenge of space and made the supreme sacrifice in the name of exploration," Administrator O'Keefe said.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-04-2004, 02:05 PM

Hmmm...

No press releases, I wonder what's going on? Anyway, over to Beagle2:

Early Beagle landing site images released (http://www.beagle2.com/news/index.htm)
02-Feb-04 17:00 GMT
...................................................
Summary

The first high resolution image of part of the Beagle 2 landing site has been released by NASA. The image covers a small strip of the ellipse that encompasses Beagle's feasible locations, but shows no obvious signs of the spacecraft.

Not looking good! More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-04-2004, 08:13 PM

Latest News From Spirit and Opportunity - Feb 04, 2004

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
Spirit Is Healthy Again. Engineers prepare to reboot and reformat flash memory, with plan to restart science operations the following sol.

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First mineral map of Mars shows high concentrations of hematite in the plains beyond the crater. Microscopic image of soil shows round and irregularly shaped grains.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040204a/hematite_new-B011R1_th543h.jpg

Mars Under the Microscope:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040204a/merb_first_mi_deploy_left_fcam-B011R1_br.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040204a/npm_npm_outline_per_str-B011R1_br.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040204a/1M129070954EFF0224P2933M2M1_str-B011R1_br.jpg

Steven Cedrone

02-05-2004, 01:43 PM

Press Releases

February 04, 2004

Opportunity Sees Tiny Spheres In Martian Soil (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040204a.html)

NASA's Opportunity has examined its first patch of soil in the small crater where the rover landed on Mars and found strikingly spherical pebbles among the mix of particles there.

"There are features in this soil unlike anything ever seen on Mars before," said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for the science instruments on the two Mars Exploration Rovers.

For better understanding of the soil, mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., plan to use Opportunity's wheels later this week to scoop a trench to expose deeper material. One front wheel will rotate to dig the hole while the other five wheels hold still.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-05-2004, 03:25 PM

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Spirit Rover Status: Spirit's Surgery Successful!
Spirit woke up earlier than normal today at 6 a.m. local Mars time to the tune of Surfari's "Wipe Out" in order to prepare for its memory "surgery." Engineers ended the memory overload problem today by erasing and reformatting the flash file system. The operation was a success, and the patient is doing very well. Spirit is scheduled to brush off any loose dust on the rock Adirondack tomorrow to prepare for the first exciting grinding event with the rock abrasion tool this weekend, which may reveal historical clues about the rock's formation and the past environment on Mars.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
Opportunity Rover Status: Opportunity to "Stow and Go"
Opportunity woke up on sol 11 to Duran Duran's "Please Tell Me Now" and successfully completed a 24-hour observation of the soil with the mössbauer instrument at "Tarmac." The arm rotated to place the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the same patch of soil and observations with that instrument are underway. Scientists are busy trying to determine what geologic processes formed the spherical grains seen through the eyes of the microscopic imager. The plan for sol 12 is to stow the arm and go for a 3 meter (about 10 feet) drive to the right of the outcrop where they hope to trench on sol 14 (Saturday).

Steve

aroma

02-05-2004, 07:49 PM

For better understanding of the soil, mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., plan to use Opportunity's wheels later this week to scoop a trench to expose deeper material. One front wheel will rotate to dig the hole while the other five wheels hold still.

How cool... they're gonna be "burn'n rubber" on Mars! :)

- Aaron

Steven Cedrone

02-06-2004, 05:07 AM

February 05, 2004

Mars Exploration Rover Mission Status (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040205a.html)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/status/opportunity/20040205a/020504z_1R129255699EFF0242P1211L0M1_th543h.jpg

NASA's Opportunity rover drove about 3.5 meters (11 feet) early Thursday toward a rock outcrop in the wall of a small crater on Mars, and mission controllers plan to send it the rest of the way to the outcrop late Thursday.

Opportunity's twin, Spirit, successfully reformatted its flash memory on Wednesday. Flash is a type of rewritable memory used in many electronic devices, such as digital cameras, to retain information even while power is off. Problems with the flash memory interfered with Spirit's operations from Jan. 22 until this week. Engineers prescribed the reformatting to prevent recurrence of the problem.

On Thursday, Spirit’s main assignment is to brush off an area on the rock nicknamed "Adirondack" to prepare for a dust-free examination of its surface. On Friday, controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., plan to have Spirit grind off a small patch of Adirondack’s outer surface and inspect the rock's interior. Spirit may start driving over the weekend toward a crater about 250 meters (about 270 yards) to the northeast.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-06-2004, 03:34 PM

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Opportunity Passes Her Driver's Test! - sol 12, Feb 05, 2004

"Just like you would want to perfect your parallel parking abilities before trying to make it to an appointment on a tight schedule in a big city, engineers tested Opportunity's ability to maneuver on Mars on sol 12, which ended Thursday. She passed with flying colors!" reported Mark Powell, Science Downlink Coordinator. Engineers commanded Opportunity to do a little dance, making three arcs -- two to the left and one to the right. Opportunity then did a 30-degree turn in place where you can see the most radical track curves in the image. For its grand finale drive, Opportunity proceeded straight for 1.8 meters (5.9 feet), completing a total traverse of 3.54 meters (10.6 feet).

The plan for sol 13 is to do a 1.1 meter (3.6 feet) drive straight toward the outcrop and take some more pancam and mini-TES instrument images of the outcrop area.

Scientists have decided to wait to trench for a few days until they can drive to an area with a higher concentration of hematite.

Watch a related video (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/movies/mer_rovernav_240.mov) Quick Time 18 MB!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-06-2004, 08:33 PM

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Spirit Back In Action

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040206a/RAT_on_Adirondack_color_P2382_arrow-B013R1_th268h.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040206a/ppm_ppm_byte-A034R1_th268h.jpg

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Opportunity Starts Driving And Has More Soil Studies To Offer

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040206a/moss_touch_movie-B013R1_th268h.jpg

Some new pics in, but the explanation has not been posted!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-06-2004, 09:45 PM

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Spirit Back In Action: RAT Brush Removes Dust From Surface Of Adirondack

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http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040206a/mi_zoom_sol17-A034R1_br.jpg
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040206a/MI_Adiron_Sol33_full-A034R1_br.jpg

Some "Before and After" shots of "Adirondack"

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-07-2004, 01:46 AM

February 06, 2004

Healthy Spirit Cleans a Mars Rock; Opportunity Rolls (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040206a.html)

NASA's Spirit has returned to full health and resumed doing things never attempted on Mars before.

"Our patient is healed, and we're very excited about that," said Jennifer Trosper of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., mission manager for Spirit.

Spirit temporarily stopped communicating Jan. 22; the problem was later diagnosed as a memory-management issue. Engineers regained partial control of the spacecraft within days and reformatted Spirit's flash memory Wednesday to prevent recurrence of the problem.

More at the link above.

Steve

Jeff Rutledge

02-07-2004, 01:57 AM

Thought this was kind of cool

It's called "Magnified Mars" and is NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html).

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0402/micromars_opportunity_c1.jpg

Steven Cedrone

02-07-2004, 02:10 AM

Looks like a better picture of the one I posted at 2:30 (But it looks like one of them is upside down). It looks much cooler in color! :way to go:

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-07-2004, 03:45 PM

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Touch and Go to Snout - sol 13, Feb 06, 2004 (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html)

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Opportunity Navcam sol 13
[larger image and caption] (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/n/013/1N129339411EFF0300P1652R0M1.HTML)

On sol 13, Friday, February 6, Opportunity drove to the right side of the crater outcrop to "sniff out" the rock named Snout with its science instruments. After a smooth 1.6-meter (5.2-foot) drive, Opportunity slipped a bit in the soft soil while climbing up a slope and stopped a little short of Snout (30 to 40 centimeters).

On sol 14, Opportunity will touch the soil at her current location and take another microscopic image. Then, she will go the final small stretch to Snout. The mission team calls this maneuver "touch and go."

Over the next few sols, engineers and scientists plan to drive in an arc along the bottom of the outcrop area, taking additional pictures and science measurements with Opportunity's suite of instruments as she progresses. This analysis will help scientists assess the composition of the rock outcrop and the geologic history of Meridiani as part of their quest to understand the role of water on the red planet.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-07-2004, 09:30 PM

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The rock abrasion tool on Spirit drilled the first human-made hole in a rock on Mars…EVER!

The round, shallow depression in this image resulted from history's first grinding of a rock on Mars. The rock abrasion tool on NASA's Spirit rover ground off the surface of a patch 45.5 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter on a rock called Adirondack during Spirit's 34th sol on Mars, Feb. 6, 2004. The hole is 2.65 millimeters (0.1 inch) deep, exposing fresh interior material of the rock for close inspection with the rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers on the robotic arm. This image was taken by Spirit's panoramic camera, providing a quick visual check of the success of the grinding. The rock abrasion tools on both Mars Exploration Rovers were supplied by Honeybee Robotics, New York, N.Y.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040207a/rat_post_grind.jpg

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-09-2004, 04:46 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Rock Interior Inspected - sol 35, Feb 08, 2004

NASA's Spirit examined the interior of a rock during Spirit's 35th sol on Mars, which ended at 4:41 a.m. Sunday, PST. Beginning late in the previous sol, Spirit took turns placing its Mössbauer spectrometer, alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and microscopic imager over the portion of the rock called Adirondack where Spirit's rock abrasion tool had cut away the rock's surface.

Spirit did not begin driving on sol 35, because a precautionary software setting to prevent driving was still in effect from the beginning of the anomaly two weeks ago. The rover is being commanded during sol 36, which ends at 5:21 a.m. Monday, PST, to back away from Adirondack, drive past the south side of the now-empty lander, and begin a trek northeast toward a crater nicknamed "Bonneville."

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Succeeds with First "Touch and Go" - sol 14, Feb 07, 2004

Opportunity performed her first "touch and go" maneuver on the rover's 14th sol on Mars, which ended at 4:23 p.m. Saturday, PST. The activity included deploying the arm, taking microscopic images of the soil in front of the rover, re-stowing the arm and finishing its drive to Stone Mountain.

The panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer instruments were used to make observations both before and after the "touch and go" sequence.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Gets a Closer Look at the Outcrop - sol 15, Feb 08, 2004

On Opportunity's 15th sol on Mars which ends at 5:02 p.m. Sunday, PST, the rover took microscopic images of a rock in the outcrop and nearby soil. The rock is called Stone Mountain (formerly called "Snout") and the target area for the microscope is called Robert E. The day's activities also include examination of Robert E with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and the Mössbauer spectrometer. Opportunity's panoramic camera and navigation camera were used to get pictures of the outcrop from the rover's current position.

In the coming sols, the plan is to move along the outcrop to examine other points along it.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-09-2004, 04:08 PM

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Rat Crumbs (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040208a.html)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040208a/2F129475329EFF0327P1214L0M1_br.jpg

After three hours of "chewing" on sol 34, Spirit's RAT got its fill and scientists and engineers were left to marvel at the aftermath of its dusty meal - the momentous first unveiling of the secrets of a martian rock.

While the team was overwhelmed with the success of the operation, the apparent dark scarring around the RAT hole was perplexing.

"It looks like we took a blowtorch to Adirondack," joked Steve Gorevan, lead scientist for the rock abrasion tools on both rovers. "It's actually just the dust accumulation from drilling. However, we've never seen this kind of asymmetrical dust distribution when we used the RAT in testbeds on Earth. It could be that wind, which isn't a factor in a testbed, transported and spread the dust out."

More at link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-10-2004, 12:07 AM

Latest News From Spirit and Opportunity - Feb 09, 2004 (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html)

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Spirit finished studying Adirondack, a volcanic rock, and is now beginning to drive using its own "brains" (autonomous navigation software). view Spirit images >> (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040209a.html)

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Scientists believe that the round spheres they call "blueberries" may be made of a different substance than the layered material in which they are found. The mission team identifies where the rover is, and Opportunity takes a picture of the parachute and backshell lying on Meridiani plain. view Opportunity images >> (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040209a.html)

Opportunity Spies Its Parachute and Backshell
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040209a/Descent_Stage-B016R1_th543h.jpg

Great pictures today!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-10-2004, 02:20 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit is On the Move! - sol 36, Feb 09, 2004

On sol 36, which ended at 5:21 a.m. Monday, PST, Spirit drove 6.37 meters (20.9 feet), using the onboard navigation software and hazard avoidance system for the first time on Mars. The drive, intended to test the traverse commands, was extremely precise, taking Spirit to its intended goal - the rock called White Boat. Before leaving the rock Adirondack, Spirit took images and collected miniature thermal emission spectrometer data from the hole ground by the rock abrasion tool.

In the coming sols, Spirit will continue its drive toward Bonneville Crater.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Shoot and Scoot - sol 15, Feb 09, 2004

Opportunity appears to have experienced slips during 50 percent of a drive on sol 15, so for sol 16, engineers played a lighthearted wake-up call: Paul Simon's "Slip Sliding Away." Regardless of the loose soil, Opportunity made it across 4 meters (12 feet) today and is positioned to continue observing parts of the outcrop up close tomorrow. In coming sols, Opportunity will "shoot and scoot," meaning the rover will shoot pictures of the terrain and acquire new scientific measurements of the rocks, then scoot up, down, and across the inside of the crater.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-10-2004, 02:22 PM

February 09, 2004

Mars Rover Pictures Raise 'Blueberry Muffin' Questions (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040209a.html)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040209a/1M129515692EFF0312P2939M2M1_mi_RobtE_full-B016R1_th200.jpg
This sharp, close-up image taken by the microscopic imager on Opportunity shows a rock target dubbed "Robert E." (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040209a.html)

NASA's Spirit rover has begun making some of its own driving decisions while its twin, Opportunity, is presenting scientists with decisions to make about studying small spheres embedded in bedrock, like berries in a muffin.

Both rovers are on the move. Late Sunday, Spirit drove about 6.4 meters (21 feet), passing right over the rock called "Adirondack," where it had finished examining the rock's interior revealed by successfully grinding away the surface. The drive tested the rover's autonomous navigation ability for the first time on Mars.

"We've entered a new phase of the mission," said Dr. Mark Maimone, rover mobility software engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. When the rover is navigating itself, it gets a command telling it where to end up, and it evaluates the terrain with stereo imaging to choose the best way to get there. It must avoid any obstacles it identifies. This capability is expected to enable longer daily drives than depending on step-by-step navigation commands from Earth. Tonight, Spirit will be commanded to drive farther on a northeastward course toward a crater nicknamed "Bonneville."

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-11-2004, 03:52 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Record-breaking Sol - sol 37, Feb 10, 2004

On its 37th sol on Mars, which ends at 6 a.m. Tuesday, PST, Spirit broke the record for the farthest distance driven in one sol on Mars, traveling 21.2 meters (69.6 feet). Today's distance traveled shattered the Sojourner rover's previous record of 7 meters (23 feet) in one sol.

In the coming sols, Spirit will continue its drive towards the crater nicknamed "Bonneville."

Spirit Spies Wavy Bedforms
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040210a/x_pubeng_approved_020904_FHAZ-A037R1_th272h.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040210a/x_pubeng_approved_020904_FHAZ-A037R1_br.jpg)

Spirit took this front hazard-avoidance camera image on sol 37 (Feb. 9, 2004) after completing the longest drive ever made by a rover on another planet - 21.2 meters (69.6 feet). The wavy feature called a bedform is created when material is transported and deposited by some process - in this case wind. The team is interested in the fact that the crests of this and most other bedforms they've observed through orbital data and rover images are all parallel to each other, indicating uniform wind direction.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-11-2004, 09:30 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040211a/Waypoints_Outreach1_br.jpg

Opportunity's Path (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040211a.html)

This Long Term Planning graphic was created from a mosaic of navigation camera images overlain by a polar coordinate grid with the center point as Opportunity's original landing site. The blue dots represent the rover position at various locations.

The red dots represent the center points of the target areas for the instruments on the rover mast (the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer)...

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-12-2004, 02:04 AM

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Three-Day Tour - sol 17, Feb 11, 2004

On its 17th sol on Mars, which ended at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday, PST, Opportunity completed its study of the target area named Bravo. Opportunity is on a three-day tour of the outcrop, taking pictures and measurements to build what geologists call a "base map," which will help them decide what specific spots they want to target for more thorough investigation with their science instruments.

Steve

David Prahl

02-12-2004, 03:33 AM

I can't wait to hear the geologic results from Opportunity! :drool:

baker

02-12-2004, 03:49 AM

Mr. Cedrone:
Thank you for following keeping me up to date on Mars :clap:

Steven Cedrone

02-12-2004, 04:17 AM

Thank you for following keeping me up to date on Mars

Not a problem! Enjoy! With both rovers on opposite sides of Mars, we seem to be getting round the clock updates. It's a shame that the rovers will eventually stop working, but I guess "All good things..."

Steve

JackTheTripper

02-12-2004, 05:39 AM

See, that's why they should have consulted me before doing this mission. I would have had them install little windshield whiper type brushes on top of the solar pannels. 8)

Seriously though, I've been infatuated with this whole mission. And I'm thankful I can check PPCt for new threads AND rover updates. Thanks Steve for doing this. Otherwise I'd be checking the rover site every hour.

Steven Cedrone

02-12-2004, 07:04 PM

I knew it!!!

http://home.comcast.net/~cedrones/skulls.jpg

Heh! :wink:

Steve

Pat Logsdon

02-12-2004, 09:15 PM

I knew it!!!

http://home.comcast.net/~cedrones/skulls.jpg

Heh! :wink:
A-ha! I suspect that this is an elaborate hoax masterminded by Bat Boy (http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/batboy/index.cfm).

Steven Cedrone

02-12-2004, 09:33 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: New driving record - sol 39, Feb 12, 2004

During its 39th sol on Mars, which ended at 7:20 a.m. Thursday, PST, Spirit broke its own driving record. It adding 24.4 meters (80 feet) to its odometer while getting near an interesting set of rocks dubbed "Stone Council." The drive lasted 2 hours, 48 minutes. While navigating itself to avoid hazards, Spirit stopped when it recognized an obstacle, which was the group of rocks that was the day's intended destination.

The flight team at JPL chose Buster Poindexter's version of "Hit the Road Jack," as Spirit's wake-up music. The day's commands were uplinked during the cool morning hours via Spirit's low-gain antenna, to bypass a problem diagnosed the preceding day as shade slowing the warm-up of motors that move the high-gain antenna.

Before rolling, Spirit took images with its microscopic imager and panoramic camera from the site where it started the day.

The plan for sol 40, which will end at 7:59 a.m. Friday, PST, is a short drive forward then using instruments on the robotic arm to study soil at Stone Council.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Extended Tour - sol 18, Feb 12, 2004

Opportunity had a couple of little hiccups on sol 18, February 11, which ends at 7:01 p.m. Wednesday, PST. The wrist on the real rover arm would not point as far vertically as the engineering rover's wrist did on Earth during a model test the night before. Because of this, the arm on Mars did not stow, and the rover did not move on to waypoint Charlie. The rover also automatically stopped use of the mast due to the fact that it believed a requested pointing position was in an area beyond its limits. Engineers solved both problems on sol 18. All systems are go for Opportunity to complete the tour of the outcrop by heading to outpost Charlie on sol 19, Thursday, February 12.

Steve

Pat Logsdon

02-12-2004, 09:45 PM

Thanks AGAIN for the update, Steve!

Note to NASA: Please do not use the word "broke" in press releases for Spirit...I was very sad for a very short period of time. :wink:

Steven Cedrone

02-13-2004, 05:52 AM

February 12, 2004

Student Programs Tap Into Mars Rover Adventures (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040212a.html)

NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers are not only providing scientists a flood of information about Mars -- including new insights today about winds -- they are also adding excitement to classrooms throughout the nation.

An assortment of programs giving students first-hand opportunities to work with information from NASA Mars missions help young people "see themselves as scientists in the future because they understand the process of science," said Sheri Klug of Arizona State University, Tempe, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. She coordinates NASA Mars education programs for kindergarten through high school, part of the agency's goal to inspire the next generation of explorers.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-13-2004, 05:54 AM

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Intending to Trench - sol 19, Feb 12, 2004

During its 19th sol on Mars, which ends at 7:41 p.m. Thursday, PST, Opportunity climbed to Waypoint Charlie, where it will complete its initial survey of the outcrop nicknamed "Opportunity Ledge."

The flight team at JPL chose 'Here I Go Again' by Whitesnake as Opportunity's wake-up music.

The plan for sol 20, which will end at 8:20 p.m. Friday, PST, is to do a "touch and go," meaning Opportunity will touch the soil with its instrument arm around the outpost area Charlie, then stow the arm and drive. It will head for an area of soil that the rover's miniature thermal emission spectrometer indicates is rich in hematite. Over the following few sols, engineers intend to use one of Opportunity's wheels to spin into the soil and "trench" a shallow hole so scientists can check what's below the surface early next week. Knowing more about the hematite distribution on Mars may help scientists characterize the past environment and determine whether that environment provided favorable conditions for life.

Scientists and engineers will pore over the data collected along Opportunity Ledge this week to target a return trip to the most interesting science locations along the outcrop later next week.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-13-2004, 05:57 AM

http://www.beagle2.com/pics/logo_r.gif

Update on the hunt for Beagle 2 (http://www.beagle2.com/index.htm)
11-Feb-04 15:21 GMT

Whilst orbiting spacecraft continue to listen out for Beagle 2, the project has now officially moved on to assessing the possible reasons for the lack of communication.

...................................................

The project team has begun an in-house investigation into all the technical aspects of Beagle 2 to establish those areas of greatest risk and what might be done to alleviate them in a future mission. It will make all the information available to the official ESA/UK government inquiry announced by Lord Sainsbury. Such an inquiry is set up as a matter of routine following loss of any spacecraft. The inquiry could be greatly aided in the search for evidence if some Beagle 2 artefact, such as the parachute, can be identified by cameras scrutinising the possible landing site.

Recognising the public interest in tracing Beagle 2, we plan to report in a few weeks time, via this web site, about the team's progress into the investigation of the fate of Beagle 2.

...................................................

Hopefully, between Mars Express (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html) and the Mars Global Surveyor (http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/), the fate of the Beagle2 will be determined.

Here is a great shot from ME:

http://www.esa.int/images/015-090204_1-0037_01-6-v-76,1.jpg

Steve

JustinGTP

02-13-2004, 05:58 AM

So do these things ever get back to earth? Or do they leave them on Mars?

LOL, what a waste of money if they get left on Mars!

Steven Cedrone

02-13-2004, 06:07 AM

They are left on Mars. Not a waste if you think about the amount of data we are getting back from them.

Multistage rockets...Millions
Staff to monitor and guide the probes...Millions
Data sent back to Earth...Priceless

:wink:

Steve

Janak Parekh

02-13-2004, 06:31 AM

So do these things ever get back to earth? Or do they leave them on Mars?
How could you possibly get them back?

--janak

Steven Cedrone

02-13-2004, 01:58 PM

The solar panels on the rovers open like wings. Then they move them to the lip of a really deep crater. they drive into the crater, by the time they get across and head back up the other side, they have enough forward momentum to get airborne! Then they simply re-dock with Mars Global Surveyor...

Piece 'o cake, actually! :wink:

Steve

JackTheTripper

02-13-2004, 07:10 PM

You could always ask the Martians for a lift when they come to attack us. ;)

**Edit**

Funny little video clip. ;) Linky! (http://www.moontruth.com/clips/moontruth.mpg)

Steven Cedrone

02-13-2004, 07:19 PM

Funny little video clip. ;)

Well? where is it???

Steve

JackTheTripper

02-13-2004, 07:35 PM

:oops: (http://www.moontruth.com/clips/moontruth.mpg) <--- click

JustinGTP

02-13-2004, 10:50 PM

Pat Logsdon

02-13-2004, 11:47 PM

So do these things ever get back to earth? Or do they leave them on Mars?
How could you possibly get them back?

--janak
Well if man goes back anytime soon or they send out a remote controlled picker upper styled ship, it could be quiet feasable
"Remote controlled picker upper styled ship"?!? That would be the technical term, eh? :wink:

Getting an object out of a planet's gravity well (http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/3-whats-a-gravity-well.html) ONCE is difficult enough, and is twice as hard to do twice. Stardust (http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/postsecondary/features/F_Stardust_Mission.html) can drop off a canister of comet dust because it was in space for the entire trip, and only needed to escape the earth's gravity on take-off.

To get out of a gravity well, you need sufficient thrust to propel the weight in front of the rocket fast enough to achieve escape velocity (http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/Propulsion/2-why-so-much-energy-for-launch.html). And the more weight you use, the more powerful the rocket has to be.

Steven Cedrone

02-14-2004, 02:02 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg

SPIRIT UPDATE: Movin' Towards "Mimi" - sol 40, Feb 13, 2004

Spirit woke up to its 40th sol on Mars to the song "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong and then proceeded to have a wonderful sol which ended at 7:59 a.m. Friday, PST. After utilizing the miniature thermal emission spectrometer instrument on surrounding soil and completing some pre-drive imaging with the panoramic camera, Spirit proceeded 90 centimeters (2.95 feet) towards a collection of rocks called "Stone Council." The drive lasted less than five minutes. After completing the drive, Spirit imaged several rocks with the panoramic camera, and completed a mosaic of the area in front and to the left of itself.

On sol 41, which will end at 8:39 a.m. Saturday, PST, Spirit will be repositioned in front of the flaky rock called "Mimi" in preparation for placing its instrument deployment device on that rock during sol 42.

Flaky "Mimi"

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040213a/x_pubeng_approved_021304_mimi_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040213a/x_pubeng_approved_021304_mimi_br.jpg)

This color image taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's panoramic camera on Sol 40 is centered on an unusually flaky rock called Mimi. Mimi is only one of many features in the area known as "Stone Council," but looks very different from any rock that scientists have seen at the Gusev crater site so far. Mimi's flaky appearance leads scientists to a number of hypotheses. Mimi could have been subjected to pressure either through burial or impact, or may have once been a dune that was cemented into flaky layers, a process that sometimes involves the action of water.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-14-2004, 06:02 AM

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 01:35 AM

February 13, 2004

International Interplanetary Networking Succeeds (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040213a.html)

A pioneering demonstration of communications between NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and the European Space Agency Mars Express orbiter succeeded.

On February 6, while Mars Express was flying over the area Spirit was examining, the orbiter transferred commands from Earth to the rover and relayed data from the robotic explorer back to Earth.

"This is the first time we have had an in-orbit communication between European Space Agency and NASA spacecraft, and also the first working international communications network around another planet," said Rudolf Schmidt, the European Space Agency's project manager for Mars Express. "Both are significant achievements, two more 'firsts' for Mars Express and the Mars Exploration Rovers."

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 01:37 AM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Gets the Drift - sol 41, Feb 14, 2004

On its 41st sol, which ended at 8:39 a.m. Saturday, PST, Spirit examined the crest and trough of a drift formation encountered on its journey, then moved to a nearby rock.

The rover used its microscopic imager, Moessbauer spectrometer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the drift material. Then it backed up about 10 centimeters (4 inches), turned, and advanced about the same distance to be in position for thoroughly examining the flaky rock called "Mimi" during sol 42, which will end at 9:18 a.m. Sunday, PST.

Plans call for resuming long daily drives on sol 43 toward the crater nicknamed "Bonneville" on the northeastern horizon.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Rover Says "No" - sol 20, Feb 14, 2004

During Opportunity's 20th sol on Mars, which ended at 8:20 p.m. Friday, PST, the rover told mission controllers "no." Opportunity received commands in the morning to use the microscopic imager at the end of its arm, but the onboard computer judged the requested arm movement to be unacceptable and refused the command.

This was the proper precaution for the rover to take. The arm maneuver had been tested with a simulation at JPL, and engineers subsequently worked on a solution to make the ground testing more accurately predict the rover computer's response to the particular arm-movement conditions involved.

However, with the arm left extended, rather than stowed, after the arm-movement command was refused, the rover also could not make the drive that had been planned for the sol. That drive, to a site selected for soil examination and trenching, was postponed until sol 21, which ends at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, PST.

Observations by the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer were completed successfully on sol 20. The sol's wake-up music was "I Like Dirt," by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and "Pioneers of Mars," by Karen Linsley and Lloyd Landa.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 01:42 AM

http://www.esa.int/images/wallpaperMEX001_icon_last_160x50,0.jpg
International, interplanetary and no interference! Mars Express calls up Spirit (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEM2UE1PGQD_0.html)

12 February 2004
ESA PR 10-2004. A pioneering demonstration of communications between the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter and NASA's Mars exploration rover, Spirit, has succeeded.

On 6 February, while Mars Express was flying over the area that Spirit is examining, the orbiter transferred commands from Earth to the rover and relayed data from the rover back to Earth.
"This was the first in-orbit communication between ESA and NASA spacecraft, and we have also created the first working international communications network around another planet," said Rudolf Schmidt, ESA's Project Manager for Mars Express. "Both are significant achievements, two more 'firsts' for Mars Express and the Mars exploration rovers."

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 02:05 PM

Busdriver just posted about a great little movie (http://images.spaceref.com/news/2004/rover.armspin.mov) over in this thread. (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=215033#215033)

Check it out it's very funny!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 02:34 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040214a/hem_strip1_th418.jpg

Red Marks the Spot (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040214a.html)

This hematite abundance index map helps geologists choose hematite-rich locations to visit around Opportunity's landing site. Blue dots equal areas low in hematite and red dots equal areas high in hematite.

Why Hematite

Geologists are eager to reach the hematite-rich area in the upper left to closely examine the soil, which may reveal secrets about how the hematite got to this location. Knowing how the hematite on Mars was formed may help scientists characterize the past environment and determine whether that environment provided favorable conditions for life.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 02:47 PM

Well, a day late and a dollar short.

http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2004/02/14/2004.02.14.valentines.medium.jpg (http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2004/02/14/index.html)

"Happy St. Valentine's Day from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) team! This collection of images acquired over the past 3 Mars years shows some of the heart-shaped features found on Mars by the MGS MOC. "

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 11:38 PM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: A Wayside Stop, Then Back to Driving - sol 42, Feb 15, 2004

Spirit used instruments on its robotic arm to examine an unusual-looking rock called "Mimi" during the rover's 42nd sol on Mars, which ended at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, PST. Scientists will be examining images and spectra to understand this rock's structure and composition and what those can tell about the environment in which the rock formed.

For sol 43, which will end at 9:58 a.m. Monday, PST, controllers have planned what they are calling a "mega drive": commanding a morning drive of about 25 meters (82 feet), then taking pictures of the scene ahead and letting the rover have a brief rest before using those mid-day pictures to guide an optional afternoon drive. Spirit is currently about 270 meters from the crater nicknamed "Bonneville," its mid-term destination.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Dig this Place - sol 21, Feb 15, 2004

Opportunity completed its longest drive so far -- about 9 meters or 30 feet -- during its 21st sol on Mars, which ended at 9 p.m. Saturday, PST. The rover finished the drive with its first U-turn, arriving at a location selected for the mission's first trenching operation. Plans call for examining the hematite-rich surface of this location, called "Hematite Slope," during sol 22, then spinning one wheel to dig below the surface on sol 23.

Controllers at JPL chose "Send Me on My Way," by Rusted Root, and "Desert Drive," by Tangerine Dream, as Opportunity's wake-up music for sol 21. The rover worked a long day. It awoke earlier than usual for an early morning observation with its panoramic camera. It made additional observations from its new location just before finishing the drive, and again after finishing the last bit of the drive. Then it was woken after dark to make the mission's first nighttime observations with its infrared sensor, the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-15-2004, 11:39 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040215a/x_pubeng_approved_021004_whiteboat_RGB_pancam_br.jpg

Sailing to White Boat

This is a composite red-green-blue image of the rock called White Boat. It is the first rock target that Spirit drove to after finishing a series of investigations on the rock Adirondack. White Boat stood out to scientists due to its light color and more tabular shape compared to the dark, rounded rocks that surround it.

Steve

dmacburry2003

02-15-2004, 11:58 PM

That picture looks like a big whitey silver thing fell from the sky 8O and shattered into pieces, leaving one big chunk in the middle of the area. The rocks around it sort of have the same shade as the middle rock, except they are shattered.

Hmmm... ALIENS!!! 0X

Steven Cedrone

02-17-2004, 01:17 AM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Mega Drive - sol 43, Feb 16, 2004

Spirit spent the wee morning hours of sol 43 gathering data about a wheel-track target with the Mössbauer spectrometer, then tucked its arm and drove. It used a two-session method engineers call a "mega drive" in order to make good progress toward the crater nicknamed "Bonneville." The first driving session covered 19 meters (62.3 feet) after long-running morning activities shortened the time for driving. After a rest, Spirit continued another 8.5 meters (27.9 feet) in the afternoon, resulting in a total drive of 27.5 meters (90.2 feet), a new one-sol record. Sol 43 ended at 9:58 a.m. Monday, PST. The remaining distance to "Bonneville" is about 245 meters (about 800 feet) from Spirit's new location.

For sol 44, which will end at 10:38 a.m. Tuesday, PST, controllers plan "touch-and-go" activities: deploying the arm on a target called "Ramp Flats" before continuing toward Bonneville.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Check Before Digging - sol 22, Feb 16, 2004

Opportunity spent much of sol 22, which ended at 9:39 p.m. Sunday, PST, making a thorough "before" examination of the spot selected for digging a ditch the next sol.

Also, Opportunity completed upward-looking observations before, during and after Mars Global Surveyor flew overhead looking down. Opportunity and Global Surveyor have similar infrared sensing instruments: the miniature thermal emission spectrometer on the rover and the (full-size) thermal emission spectrometer on the orbiter. Coordinated observations of looking up through the atmosphere with one while looking down through the atmosphere with the other were designed to provide a more complete atmospheric profile than either could do alone.

Sol 22's wake-up music was "Invisible Touch" by Genesis. In preparation for digging, Opportunity examined the trenching site with its microscopic imager, its Mössbauer spectrometer and, overnight, its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

The plan for sol 23, which will end at 10:19 p.m. Monday, PST, is to dig a trench with alternating forward and backward spinning of Opportunity's right front wheel in order to see what's below the surface. Inspections of the resulting hole are planned for sol 24 and the morning of sol 25.

Steven Cedrone

02-17-2004, 01:19 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040216a/After-U-Turn_br.jpg

After a U-Turn

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity made its first U-Turn on Mars on Feb. 14, 2004, as the completing move of its longest one-day drive, about 9 meters or 30 feet. This view from the right front hazard-avoidance camera shows the scene in front of Opportunity after the turn, with the selected location for the mission's first trenching operation now directly in front of the rover.

baker

02-17-2004, 01:57 AM

This is just too cool :D

Steven Cedrone

02-17-2004, 09:18 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
Driving Record
Spirit surpasses Sojourner's long distance record and makes detailed measurements of soil on its way to Bonneville crater. Spirit drove 21.6 meters (70.9 feet) on sol 44, bringing the rover's grand total to 108 meters (354 feet). That is about 6 meters (19.7 feet) more than the Sojourner mission record, set in 1997.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
Opportunity Successfully Dug Trench
The rover will now use instruments on the arm to characterize the soil in the trench.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040217a/01-ra-1-back-A041R1_th272h.jpg
Spirit's Drive Tracks

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040217a/merb_traverse_map_2cm-B024R1_th272h.jpg
Map of Opportunity's Traverses - Dotted line shows past traverses, solid line shows the rover's future path toward El Capitan.

No links yet, they must have just posted these.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-18-2004, 01:09 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Passes 100-Meter Mark - sol 44, Feb 17, 2004

Spirit controllers are calling sol 44 one of Spirit's most complicated and productive sols to date. Before commencing its record-breaking drive, Spirit began the sol, which ended at 10:38 a.m. February 17, 2004 PST, with an alpha particle x-ray spectrometer analysis of the soil target Ramp Flats. The analysis ran in parallel with a miniature thermal emission spectrometer observation of the martian sky. Spirit then continued observing "Ramp Flats" with the microscopic imager and Moessbauer spectrometer while operating the panoramic camera to get pictures of rocks in the distance called "V Ger" and "Broken Slate."

But this morning multi-tasking was only the beginning. After stowing the robotic arm, Spirit began a north-northeast drive that added a total of 21.6 meters (70.9 feet), bringing the rover's grand total to 108 meters (354 feet). That distance is about 6 meters (19.7 feet) more than Sojourner's mission record, set in 1997. Controllers remarked that Spirit's auto-navigation drives are consistently getting faster. These long drives are revealing new and interesting terrain, including more ridges, dunes, ripples and rocks with various appearances.

The plan for sol 45, which will end at 11:17 a.m. Feb. 18, 2004 PST, begins with analysis of a target at the current location, followed by a drive into a hollow between 15 meters (49 feet) and 18 meters (59 feet) away.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-18-2004, 03:13 PM

February 17, 2004

Opportunity Digs; Spirit Advances (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040217a.html)

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has scooped a trench with one of its wheels to reveal what is below the surface of a selected patch of soil.

"Yesterday we dug a nice big hole on Mars," said Jeffrey Biesiadecki, a rover planner at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

The rover alternately pushed soil forward and backward out of the trench with its right front wheel while other wheels held the rover in place. The rover turned slightly between bouts of digging to widen the hole. "We took a patient, gentle approach to digging," Biesiadecki said. The process lasted 22 minutes.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-19-2004, 02:33 PM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Does a "Wheel Wiggle" - sol 45, Feb 18, 2004

Spirit began sol 45, which ended at 11:17 a.m. February 18, 2004 PST, at its previous target, Halo, by conducting analysis with the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer, microscopic imager and Moessbauer spectrometer. Spirit also took panoramic camera images and miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations before its arm was stowed for the northeast drive toward a circular depression dubbed Laguna Hollow.

The first 19 meters of the drive toward Laguna Hollow was commanded using go-to waypoint commands with the hazard avoidance system turned off. This mode - which was used for the first time this sol - provides automatic heading correction during a blind drive. Some fine-tuning toward the target brought the total drive for this sol to 22.7 meters (74.5 feet).

After reaching Laguna Hollow, Spirit "wiggled" its wheels to disturb or scuff the fine dust-like soil at this location, which allows for more detailed observations with the instruments on the robotic arm. After adjusting position to put the disturbed soil in reach of the arm, Spirit backed up and completed a miniature thermal emission spectrometer scan of the new work area. Before the sol ended, Spirit made one more adjustment, putting it in perfect position to analyze the scuffed area beginning on sol 46

The plan for sol 46, which will end at 11:57 a.m., February 19, 2004 PST, is to conduct observations on Laguna Hollow with the instruments on the robotic arm, including some higher resolution analysis that will involve an overnight tool change.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Peering into the Hole - sol 24, Feb 18, 2004

On sol 24, which ended at 10:59 p.m. Tuesday, PST, Opportunity used science instruments on its robotic arm to examine the hole it dug with its right front wheel on sol 23. The trench is about 50 centimeters (20 inches) long by 20 centimeters (8 inches) wide by 10 centimeters (4 inches) deep.

Sol 24's wake-up music was "Trench Town Rock" by Bob Marley.

The plan for sol 25, which will end at 11:38 p.m. Wednesday, PST, is to continue examining the walls and floor of the trench for clues about the history of Mars. Opportunity will also peek at its right front wheel with the panoramic camera to see what materials got stuck on the wheel from the trenching activity. Then, Opportunity will use the panoramic camera high on the rover's mast to check out a former piece of itself -- the heat shield, which is sitting off in the distance. The heat shield protected the rover during cruise and during descent through the atmosphere on Jan. 4, 2004, PST.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-19-2004, 02:36 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040218a/xpe_1M130314030EFF0400P2939M2M1-B025R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040218a/xpe_1M130314030EFF0400P2939M2M1-B025R1_br.jpg)
The Trench Throws a Dirt Clod at Scientists

This picture, obtained by the microscopic imager on NASA's Opportunity rover during sol 24, February 17 PST, shows soil clods exposed in the upper wall of the trench dug by Opportunity's right front wheel on sol 23.

The clods were not exposed until the trench was made. The presence of soil clods implies weak bonding between individual soil grains. The chemical agent or mineral that causes the dirt to bind together into a clod, which scientists call the "bonding agent," is currently unknown. Moessbauer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer measurements of this spot, planned for sol 25, might help explain the bonding, which would ultimately help the rover team understand how geological processes vary across the red planet. In any case, the bonds between soil grains here cannot be very strong because the wheel dug down through this layer with little trouble.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-19-2004, 02:39 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040218a/2F130364136EFF08AMP1201L0M1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040218a/2F130364136EFF08AMP1201L0M1_br.jpg)
Spirit Does a "Jig" at Laguna Hollow

This front hazard-avoidance image taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on sol 45 shows Spirit in its new location after a drive totaling about 20 meters (65.6 feet).

The circular depression that Spirit is in, dubbed "Laguna Hollow," was most likely formed by a small impact.

Scientists were interested in reaching Laguna Hollow because of the location's abundance of very fine, dust-like soil. The fine material could be atmospheric dust that has settled into the depression, or a salt-based material that causes crusts in the soils and coating on rocks. Either way, scientists hope to be able to characterize the material and broaden their understanding of this foreign world.

To help scientists get a better look at the variations in the fine-grained dust at different depths, controllers commanded Spirit to "jiggle" its wheels in the soil before backing away to a distance that allows the area to be reached with the robotic arm. Spirit will likely spend part of sol 46 analyzing this area with the instruments on its robotic arm.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-19-2004, 02:40 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040218a/xpe_sol45_map-A045R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040218a/xpe_sol45_map-A045R1_br.jpg)
Spirit's Path to Bonneville

Scientists created this overlay map by laying navigation and panoramic camera images taken from the surface of Mars on top of one of Spirit's descent images taken as the spacecraft descended to the martian surface. The map was created to help track the path that Spirit has traveled through sol 44 and to put into perspective the distance left to travel before reaching the edge of the large crater nicknamed "Bonneville."

The area boxed in yellow contains the ground images that have been matched to and layered on top of the descent image. The yellow line shows the path that Spirit has traveled and the red dashed line shows the intended path for future sols. The blue circles highlight hollowed areas on the surface, such as Sleepy Hollow, near the lander, and Laguna Hollow, the sol 45 drive destination. Scientists use these hollowed areas - which can be seen in both the ground images and the descent image - to correctly match up the overlay.

Field geologists on Earth create maps like this to assist them in tracking their observations.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-19-2004, 08:43 PM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Halfway Through - sol 46, Feb 19, 2004

Sol 46, completed at 11:17 a.m. February 19, 2004 PST, marks the halfway point of Spirit's primary surface mission - sols 2 through 91. Spirit began this momentous morning by doing some remote sensing of the crater rim and imaging the surrounding soil with the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. After all this work, Spirit took a break with a nap lasting slightly more than an hour. After waking, Spirit continued its observations of the ground and sky with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. At about 1:34 p.m. Mars Local Solar Time, Spirit found itself analyzing a patch of the atmosphere with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer at the same time that Mars Global Surveyor's thermal emission spectrometer was looking down through the same chunk of atmosphere. This concurrent observation will enable a more thorough understanding of martian atmospheric conditions.

Spirit's afternoon activities began at about 4:00 p.m. Mars Local Solar Time after the Mars Global Surveyor pass. Spirit was expected to take stereo microscopic images of the target "Trout" in Laguna Hollow. This is the first time the microscopic imager will take pictures at Gusev Crater without the Moessbauer instrument first touching the surface of the soil. The observation will provide pictures of undisturbed soil. After this, Spirit will perform a calibration activity by imaging a location in the sky with the microscopic imager and the navigation camera simultaneously.

Spirit's day will stretch into the night this sol with an overnight Moessbauer spectrometer integration. After a brief sleep, Spirit will wake at about 2:00 a.m. Mars Local Solar time on sol 47 to end the integration, collect the data and turn on the arm heaters. It will prepare for changing the tool from the Moessbauer to the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer, and begin observations with the new tool. Finally, the rover will leave the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer powered on and go back to sleep around 2:30 a.m. Mars Local Solar time.

On the morning of Sol 47, which will end at 11:57 a.m. February 20, 2004 PST, the plan is for Spirit to end the alpha particle x-ray observation and collect that data, and then perform some early mini-thermal emission spectrometer soil properties observations.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Stutter Stepping to El Capitan - sol 25, Feb 19, 2004

On sol 25, which ended at 11:38 p.m. Wednesday, February 18, PST, Opportunity used the microscopic imager and alpha particle x-ray spectrometer to study the chemical makeup of the wall and floor area within the rover-made trench. Due to time constraints, Opportunity was unable to take a picture of the heat shield in the distance.

Sol 25's wake-up music was "Fascination" by Human League.

The plan for sol 26, which will end at 12:18 a.m. Friday, PST, is to back away from the trench, obtain one grand finale Moessbauer spectrometer reading of the trench, pick up and stow the rover arm, then turn and drive 9 meters (30 feet) to the El Capitan area. Opportunity will make a few intentional "stutter steps" on its way to El Capitan, stopping to take a few front hazard avoidance camera images and navigation camera images to plan for final approach and robotic arm activities.

Opportunity will stop a couple of meters (about 6 or 7 feet) short of El Capitan to take images with its panoramic camera and gather science measurements with its miniature thermal emission spectrometer. On sol 27, Opportunity will make a short, closer approach to El Capitan to poise itself to use the rock abrasion tool and other instruments on the rover arm.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-19-2004, 08:44 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040219a/IDD_sol_24_25_animation_th200.gif (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040219a/IDD_sol_24_25_animation.gif)
Animation of Opportunity's Robotic Arm

Opportunity's instrument deployment device explores the trench it dug with its wheel.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-20-2004, 02:59 PM

February 19, 2004

Opportunity Examines Trench As Spirit Prepares To Dig One (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040219a.html)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040219a/08-AY-3-shiny-B026R1_th200.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040219a/08-AY-3-shiny-B026R1_br.jpg)
This image, taken by the microscopic imager, an instrument located on Opportunity 's instrument deployment device, or "arm," reveals shiny, spherical objects embedded within the trench wall at Meridiani Planum, Mars.

By inspecting the sides and floor of a hole it dug on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover is finding some things it did not see beforehand, including round pebbles that are shiny and soil so fine-grained that the rover's microscope can't make out individual particles.

"What's underneath is different than what's at the immediate surface," said Dr. Albert Yen, rover science team member at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Meanwhile, NASA's other Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, has reached a site with such interesting soil that scientists have decided to robotically dig a hole there, too. Spirit's trenching at a shallow depression dubbed "Laguna Hollow" could answer questions about whether traits on the soil surface resulted from repeated swelling and shrinking of an upper layer bearing concentrated brine, among other possibilities.

More at the link above!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-20-2004, 09:42 PM

Steven Cedrone

02-21-2004, 05:07 AM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs a Trench - sol 47, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 47, ending at 12:36 p.m. February 20, 2004 PST, engineers woke Spirit up to the song "Dig Down Deep," by Hot Soup, and that's exactly what Spirit proceeded to do. The two-hour operation performed by Spirit's left front wheel resulted in a trench 7-8 centimeters deep (2.8 to 3.1 inches) that uncovers fresh soil and possibly ancient information.

Spirit dug this trench at "Laguna Hollow" the same way that Opportunity dug its 9-10 centimeter (3.5 to 3.9 inch) trench at Meridiani. However, because the ground at this location is harder, Spirit had to dig for twice as long as Opportunity - going back and forth over the surface 11 times instead of 6.

After the trench was completed, Spirit backed up one meter, or more than a yard, and analyzed the area with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer before driving forward 0.4 meters (15.7 inches) and imaging the excavation site with the panoramic camera. A final move forward of another 0.4 meters allowed Spirit to take front hazard avoidance camera images of the arm work volume which was then centered on the trench.

After stowing the arm, the rover did a series of miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of several nearby rocks, "Buffalo," "Cherry," "Cotton," and "Jiminy Cricket," and a combined miniature thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera observation of "Beacon." Spirit also took panoramic camera images of its deck to observe dust accumulation on the instrumented solar cells and on the miniature thermal emission spectrometer calibration target.

Spirit then took a siesta from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mars Local Solar time and woke up for some more panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of "Beacon," and miniature thermal emission spectrometer ground and sky stares. All activities up through the afternoon pass by the Mars Odyssey orbiter were completed successfully.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Enter the Rock Abrasion Tool - sol 26, Feb 20, 2004

On sol 26, which ended at 12:18 a.m. Friday, February 19, PST, Opportunity successfully obtained one final Moessbauer spectrometer reading of the trench, stowed the rover arm, and drove 15 meters (50 feet) to the "El Capitan" area. The drive was Opportunity's longest yet and required the vehicle and planners to skirt the trench and avoid the lander.

The plan for sol 27, which will end at 12:57 a.m. Saturday, PST, is to first "supersize" the measurements of the "El Capitan" area with the panoramic camera, miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and microscopic imager. The mineralogy and geology teams have requested a minimum of three hours worth of "super resolution" and "super spectral" observations for the science instruments to get the most comprehensive coverage of this interesting site, which has varying textures and layers of dirt and rock.

After a short siesta in the early afternoon, Opportunity will drive 30 centimeters (12 inches) to sneak a bit closer to the rocks in "El Capitan" to get ready for the rock abrasion tool to do its work. After the drive, the Opportunity team plans to take a picture of the martian sky with the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. If time permits, Opportunity will attempt to aim its cameras toward the heat shield in the far distance.

Over the weekend, Opportunity plans to find the perfect spot to use the abrasion tool and set it loose to grind away on "El Capitan," which will be the first use of the rock abrasion tool by Opportunity.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-21-2004, 05:09 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040220a/2F130537129EFF09BVR2500L0M1-A047R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040220a/2F130537129EFF09BVR2500L0M1-A047R1_br.jpg)
Spirit Digs a Trench

A view from the front hazard-avoidance camera of NASA's Spirit rover on its 47th martian day, or sol, shows a trench excavated by the rover's left front wheel within the "Laguna Hollow" area. The trench, dubbed "Road Cut," is 7 centimeters (3 inches) deep. The soil at this location is more cohesive than the material where Spirit's twin, Opportunity, dug its first trench at Meridiani Planum. Spirit made 11 back-and-forth passes to dig this trench, and still did not produce as deep a hole as Opportunity dug in 6 passes.

Scientists and engineers plan to begin up-close inspection of the soil in this trench on sol 48 by placing the microscopic imager on the floor and the walls before conducting readings with the rover's Moessbauer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometers on some of the same points.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-21-2004, 11:57 PM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Down in the Trench - sol 48, Feb 21, 2004

On its 48th sol, ending at 1:16 p.m. Saturday, PST, Spirit maneuvered its robotic arm successfully within the challengingly tight confines of the trench that the rover had dug into the floor of "Laguna Hollow" the preceding sol.

Spirit used the microscopic imager on the arm to take pictures of details in the wall and floor of the trench during the morning. Then Spirit rotated the tool turret at the end of its arm and placed the Moessbauer spectrometer in position to read the mineral composition of the soil on the trench floor. That reading was designed to last about 12 hours, from mid-sol into the martian night. Spirit's panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer were also used during the sol for studies of sky and rocks.

Spirit has been told to wake up and switch from the Moessbauer spectrometer to alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the trench floor during the pre-dawn hours of the next sol. Later on sol 49 (which ends at 1:56 p.m. Sunday) and early on sol 50, plans call for using those spectrometers on the walls of the trench and making additional observations of the "Laguna Hollow" area. Then Spirit is slated to resume its trek toward the rim of the crater nicknamed "Bonneville," now estimated to be about 135 meters (443 feet) northeast of the rover's current location.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Supersized Science - sol 27, Feb 21, 2004

On sol 27, ending 12:57 a.m. Saturday, PST, Opportunity successfully "supersized" the measurements of the "El Capitan" area with the panoramic camera, miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and microscopic imager. The rover team is analyzing "super resolution" and "super spectral" observations from the science instruments and currently locating the best spots to place the rock abrasion tool.

Opportunity also drove 33 centimeters (13 inches) closer to "El Capitan" to better poise the robotic arm for use of the rock abrasion tool sometime over the next four or five sols, which will be the first use of the rock abrasion tool by Opportunity.

On sol 28, ending at 1:38 a.m. Sunday, PST, plans call for Opportunity to take extensive microscopic images of "El Capitan," which is a rich science target because it has multiple layers and varied textures on the upper and lower areas of the rocks, implying multiple changes in the geologic history of this area.

The Mars Odyssey orbiter is scheduled to fly over Opportunity during sol 28 with increased data communications capabilities to 256 kilobits per second, which is five times the speed of normal home computer modems.

Steven Cedrone

02-22-2004, 12:01 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040220a/xpe_Outcrop_RATplacement_2_blue-B027R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040220a/xpe_Outcrop_RATplacement_2_blue-B027R1_br.jpg)

Plotting and Scheming (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040220a.html)

This graphic is a planning tool used by Mars Exploration Rover engineers to plot and scheme the perfect location to place the rock abrasion tool on the rock collection dubbed "El Capitan" near Opportunity's landing site. "El Capitan" is located within a larger outcrop nicknamed "Opportunity Ledge."

The rover visualization team from NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., initiated the graphics by putting two panoramic camera images of the "El Capitan" area into their three-dimensional model. The rock abrasion tool team from Honeybee Robotics then used the visualization tool to help target and orient their instrument on the safest and most scientifically interesting locations. The blue circle represents one of two current targets of interest, chosen because of its size, lack of dust, and most of all its distinct and intriguing geologic features. To see the second target location, see the image titled "Plotting and Scheming -2."

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-23-2004, 01:20 AM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Trench Exam Continues - sol 49, Feb 22, 2004

Spirit continued its inspection of the trench dubbed "Road Cut" during the rover's 49th sol, ending at 1:56 p.m. Sunday, PST. It used three instruments on its robotic arm to examine the subsurface soil exposed by the sol 47 digging of the trench.

Before dawn on sol 49, Spirit switched from its Moessbauer spectrometer to its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for analysis of soil on the trench floor. Later, controllers played "Coisinha do Pai," by Beth Carvalho, as wake-up music. The rover inspected targets on the wall and floor of the trench with its microscope, then placed the Moessbauer spectrometer against a target on the trench wall for identifying the iron-bearing minerals there. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer took remote readings on the rover's wheel tracks in the morning and afternoon.

Plans for sol 50 (ending at 2:35 p.m. Monday, PST) call for finishing inspection of the trench, then resuming the journey toward the rim of a crater dubbed "Bonneville," followed by a longer drive the following sol.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Busy Microscope at "El Capitan" - sol 28, Feb 22, 2004

On sol 28, which ended at 1:38 a.m. Sunday, PST, Opportunity moved its arm repeatedly to make close-up inspections the "El Capitan" part of the street-curb-sized outcrop in the crater where the rover is working. Opportunity took 46 pictures with its microscope, examining several locations on "El Capitan" at a range of focal distances. It also placed its Moessbauer spectrometer and its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the rock target to assess what minerals and what elements are present.

Controllers chose the song "I am a Rock," performed by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, as Opportunity's sol 28 wake-up music. The sol's activities included observations by the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and the panoramic camera, as well as the use of the tools on the arm.

The arm's complex maneuvers totaled 25 minutes of actual arm movement. Rover planners' success in accomplishing them drew a round of applause in the Mission Support Area at JPL during the afternoon downlink from Mars.

During the martian night, early on sol 29, Opportunity woke up and moved its arm again to switch from the Moessbauer spectrometer to the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. Additional close-up inspections are planned for later in sol 29, which ends at 2:17 a.m. Monday. Plans for sol 30 feature the use of the rock abrasion tool to grind through the surface at one target on "El Capitan."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-23-2004, 01:22 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040222a/Shadow-2F130642164EDN09BVP1402R0M1-A049R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040222a/Shadow-2F130642164EDN09BVP1402R0M1-A049R1.jpg)

Spirit Shadow over Laguna Trench

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit casts a shadow over the trench that the rover is examining with tools on its robotic arm. Spirit took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on Feb. 21, 2004, during the rover's 48th martian day, or sol. It dug the trench with its left front wheel the preceding sol. Plans call for Spirit to finish examining the trench on sol 50.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-24-2004, 02:08 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Heading for Middle Ground - sol 50, Feb 23, 2004

On Sol 50, ending at 2:35 p.m. PST, Spirit finished observations of the trench at "Laguna Hollow," then continued on its journey toward the crater called "Bonneville." Driving in a dog-leg pattern to avoid some bumpy terrain, Spirit traveled approximately 18.8 meters (61.7 feet) toward the halfway point, called "Middle Ground." The last 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) were covered using autonomous navigation software.

After completing the drive, Spirit gathered miniature thermal emission spectrometer data on the ground on both sides of the rover, and its panoramic camera and navigation camera took pictures.

The wake-up song this morning (Sunday evening Pacific time) was "Samba De Marte" by Beth Carvalho from her "Perolas Do Pagode" album. The lyrics include a verse about waking up the rover on Carnival Day. This song was written by Beth Carvalho after she heard that one of her songs was used to wake up Mars Pathfinder's Sojourner rover during the 1997 mission. This is quite appropriate, as this spirited sol 50 also began on Carnival day in Brazil!

In the coming sols, Spirit will complete the drive to "Middle Ground."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-24-2004, 07:33 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040224a/xpe_Oppty_sol_31-B031R1_br.jpg

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity casts a shadow over the El Capitan area that the rover is examining with tools on its robotic arm. Opportunity took this image with its front hazard-avoidance camera on Feb. 23, 2004, during the rover's 29th martian day, or sol.

Steven Cedrone

02-25-2004, 12:19 AM

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: A Beautiful Grind - sol 30, Feb 24, 2004

On sol 30, which ended at 2:56 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, Opportunity performed its first rock abrasion tool operation on a rock target known as 'McKittrick Middle Rat' at the El Capitan site inside the crater. The tool shaved the rock over a period of two hours, grinding into a total depth of about 4 millimeters (.16 inches).

The auspicious day began with the song 'Rock'n Me' by Steve Miller and some miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky surveys and sky stares to study the atmosphere. After completing these activities, Opportunity took a short siesta to recharge its batteries. The rover has been doing a lot of science work at night, and the season on Mars is changing to winter, so the rover has less energy to work with than it did earlier in the mission. The martian days are getting shorter and the sun angle is not allowing either rover to power up the solar panels as much as in the past.

Opportunity woke up from its nap at 11:30 Local Solar Time on Mars to run through the series of commands required to retract the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and close its doors; take several microscopic images of another nearby rock abrasion tool target called 'Guadalupe;' flip the wrist; take a microscopic image of "McKittrick Middle Rat;" and place the rock abrasion tool on its target to run at 13:00 Local Solar Time.

After the abrasion tool was retracted, a series of microscopic images of the scene were taken, and the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer was successfully placed into the abrasion tool's hole late in the day.

Some additional panoramic camera, miniature thermal emission spectrometer readings, and hazard avoidance camera imagery was completed through the day.

The plan for sol 31, which will end at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, is to continue getting long Mössbauer readings of the rock abrasion tool hole and to prepare the tool for more work again on sol 33 or 34.

During the martian night, early on sol 29, Opportunity woke up and moved its arm again to switch from the Mössbauer spectrometer to the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. Additional close-up inspections are planned for later in sol 29, which ends at 2:17 a.m. Monday. Plans for sol 30 feature the use of the rock abrasion tool to grind through the surface at one target on "El Capitan."

Steve

JackTheTripper

02-25-2004, 07:08 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Making Ground - sol 51, Feb 24, 2004

To inspire a morning "run" on sol 51, which ended at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, PST, Spirit woke up to Vangelis' "Chariots of Fire." The rover deployed its arm, took microscopic images of the soil in front of it and then proceeded toward its target, "Middle Ground." Spirit drove 30 meters (98.4 feet), breaking its own record for a single-sol traverse. Along the way, Spirit paused to image rocks on both sides of the drive path with its panoramic camera.

The auto-navigational software that drove the last 12 meters (39.4 feet) of the traverse to the "Middle Ground" target warned Spirit that the slope into the hollow that houses it was too steep (according to parameters set by rover engineers). Spirit then paced along the rim, looking for a safe way down. Unable to locate a secure path into the crater before the sol ended, Spirit ended up facing slightly west of north instead of northeast, as called for by the plan. This orientation will reduce the amount of data the rover can return (due to interference between the UHF antenna and items on the rover equipment deck), but it will be corrected in the coming sols.

As of today, Spirit has moved 183.25 meters (601.21 feet) and is now roughly 135 meters (442.91 feet) from its landing site, Columbia Memorial Station.

The intent for the next several sols will be to drive Spirit into "Middle Ground" and take a full panorama of the surrounding area to identify scientifically interesting rocks.

Steven Cedrone

02-25-2004, 02:59 PM

NASA Webcast (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/webcast.html)

Women Working on Mars:
Science and Engineering on the Red Planet
February 26, 2004 4:00 pm PST

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-25-2004, 03:03 PM

February 20, 2004 (This press release is new, regardless of the date)

Innovative Web Site Brings Mars Exploration to Desktops (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040220a.html)

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., is enhancing the availability of all Mars rover images for students and the public by distributing them via the Internet. The images can be viewed on the NASA Web site at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov as well as the educational Web site MarsQuest Online at http://www.marsquestonline.org/mer .

The sites allow anyone with an Internet connection to participate in the adventure of Mars exploration. MarsQuest Online is making the full set of images from Spirit and Opportunity available for public viewing, along with daily updates, in an integrated exploration and education environment. The site is a powerful example of inquiry-based learning and public engagement in the thrill of exploration and discovery.

More at the link above!

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-25-2004, 10:17 PM

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Opportunity Update: sol 31, Feb 25, 2004: Opportunity Gets an Attitude Adjustment

On sol 31, which ended at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, Opportunity awoke to "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and his Comets. At 1:00 a.m. Local Solar Time, Opportunity sent data to Earth via the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter and then sent another whopping 145.6 megabits of data at 3:30 a.m. Local Solar Time via the Mars Odyssey orbiter.

During the morning hours, Opportunity collected data with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for five hours and took measurements with its miniature thermal emission spectrometer from inside its newly formed hole that was created on sol 30 by the rock abrasion tool. Later, Opportunity retracted and closed the door of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and swapped the Moessbauer spectrometer into the hole made by the abrasion tool for a leisurely 24-hour observation.

Opportunity also updated its "attitude knowledge," which fine-tunes the rover's information about its exact location and position on Mars. Updating the attitude knowledge allows the rover to more accurately point the high gain antenna toward Earth, which increases the communications capabilities. The attitude adjustment also enables scientists and engineers to point instruments onboard Opportunity more precisely at targets of interest, such as particular rocks and patches of soil. To adjust the attitude knowledge, engineers have the rover turn the panoramic camera to the Sun and watch the Sun travel across the sky for 15 minutes. The rover is then smart enough to take the Sun movement data collected from the panoramic camera to calculate its own location in the universe…..on Mars. The rover gathers attitude knowledge errors over time as it drives and uses the robotic arm extensively, but it only needs an attitude adjustment about once a week or after driving long distances.

Around 12:15 pm Local Solar Time, Opportunity went to sleep to recharge its batteries from its strenuous rock abrasion tool activities on sol 30, but reawakened briefly at 4 p.m. Local Solar Time and again in the evening to send data to Earth via additional overflights by the Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey orbiters.

The plan for sol 32, which ends at 4:15 a.m. Thursday, February 26, is to take another unique set of Moessbauer measurements to look at the rover-created hole in a different spectrum. The goal is to then crawl slightly forward on sol 33 to position Opportunity to use the rock abrasion tool on the upper target of the El Capitan/McKittrick area.

Steve

JackTheTripper

02-25-2004, 11:26 PM

:lol: :lol: Attitude adjustment. :lol: :lol: Sounds like what Spirit needed a few weeks ago when IT was acting up. :lol: :lol:

Steven Cedrone

02-26-2004, 05:46 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Looks Back at Earth - sol 52, Feb 25, 2004

On sol 52, which ended at 3:54 p.m. PST, February 25, rover engineers drove Spirit the short 4-meter (13.1 feet) drive to "Middle Ground" after finishing observations with the miniature thermal emission and Mössbauer spectrometers. Several stutter steps that would have put Spirit at the exact target location were not executed because they were programmed with built-in safeties. The rover detected slight hazards and stopped within its constraints. The final steps will be executed next sol.

Waking up to Foreigner's "Cold as Ice," Spirit's first job of the sol was to warm up its arm that was significantly colder than yestersol due to the rover's orientation to the northwest. The engineering team also took a moment to wave to Spirit as its panoramic camera faced and imaged Earth.

Spirit will remain at "Middle Ground" for the next several sols and continue observing targets with its spectrometers and microscopic imager. Plans also call for high-resolution images of rocks and an examination of the soil.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-26-2004, 06:06 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040225a/xpe_First_Opp_RAT-B032R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040225a/xpe_First_Opp_RAT-B032R1_br.jpg)

Opportunity Slices into the Surface of Mars

The semi-circular depression on the right side of this microscopic image resulted from Opportunity's first grinding of a rock on Mars. The rock abrasion tool sliced into the surface about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) deep and ground off a patch 45.5 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter on a rock called "McKittrick" during Opportunity's 30th sol on Mars, Feb. 23, 2004. The hole exposed fresh interior material of the rock for close inspection by the rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers on the robotic arm.

Scientists and engineers got a nice bonus in that two spherical features nicknamed "blueberries" were unexpectedly cut in half within this rock. Team members had noticed the blueberries in earlier pictures on other rocks in the outcrop and had wanted to attempt to cut one in half sometime during the future of the mission. As luck would have it, two blueberries were hidden in the depths of "McKittrick." The one blueberry shown in the bottom right of this picture appears to have been scratched by the grinding wheel, which is further explained in image #2.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-26-2004, 06:07 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040225a/xpe_MI_RAT_GW_PROFILE-B032R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040225a/xpe_MI_RAT_GW_PROFILE-B032R1_br.jpg)

Grinding Wheel Profile

This graphic dubbed by engineers as the "Grinding Wheel Profile" is the detective's tool used by the Opportunity team to help them understand one of the processes that formed the interior of a rock called "McKittrick." Scientists are looking for clues as to how layers, grains and minerals helped create this rock, and the engineers who built the rock abrasion tool (RAT) wanted to ensure that their instrument's handiwork did not get confused with natural processes.

In the original microscopic image underlaying the graphics, engineers and scientists noticed "layers" or "scratches" on the spherical object nicknamed "blueberry" in the lower right part of the image. The designers of the rock abrasion tool noticed that the arc length and width of the scratches were similar to the shape and size of the rock abrasion tool's grinding wheel, which is made out of a pad of diamond teeth.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-26-2004, 09:43 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040226a/10-jb-1-sunset-B030R1.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/movies/spirit/10-jb-1-sunset.mov)
The Sun Sets on Mars (Quicktime)

On Sol 20 of its journey, Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity woke up around 5:30 p.m. in the martian afternoon to watch the sunset. This is a still image from the rover's panoramic camera showing Sun just over the horizon. The rover is looking to the southwest. This image is only approximate true color, using infrared, green and violet filters, rather than the human red-green-blue, so that the maximum panoramic camera wavelength range could be covered by the observations, enhancing the scientific value of the measurements.

The rapid dimming of the Sun near the horizon is due to the dust in the sky. There is nearly twice as much dust as there was when the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, which landed on Mars in 1997, imaged the sunset. This causes the Sun to be many times fainter. The sky above the Sun has the same blue tint observed by Pathfinder and also by Viking, which landed on Mars in 1976. This is because dust in the martian atmosphere scatters blue light forward toward the observer much more efficiently than it scatters red light forward. Therefore, a "halo" of blueish sky color is always observed close to the Sun. Only half of this halo can be seen in this image because the other half is below the horizon.

Steven Cedrone

02-26-2004, 09:48 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040226a/03-ra-2-back-A053R1_th270h.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040226a/03-ra-2-back-A053R1_br2.jpg)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040226a/02-jt-2-ra-1-forward-A053R1_th270h.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040226a/02-jt-2-ra-1-forward-A053R1_br2.jpg)

The Bumpy Road Ahead

Steven Cedrone

02-27-2004, 02:50 PM

Press Releases

February 26, 2004

Mars Sunset Clip from Opportunity Tells Dusty Tale (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040226a.html)

*Link to Quicktime movie posted above*

Dust gradually obscures the Sun during a blue-sky martian sunset seen in a sequence of newly processed frames from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.

"It's inspirational and beautiful, but there's good science in there, too," said Dr. Jim Bell of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., lead scientist for the panoramic cameras on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit.

The amount of dust indicated by Opportunity's observations of the Sun is about twice as much as NASA's Mars Pathfinder lander saw in 1997 from another site on Mars.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-27-2004, 02:51 PM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

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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.

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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."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-27-2004, 09:32 PM

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Biting Blueberry Hill - sol 33, Feb 27, 2004

On sol 33, which ended at 4:55 a.m. Friday, February 27, Opportunity reached its second rock abrasion tool target site, and it's ready to take the next bite of Mars.

Opportunity woke up a little late on sol 33 to conserve energy. The wake-up song was 'Blueberry Hill' by Fats Domino, in honor of the hill in front of the rover.

Opportunity took an early afternoon 360-degree panorama and an extra observation of the area to the east with its navigation camera, while the Moessbauer instrument completed the measurements it began on sol 32.

The microscopic imager also took three sets of observations of the hole created by the rock abrasion tool on sol 30. Opportunity later took stereo images of the rock area named "Maya" and took pictures of an area called "Half-Dome." Both the panoramic camera and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer observed the sky.

In between science measurements, Opportunity stowed its instrument arm and drove a 15-centimeter (6-inch) "bump" to reach its next rock abrasion tool target. Final shutdown was at 2:37 Local Solar Time, with a brief wakeup at 4:10 Local Solar Time to transmit data to the Mars Odyssey orbiter as it flew over the rover.

The plan for the weekend is to grind into the upper part of "El Capitan" dubbed "Guadalupe" and to take extensive measurements of the new hole using the microscopic imager and two spectrometers.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-28-2004, 03:34 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Heading To "Humphrey" - sol 54, Feb 27, 2004

On sol 54, Spirit woke up to the song "Big Rock in the Road" by Pete Wernick and made its final approach to the imposing rock called "Humphrey" before the sol ended at 5:13 p.m. PST on Friday, Feb. 27. The initial 3.5 meter (11.5 feet) drive toward the rock was cut short at only 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) due to a built-in software safety. Rover engineers quickly adjusted the software restriction and drove the final meter of that planned drive, plus the 0.9 meters (about 3 feet) that put the rover in the best position for brushing "Humphrey" with the rock abrasion tool.

Before approaching the rock, Spirit used its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to investigate the areas the rock abrasion tool will brush and grind. Unlike the last rock abrasion tool sequence on the rock called "Adirondack," the planned procedure for "Humphrey" will include brushing three separate areas of the rock. After brushing, Spirit will back up and examine the brushed areas with the instruments on its arm. The science team will then decide the best place to grind into "Humphrey" - it could be one of the three brushed areas or another section altogether. The hope is to remove as much dust as possible so the instruments on Spirit's arm can get a pre-grinding "read" on the rock coating and then, after grinding, study beneath the coating and surface.

In the sols following the rock abrasion tool sequence, Spirit might investigate an interesting rock behind it, or continue on toward "Bonneville" crater.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-28-2004, 03:36 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040227a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_022704_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040227a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_022704_th543h.jpg)

Hefty "Humphrey"

This image of the rock called "Humphrey" was taken by Spirit's navigational camera on its 54th sol on Mars. The rock's name was inspired by Humphries Peak - the tallest peak in Arizona and part of the San Francisco volcanic complex. Standing approximately .6 meters (about 2 feet) tall, "Humphrey" is one of the largest blocks of what scientists believe is ejected material from one of the rover's long-term targets, the crater dubbed "Bonneville." Likely a basaltic rock, the fractures in "Humphrey" are thought to have been caused by the impact as it was hurled from the crater to its current resting place. Scientists are eager to investigate ejecta rocks, as they give a glimpse of the composition of what lies beneath the martian surface. The engineering and science teams are preparing to brush and then grind "Humphrey" with Spirit's rock abrasion tool. The hope is to remove as much dust as possible so they can examine the coating and then the exposed undersurface after grinding with the cameras and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-28-2004, 03:39 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040227a/1F131117877EFF0500P1214L0M1-B034R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040227a/1F131117877EFF0500P1214L0M1-B034R1_br.jpg)

Circular Signs of the Rock Abrasion Tool

This image was taken by Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera, providing a circular sign of the success of the rover's first grinding of a rock. The round, shallow hole seen in this image is on a rock dubbed "McKittrick," located in the "El Capitan" area of the larger outcrop near Opportunity's landing site.

Opportunity used its rock abrasion tool to grind off a patch of rock 45.5 millimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter during the 30th martian day, or sol, of its mission (Feb. 23, 2004). The grinding exposed fresh rock for close inspection by the rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers located on its robotic arm. The Honeybee Robotics team, which designed and operates the rock abrasion tool, determined the depth of the cut at "McKittrick" to be 4.4 millimeters (0.17 inches) deep.

On sol 34 (Feb. 27, 2004), the rover is scheduled to grind into its second target on the "El Capitan" area, a rock dubbed "Guadalupe" in the upper middle part of this image.

The rock abrasion tools on both Mars Exploration Rovers were supplied by Honeybee Robotics, New York, N.Y.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

02-29-2004, 05:28 AM

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Scratch and Sniff - sol 34, Feb 28, 2004

Opportunity remains healthy and active. During its 34th sol on Mars, which ended at 5:34 a.m. Saturday, PST, the rover used its rock abrasion tool for the second time. It ground the surface off a patch of rock at a site called "Guadalupe" in the outcrop the rover has been examining. The rover looked at the patch with its microscope both before and after the grinding session. Then it placed its Moessbauer spectrometer against the newly exposed interior material of the rock for a long reading of data that scientists use to identify what iron-containing minerals are present in the target.

Opportunity also used its miniature thermal emission spectrometer during the sol to assess the composition of an outcrop feature dubbed "Shoemaker Wall." It took images of "Guadalupe" with its panoramic camera before and after the use of the rock abrasion tool.

Wake-up music played in the mission support area at JPL for sol 34 was "Dig In," by Lenny Kravitz.

For sol 35, ending at 6:15 a.m. Sunday, PST, plans call for continuing use of tools on the robotic arm to examine the rock interior exposed by the "Guadalupe" grind.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-01-2004, 03:14 AM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Brush, Brush, Brush, Then Step Back - sol 55, Feb 29, 2004

Spirit used its rock abrasion tool for brushing the dust off three patches of a rock called "Humphrey," during its 55th sol on Mars, ending at 5:53 p.m. Saturday, PST. Before applying the wire-bristled brush, the rover inspected the surface of the rock with its microscope and with its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, which identifies elements that are present. Brushing three different places on a rock one right after another was an unprecedented use of the rock abrasion tool, designed to provide a larger cleaned area for examining.

Afterwards, Spirit rolled backward 85 centimeters (2.8 feet) to a position from which it could use its miniature thermal emission spectrometer on the cleaned areas for assessing what minerals are present. Due to caution about potential hazards while re-approaching "Humphrey," the rover moved only part of the way back. Plans for sol 56, ending at 6:33 p.m. Sunday, PST, call for finishing that re-approach and further inspecting the brushed areas. If all goes well, the rock abrasion tool's diamond-toothed grinding wheel will cut into the rock on sol 57 to expose fresh interior material.

For wake-up music on sol 55, controllers chose "Brush Your Teeth," by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, and "Knock Three Times," by Tony Orlando and Dawn.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: "Guadalupe" Under the Microscope - sol 35, Feb 29, 2004

During its 35th sol on Mars, ending at 6:14 a.m. Sunday, PST, Opportunity manipulated the microscopic imager at the tip of its arm for eight observations of the fine textures of an outcrop-rock target called "Guadalupe." The observations include frames to be used for developing stereo and color views.

Opportunity also used its Moessbauer spectrometer and, after an overnight switch, its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to assess the composition of the interior material of "Guadalupe" exposed yestersol by a grinding session with the rock abrasion tool.

The panoramic camera up on the rover's mast captured a new view toward the eastern horizon beyond the crater where Opportunity is working, for use in evaluating potential drive directions after the rover leaves the crater.

Jimmy Cliff's "I Can See Clearly Now," was played in the mission support area at JPL as Opportunity's sol 35 wake-up music.

Plans for sol 36, ending at 6:54 a.m. Monday, PST, called for finishing the close-up inspection of "Guadalupe," then backing up enough to give the panoramic camera and miniature emission spectrometer good views of the area where the rock interior has been exposed by grinding.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-01-2004, 05:01 PM

Just wanted to post this here, the mission for these two rovers is slated to be three months. The reason for this:

Eventual End of Mission (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/tl_surface.html)

"Toward the end of the surface phase for both missions, both power and telecom capabilities will be decreasing, as the Earth and the Sun become more distant from Mars, dust falls on the solar panels, the batteries lose capacity, and the Sun moves further North past the landing site latitude. Eventually, somewhere near Sol 91 it is expected that the rover will be unable to store up enough thermal or battery energy to prevent its components´ overnight temperatures from falling below flight allowable levels. That will sooner or later result in failure of one or more of those components, silencing the rover forever."

Steve

JackTheTripper

03-02-2004, 06:22 PM

Update: Spirit and Opportunity

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Back to the Ol' Grind - sol 57, Mar 01, 2004

During its 57th sol on Mars, ending at 7:12 PST on March 1, Spirit observed the area on "Humphrey" that was thrice brushed by the rock abrasion tool. An area just to the right of the brushed area, where the team intends to grind, was also examined.

The morning hours found Spirit using its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the intended grinding target to verify its similarity to the pre-brushed areas of the rock. The arm then switched out tools to the microscopic imager to get close-up views of the grinding target and the area to the right of it. The Moessbauer spectrometer was then placed on the brushed area for another observation.

Panoramic camera images were taken of the rock abrasion tool magnets to study dust accumulation. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer performed a diurnal characterization on the nearby soil. This allows scientists to look at the temperature difference from day to night, revealing information about particle sizes within the soil.

Next sol, the plan calls for Spirit to grind into "Humphrey" and then use its arsenal of instruments to analyze the interior of the rock.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Moving On - sol 36, Mar 01, 2004

Opportunity woke up to Sting's "Rock Steady" on its 36th sol on Mars, which ended at 6:54 a.m. PST on Monday, March 1. The rover completed an overnight alpha particle X-ray spectrometer measurement on "Guadalupe," retracted its arm, placed the Moessbauer spectrometer on the calibration target and then stowed its arm.

A series of backward drives - away from the "El Capitan" site in the outcrop - were then conducted.

The rover also got in some remote sensing, including miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations and panoramic camera imaging of the holes created by the rock abrasion tool. In addition, the panoramic camera took images of a crater to the east.

The plan for the next sol involves several short drives in the direction of the "Last Chance" target in the "Big Bend" area of the outcrop.

"Significant Findings" due out later today!

NASA plans to announce Tuesday "significant findings" involving the six-wheeled rover that has been searching the dusty martian landscape since January for any history of water.

"The primary mission of the rovers really dealt with the history of water on Mars and we'll be reporting new findings that bear on that," NASA spokesman Don Savage said Monday from Washington, D.C. "I can't go into any detail without telling you what it was."

More at cnn.com (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/03/02/mars.rovers.ap/index.html)

Steven Cedrone

03-02-2004, 06:50 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040301a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_030104_RATmosaic_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040301a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_030104_RATmosaic_br.jpg)

A Clean Sweep

This image from Spirit's navigation camera atop its mast reveals another interplanetary "first" for the rock abrasion tool. The three dark circular areas on the rock "Humphrey" make up a rock abrasion tool mosaic, created by the tool's stainless steel brushes in about 15 minutes on Spirit's 56th sol on Mars. Even though a triple brushing was never conducted in a testbed, the rock abrasion tool's previous performance on the rock "Adirondack" convinced the science and engineering teams that it was fully capable of such an operation. The optimal situation for the miniature thermal emission spectrometer to analyze the difference between the rock's composition with dust and then without (after brushing) requires an area about three times that of one rock abrasion tool circumference. Scientists want to determine if the spectrometer is "reading" the dust or the harder coating underneath it. This mosaic provided the area that the spectrometer needed to conduct its assessment. The rock abrasion tool's two upper brushed imprints trail off and aren't completely round due to "Humphrey's" intricate slopes, which make it difficult to find a completely flat surface on which to place instruments.

Steve

JackTheTripper

03-02-2004, 08:55 PM

Opportunity Rover Finds Strong Evidence Meridiani Planum Was Wet

Scientists have concluded the part of Mars that NASA's Opportunity rover is exploring was soaking wet in the past.

Evidence the rover found in a rock outcrop led scientists to the conclusion. Clues from the rocks' composition, such as the presence of sulfates, and the rocks' physical appearance, such as niches where crystals grew, helped make the case for a watery history.

More info ----> (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040302a.html)

Steven Cedrone

03-03-2004, 01:26 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Grinding, Take Two - sol 58, Mar 02, 2004

On sol 58, which ends at 7:52 p.m., PST on March 2, the planned four-hour rock abrasion tool grind of "Humphrey" was limited to only 20 minutes. The intricate slopes and cracks of the rock make it a challenging target for instruments. When sensors indicated a loss of contact with surface material, the software perceived a problem and the rock abrasion tool was moved away from the rock. Engineers are amending the software limits to duplicate the rock abrasion tool's earlier operation on the rock "Adirondack," giving a higher likelihood of successful completion on the next sol.

The morning began with the completion of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration on the previously brushed area. The panoramic camera then took a multi-spectral observation of the nearby ground, followed by a Mössbauer spectrometer integration on the same area.

Spirit's Sol 58 wake-up song was "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 to pay homage to its twin rover's amazing findings of water evidence at Meridiani Planum.

On sol 59, Spirit will attempt another rock abrasion tool grind on "Humphrey," followed by detailed observations of the hole.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Let's Go to 'Last Chance' - sol 37, Mar 02, 2004

On sol 37, Opportunity woke up at 9:35 Local Solar Time to "Let's Go" by the Cars. Opportunity completed the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera surveys of the rock abrasion tool holes at "Guadalupe" and "McKittrick," then drove 4.25 meters (14 feet) to "Last Chance," ending the sol at 7:33 a.m. PST on Tuesday, March 2.

With the moves of a tango dancer, the drive was another intricate study in, and challenge of, driving on a slippery, steep slope.

The rover was directed to: turn right, go forward, turn right, take images of "Last Chance," turn right, go forward, turn left, go forward, turn right, take images of "Big Bend," go straight, turn left and go straight! Due to the challenges of driving and pirouetting on such a steep slope (as steep as 22 degrees) the rover found it difficult to maintain a perfectly straight course, and Opportunity came up shy and right of the "Last Chance" target by about 30 centimeters (about one foot).

The plan for sol 38, which will end at 8:13 a.m. PST on Wednesday, March 3 is to do a short drive again to get within arm's reach of "Last Chance." Once in place, Opportunity will use the science instruments on the end of the robotic arm to analyze "Last Chance."

Steven Cedrone

03-04-2004, 02:12 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Rock Abrasion Tool Back in Action - sol 59, Mar 03, 2004

Waking up to "One More Time" by The Real McCoy, Spirit completed a successful, 2 millimeter-deep grind (.08 inches) into a target slightly left of the depression it made yestersol during its abbreviated operation. A five-minute brush to clean the hole followed.

Completing the sol, which ended at 8:31 p.m. Wednesday, March 03, Spirit's arm then switched instruments so the Moessbauer spectrometer could examine "Humphrey's" new shallow cavity.

Before this sol's four-hour grinding, the microscopic imager and the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer finished observations of yestersol's rock abrasion tool depression. To document Spirit's current position - about halfway to the "Bonneville" crater rim - the panoramic camera snapped the first of several images that, together, will provide a 360-degree view.

Engineers identified the software issue that caused the rock abrasion tool to terminate its original planned grinding on sol 58. The minor bug will be fixed when new flight software is loaded at the end of March.

In the coming sols, Spirit will complete the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observations of the rock abrasion tool hole and get an up-close view with the microscopic imager. The final images will be obtained for the full panoramic view of Spirit's current position. After miniature thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera observations of the hole are conducted, Spirit will continue on toward "Bonneville" crater.

Spirit Update Archive

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Hits Pay Dirt - sol 38, Mar 03, 2004

On sol 38, which ended at 8:13 a.m. PST on Wednesday, March 3, Opportunity awoke to "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival in honor of the confirmation that liquid water once flowed through the rocks at Meridiani Planum.

In the morning of sol 38, Opportunity observed the atmosphere with the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Then, the rover turned the miniature thermal emission spectrometer to stare at the ground for science observations. Later, Opportunity took stereo microscopic images and Mössbauer spectrometer readings of the soil target dubbed "Pay Dirt."

In the early afternoon Local Solar Time, Opportunity stowed the rover arm, took a panoramic camera image of "Last Chance," and drove a very short distance of 0.4 meters (16 inches) toward "Last Chance" to prepare for the deployment of the robotic arm.

The proposed plan for sol 39, which will end at 8:52 a.m. PST on Thursday, March 4, is to start the morning by taking images of a rare solar transit of the martian moon, Deimos. The solar transit of Deimos causes a solar eclipse only twice per Mars year (one Mars year equals roughly two Earth years). Later in the sol, Opportunity is scheduled to take a microscopic panorama of the layers in the "Last Chance" rock formation.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-04-2004, 02:15 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040303a/xpe_el_cap_2_holes-B039R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040303a/xpe_el_cap_2_holes-B039R1_br.jpg)

Evidence of a Water-Soaked Past (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040303a.html)

This navigation camera image taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity on the 36th martian day, or sol, of its mission (March 1, 2004) shows the layered rocks of the "El Capitan" area near the rover's landing site at Meridani Planum, Mars. Visible on two of the rocks are the holes drilled by the rover, which provided scientists with a window to this part of the red planet's water-soaked past.

Scientists used the rover's microscopic imager and two spectrometers to look at the details of the freshly exposed, clean surfaces created by the rover's rock abrasion tool. Seeing beyond the veil of dust and coatings on the surface of the rock, scientists obtained the best views of the chemical composition of the areas. These data indicated that the rocks are made up of types of sulfate that could have only been created by interaction between water and martian rock.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-04-2004, 09:46 PM

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: An Armada of Arm Moves - sol 39, Mar 04, 2004

On sol 39, which ends at 8:52 a.m. PST on Thursday, March 4, Opportunity awoke to "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival in honor of the eclipse caused by the martian moon Deimos.

The science and engineering team built a whopping 490 commands to accomplish the most complex robotic arm operations on Mars yet. Opportunity took three mosaics on the area dubbed "Last Chance," using the microscopic imager, creating 128 images in over 200 arm moves. Each "frame" of these mosaics required multiple microscopic images. There are two reasons for this. First, the microscopic imager does not have auto-focus, so the team needed to have Opportunity take and return multiple images at each location at different distances from the rock to get at least one in focus. A second reason is that the team needed Opportunity to take an extra image at a slightly different angle for each frame to create the right conditions to build stereo and computer-generated graphics of the "topography" of the rock area up close.

After about two-and-a-half hours of microscopic imager maneuvers, the robotic arm placed the Mössbauer spectrometer on a location at "Last Chance" called "Makar." Opportunity also used the panoramic camera to watch the rare solar crossing of the sun by the moon Diemos and took images of the sky in coordination with the European Space Agency's orbiter at Mars, Mars Express.

The plan for sol 40, which will end at 9:32 a.m. PST on Friday, March 5 is to continue taking microscopic images of the "Last Chance" area, then drive to a new location dubbed "The Dells."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-05-2004, 02:32 PM

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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."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-05-2004, 02:34 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040304a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_030304_sandia_art-A060R1_th209.jpg
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040304a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_030304_sandia_art_light-A060R1_th209.jpg

Accidental Art

This image, acquired by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's panoramic camera on the 53rd martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission, struck science and engineering teams as not only scientifically interesting but remarkably beautiful. The large, shadowed rock in the foreground is nicknamed "Sandia" for a mountain range in New Mexico. An imposing rock, "Sandia" is about 33 centimeters high (1 foot) and about 1.7 meters (5.5 feet) long.

The right image is a lightened version of the more artistic image on the left.

The combination of the rover's high-resolution cameras with software tools used by scientists allows the minute details on martian targets to be visualized. When lightened, this image reveals much about the pictured rocks, which the science team believes are ejected material, or ejecta, from the nearby crater called "Bonneville." Scientists believe "Sandia" is a basaltic rock that landed on its side after being ejected from the crater. The vertical lines on the side of the rock facing the camera are known by geologists as "flow banding" and typically run horizontally, indicating that "Sandia" is on its side. What look like small holes on the two visible sides of the rock are called vesicles; they were probably once gas bubbles within the lava.

The lighting not only makes for an artistic image, it helps scientists get a virtual three-dimensional feel for target rocks. Observations taken at different times of day, as shadows move and surface texture details on target rocks are revealed, are entered into modeling software that turns a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional research tool.

Many smaller rocks can be seen in the background of the image. Some rocks are completely exposed, while others are only peeking out of the surface. Scientists believe that two processes might be at work here: accretion, which occurs when winds deposit material that slowly buries many of the rocks; and deflation, which occurs when surface material is removed by wind, exposing more and more of the rocks.

Steven Cedrone

03-05-2004, 02:36 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040304a/xpe_magnet_opp-B040R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040304a/xpe_magnet_opp-B040R1_th272h.jpg)

Mars Magnet Hits the Bull's-Eye

This image shows the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's "capture magnet," which attracts atmospheric dust particles from the front deck of the rover. The lighter-colored areas in the image are clean sections of the magnet virtually free of dust, and the dark areas are places where dust has collected. Scientists were surprised to see the black specks in the microscopic image, which are either unexpectedly large dust particles or collections of many particles bound together. Dust particles in the martian atmosphere are estimated to be about 1 micrometer in size (1/1000th of a millimeter (.04 inch)). The dark specks seen here are much larger than that. The whole image is 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) across.

The material below the magnet's aluminum surface is laid out in concentric rings, giving the image a bull's-eye appearance. The magnet was designed in this configuration to collect as much atmospheric dust as possible. If the magnet were one large cylinder, it would create the largest magnetic field, but not the most attractive magnetic force. In this bull's-eye layout, the force of the magnet lures the dust particles as they drift around the rovers, collecting the particles on the magnet surface for further study.

Spirit and Opportunity each carry seven magnets. Four magnets are inside the rovers' rock abrasion tools, and three others are at the back and front of the rovers. The magnets are five to 10 times stronger than a normal refrigerator magnet. They help scientists better understand how the airborne dust on Mars was formed and why it is so magnetic. Most scientists believe the martian dust has "global properties," meaning that its chemical composition is similar around the globe.

Because Opportunity landed on Mars roughly one month after Spirit, right now it has a thinner dust layer on top of its capture magnet. Scientists will wait until more dust collects on Opportunity's magnets before looking at the dust with the rover's alpha particle x-ray spectrometer and Moessbauer instruments. Spirit has already taken x-ray spectrometer readings of the dust collected on one of its magnets, and scientists are busy analyzing the data.

The science team will study the differences and similarities of the dust collected on Spirit and Opportunity, which are roving on opposite sides of the planet. The magnet images from this mission will also be compared to images from magnet tests on Earth. More information about the rover magnets can be found at the University of Copenhagen's Center for Planetary Science web site at http://www.fys.ku.dk/mars/ .

This image was taken by Opportunity's microscopic imager on the 38th martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission.

Steven Cedrone

03-06-2004, 02:15 AM

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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.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-06-2004, 02:20 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/opportunity/images/b19_Opp_Mission_Success_crop_040302151804_th200.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/opportunity/images/b19_Opp_Mission_Success_crop_040302151804_br.jpg)

Sheddings from Opportunity Lead Rover Fans on a "Bunny" Chase (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/opportunity/b19_20040304.html)

March 04, 2004

What Is It?

Like a rabbit in a hat, the identity of an oddity that looks like "bunny ears" in a picture from Mars has eluded the science and engineering teams. The public, also fascinated with the mysterious object, has asked in a slew of e-mails: What is it?

It is a yellowish object measuring about 4 to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long that made its debut when Opportunity's eyes welcomed Earth to a new neighborhood on Mars in her mission success panoramic image. Meridiani Planum is a landscape unlike any other stop on our decades-long tour of the red planet. Still, it wasn't the conspicuous bedrock outcropping near the horizon that initially fascinated many people. It was the "bunny ears."

More at the link above.

Steve

JonnoB

03-06-2004, 02:26 AM

It looks like origami

Steven Cedrone

03-07-2004, 01:13 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Leaving Middle Ground - sol 61, Mar 06, 2004

After more than a week of camping and field work at "Middle Ground," NASA's Spirit took a few last pictures from there then drove onward to the northeast on sol 61, which ended at 9:51 p.m. Friday, PST. In the martian morning, Spirit's panoramic camera took the final frames needed for the camera team to assemble a full-circle color panorama after all the data reaches Earth.

In the early afternoon, Spirit backed up 0.5 meter (20 inches), then edged forward 0.29 meters (11 inches) to sidestep a rock called "Ingrid." Then the rover advanced 28.5 meters (94 feet) toward its crater-rim destination. The drive took 45 minutes. From the new location, Spirit took forward-looking pictures for use in future drive planning. It also observed the ground and the sky with its miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

For the sol's theme tune in the morning, controllers at JPL played "Motor Away" by Guided by Voices.

Continued driving toward the crater nicknamed "Bonneville" is the plan for Spirit's 62nd sol, ending at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, PST.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Precision Driving after Mid-Sol Science - sol 41, Mar 06, 2004

In its 41st sol on Mars, ending at 10:02 a.m. Saturday, PST, NASA's Opportunity inspected a rock target called "Wave Ripple" with tools on its arm, then drove to a new target. The new target, "Flat Rock," is in the "Slick Rock" area near the south end of the outcrop that the rover has been examining for weeks.

Although the rover wheels slip some in the local soil and the drive traversed a slope of 10 to 11 percent, Opportunity and engineers at JPL navigated the trip so well that a planned final approach to the target on sol 42 could be cancelled. The target is within the work volume of Opportunity's robotic arm. The drive was done in a series of one-meter (3.3-foot) segments making up a U-shaped path to the south and west. Each segment included a correction for slippage.

Before starting the drive, Opportunity used its microscope for 50 images of "Wave Ripple," and examined the composition of the rock with its alpha proton X-ray spectrometer and its Moessbauer spectrometer.

Rover controllers spun Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" as the sol's wake-up song, and used a compressed planning schedule as practice for procedures that might become standard after the 90-sol prime mission.

Plans for sol 42, ending at 10:51 a.m. Sunday, PST, include using the rock abrasion tool at "Flat Rock."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-07-2004, 01:16 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040305a/05-ra-03-humphrey-A061R1_th200.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040305a/05-ra-03-humphrey-A061R1_br.jpg)

Volcanic Rock in Mars' Gusev Crater Hints at Past Water (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040305a.html)

NASA's Spirit has found hints of a water history in a rock at Mars' Gusev Crater, but it is a very different type of rock than those in which NASA's Opportunity found clues to a wet past on the opposite side of the planet.

A dark volcanic rock dubbed "Humphrey," about 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall, shows bright material in interior crevices and cracks that looks like minerals crystallized out of water, Dr. Ray Arvidson of Washington University, St. Louis, reported at a NASA news briefing today at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. He is the deputy principal investigator for the rovers' science instruments.

"If we found this rock on Earth, we would say it is a volcanic rock that had a little fluid moving through it," Arvidson said. If this interpretation is correct, the fluid -- water with minerals dissolved in it -- may have been carried in the original magma that formed the rock or may have interacted with the rock later, he said.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-08-2004, 02:11 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Rolling Along - sol 62, Mar 07, 2004

During its 62nd sol on Mars, ending at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, PST, NASA's Spirit advanced about one-fifth of the remaining distance between where it began the sol and its mid-term destination, the rim of the crater nicknamed "Bonneville." In the martian afternoon, Spirit took images and infrared readings of the area right in front of its stopping place to support the following morning's close-up inspection of that new location with instruments on the rover's robotic arm.

Spirit drove 26.15 meters (85.8 feet) on sol 62, bringing its odometer total to 250.71 meters (822.5 feet). Some of the drive maneuvered around obstacles. The net gain in the northeasterly direction toward the crater rim was 22 meters (72 feet), and that destination was estimated to be about 88 meters (289 feet) away from Spirit's new location. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer was used for ground and sky observations both before and after the drive.

The wake-up song for the sol was "My First Trip to Mars," by Atticus Fault.

For sol 62, ending at 11:10 p.m. Sunday, PST, Spirit's agenda is to drive on toward the crater rim after using the microscope and spectrometers on its arm to inspect the site where it wakes up.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: No Hole This Time - sol 42, Mar 07, 2004

NASA's Opportunity attempted to grind a shallow hole into a target called "Flat Rock" during its 42nd sol on Mars, ending at 10:51 a.m. Sunday, PST. However, the operation of the rover's rock abrasion tool produced almost no discernable impression on the rock. All indications are that the tool is healthy. Controllers plan to run some diagnostic tests during sol 43 (ending at 11:31 a.m. Monday, PST) to aid with tuning parameters for a second grinding attempt on the target on sol 44.

Opportunity observed the Sun with its panoramic camera on sol 42 as a practice run for future imaging of Mars' moon Phobos passing in front of the Sun. The alpha particle X-ray spectrometer was placed against "Flat Rock" for an overnight reading to identify the chemical elements present.

Wake-up song for the sol was "Break on Through (to the Other Side)," by The Doors.

Steven Cedrone

03-08-2004, 10:23 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040306a/Left_of_Drive_Dir_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040306a/Left_of_Drive_Dir_th543h.jpg)
Front Windshield after Sol 61 Drive

NASA's Spirit used its panoramic camera to capture this view of the rocky terrain just to the left of straight ahead after finishing a drive to the northeast on March 5, 2004. Some rocks on the horizon may be at the rim of the crater nicknamed "Bonneville," Spirit's destination in coming days.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-10-2004, 01:03 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Reaches the 300-Meter Mark! - sol 64, Mar 08, 2004

Spirit completed another 29 meters (94 feet) of its drive toward the rim of "Bonneville" crater on sol 64, which ended at 11:49 p.m. PST, bringing its total odometry to 314 meters (1,030 feet) - 14 meters (45.9 feet) past the minimum mission success criterion.

Spirit began the morning with an 18-meter (59 feet) direct drive that safely maneuvered the rover through a field of rocks. Spirit then traversed 11 more meters (35 feet) using autonomous navigation and at 11:30 a.m. Mars Local Solar Time completed the drive. Spirit had some difficulty finding a way around an obstacle during the last portion of the commanded drive. That resulted in some repeated forward and backward maneuvering which left an interesting "trench" for scientists to have the rover peer into.

Spirit is climbing up a very steep part of "Bonneville" now, and ended this sol's drive tilted at a forward pitch of about 15°.

For the next sol, the plan was to have Spirit perform some mini-thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground observations before waking up to do a touch-and-go and drive again!

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Back to the Grind - sol 44, Mar 09, 2004

On Opportunity's 44th sol, ending at 12:10 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 9, the rock abrasion tool ground a 3.1 millimeter-deep (just over one-tenth of an inch) hole in the "Mojo 2" target on "Flatrock." Yesterday, diagnostic testing determined a voltage adjustment was necessary to overcome some mechanism "stickiness" in the routine during which the rock abrasion tool finds the highest point in the target area.

The routine worked perfectly on this grind with the new voltage setting. After one hour and five minutes of successful grinding, the rock abrasion tool grind motor stalled, probably while grinding into one of the spherules also known as "blueberries." These objects are known to obstruct the grinding tool and cause it to terminate its sequence.

Late in the martian morning, the Mössbauer spectrometer was placed on the hole, followed later by the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer took two long atmospheric measurements. The panoramic camera was busy taking images of the hole as well as surrounding target areas.

The wake-up songs were "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" by Janis Joplin for the rock abrasion tool's second attempt at "Mojo 2," and "X-ray Eyes" by Kiss for the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-10-2004, 01:05 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040308a/MERB_First_Transits-B043R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040308a/MERB_First_Transits-B043R1.jpg)

Martian Eclipses: Deimos and Phobos
This panel combines the first photographs of solar eclipses by Mars' two moons. The panoramic camera on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity captured the images as the first in a planned series of eclipse observations by Opportunity and Spirit.

The Deimos image was taken at 03:04 Universal Time on March 4, 2004. This irregularly shaped moon is only 15 kilometers (9 miles) across in its longest dimension. It appears as just a speck in front of the disc of the Sun. The Phobos image was taken as that moon grazed the edge of the solar disc at 02:46 Universal Time on March 7, 2004. Phobos is 27 kilometers (17 miles) in its longest dimension. Its apparent size relative to Deimos is even greater because it orbits much closer to Mars' surface than Deimos does.

Steven Cedrone

03-11-2004, 03:49 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Roving Toward the Rim - sol 65, Mar 10, 2004

Spirit spent sol 65, which ended at 12:29 a.m. PST on March 10, analyzing soil targets with the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer, Moessbauer spectrometer and microscopic imager before stowing its arm, doing some remote sensing of the trench dubbed "Serendipity Trench," and then finally setting off for the longest directed drive to date. That drive was 27 meters (88.6 feet) toward the edge of "Bonneville" crater.

Spirit then attempted to use auto navigation to reach a target that was an additional 6 meters (19.7 feet) away. Sensitive obstacle avoidance software prevented Spirit from reaching the destination, and like yestersol, the rover completed several drives forward and back. Those drives resulted in a final odometer reading of 40.7 meters (133.5 feet) for the day, even though the total straight-line distance traveled was 30 meters (98.4 feet).

The 30-meter (98.4 feet) drive put Spirit close enough to "Bonneville's" edge to take images with the navigation cameras that reveal the opposite rim of the crater.

On sol 66, which ends at 1:09 a.m. PST on March 11, 2004, Spirit will drive up to the summit of the rim and show us what's inside with a 180-degree navigation camera panorama.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Halfway Mark - sol 45, Mar 10, 2004

On sol 45, which ended at 12:50 p.m. PST on Wednesday, March 10, Opportunity awoke to ''Eclipse" by Pink Floyd in recognition of the transit of the martian moon, Phobos. A second song, "Meet Me Halfway" by Kenny Loggins, was played because Opportunity is halfway through its primary 90-sol surface mission.

Opportunity used the rock abrasion tool brush to sweep off the dirt in and around the hole at "Mojo 2" in the "Flat Rock" area. Opportunity then took five microscopic images of the freshly brushed "Mojo 2."

The miniature thermal emission spectrometer took measurements at three locations on the surface of Mars, and then pointed upwards to observe the atmosphere in four different directions. The panoramic camera was also busy taking images of the magnets around the rock abrasion tool area, "Mojo 2" post brushing, and a new area called "Slick Rock."

The plan for sol 46, which will end at 1:30 p.m. PST on Thursday, March 11, is to use the science instruments on the end of the robotic arm on the area dubbed "Berry Bowl."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-11-2004, 03:53 AM

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A Long Way From Home

This pair of pieced-together images was taken by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's rear navigation camera on March 6, 2004. It reveals the long and rocky path of nearly 240 meters (787 feet) that Spirit had traveled since safely arriving at Gusev Crater on Jan. 3, 2004.

The lander can still be seen in the distance, but will never be "home" again for the journeying rover. This image is also a tribute to the effectiveness of the autonomous navigation system that the rovers use during parts of their martian drives. Instead of driving directly through the "hollow" seen in the middle right of the image, the autonomous navigation system guided Spirit around the high ridge bordering the hollow.

In the two days after these images were taken, Spirit has traveled roughly 60 meters (197 feet) farther toward its destination at the crater nicknamed "Bonneville."

Steven Cedrone

03-11-2004, 03:55 AM

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A Glimpse of What's to Come

This 360-degree navigation camera mosaic was taken by Mars Exploration Rover Spirit on March 9, 2004, after a drive that brought the rover to less than 20 meters (66 feet) from the rim of the crater nicknamed "Bonneville." The vista provides a glimpse of the far side of the rim. It also includes a close-up look at a 1-meter-tall (3.3-foot-tall) rock called "The Hole Point," which which has served as a beacon for scientists and rover operators in guiding the rover toward the crest of this rim.

Scientists are anxious for Spirit to get to the very edge of the crater rim and peer down inside. From that vantage, Spirit will examine the floor and walls of the crater, where layers may be exposed that are older than the surface material on the terrain outside of the crater.

Steven Cedrone

03-11-2004, 03:59 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/opportunity/images/b20_Feb_8_Nav_040302045225_th200.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/opportunity/images/b20_Feb_8_Nav_040302045225_br.jpg)

Slip Sliding Away (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/opportunity/b20_20040309.html)

March 09, 2004

On February 9, the wake up song for Opportunity was “Slip Sliding Away” by Simon and Garfunkel in honor of the experience the prior day when Opportunity first tried to scoot up the crater slope at Meridiani Planum. The ambitious rover aimed for its target and willingly went forth up the slope; nevertheless, Opportunity slipped and slid in the sand, making it only half way to its target.

But ignorance is bliss, and while Opportunity’s wheels had a hard time gaining traction on the sandy surface, the rover’s brain (or computer) had a hard time grasping that it hadn’t successfully made it to its target. The little rover didn’t have to encourage itself to make it up the crater slope later by chanting, “I think I can, I think I can,” because the little rover thought it actually did make it up the slope the first time.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-12-2004, 04:58 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Roving Toward the Rim - sol 65, Mar 10, 2004

Spirit spent sol 65, which ended at 12:29 a.m. PST on March 10, analyzing soil targets with the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer, Moessbauer spectrometer and microscopic imager before stowing its arm, doing some remote sensing of the trench dubbed "Serendipity Trench," and then finally setting off for the longest directed drive to date. That drive was 27 meters (88.6 feet) toward the edge of "Bonneville" crater.

Spirit then attempted to use auto navigation to reach a target that was an additional 6 meters (19.7 feet) away. Sensitive obstacle avoidance software prevented Spirit from reaching the destination, and like yestersol, the rover completed several drives forward and back. Those drives resulted in a final odometer reading of 40.7 meters (133.5 feet) for the day, even though the total straight-line distance traveled was 30 meters (98.4 feet).

The 30-meter (98.4 feet) drive put Spirit close enough to "Bonneville's" edge to take images with the navigation cameras that reveal the opposite rim of the crater.

On sol 66, which ends at 1:09 a.m. PST on March 11, 2004, Spirit will drive up to the summit of the rim and show us what's inside with a 180-degree navigation camera panorama.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Berry Nice News - sol 46, Mar 11, 2004

On sol 46, which ended at 1:30 p.m. PST on Thursday, March 11, Opportunity awoke at 9:20 Local Solar Time to two songs in honor of researching the mysterious "blueberries" with the instruments on the robotic arm. The wake-up songs were "Berry Nice News" by Raffi and "Huckling the Berries" by Country Cooking.

Opportunity performed a series of activities including microscopic imaging of the berries and placing the Mössbauer spectrometer on the berries to analyze their chemical composition. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer later made multiple atmospheric observations. After a short nap to conserve energy, Opportunity awoke in the afternoon to perform some additional remote sensing observations and to transmit data to Earth via the Odyssey orbiter.

Later in the evening Local Solar Time, Opportunity collected data with its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer at two locations.

The plan for sol 47, which will end at 2:10 p.m. PST on Friday, March 12 is to continue analyzing the blueberries and the "Berry Bowl." By early next week, Opportunity will drive to a new area dubbed "Shoemaker's Patio."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-12-2004, 05:00 AM

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Spirit Looks Down Into Crater After Reaching Rim (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040311a.html)

NASA's Spirit has begun looking down into a crater it has been approaching for several weeks, providing a view of what's below the surrounding surface.

Spirit has also been looking up, seeing stars and the first observation of Earth from the surface of another planet. Its twin, Opportunity, has shown scientists a "mother lode" of hematite now considered a target for close-up investigation.

"It's been an extremely exciting and productive week for both of the rovers," said Spirit Mission Manager Jennifer Trosper at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-12-2004, 05:03 AM

A Deep Dish for Discovery (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040311a.html)

On the 66th martian day, or sol, of its mission, the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit finished a drive and sent back this navigation camera image mosaic revealing "Bonneville" crater in its entirety.

Spirit has spent more than 60 sols, two thirds of the nominal mission, en route to the rim of the large crater dubbed "Bonneville." The rover stopped on occasion to examine rocks along the way, many of which probably found their resting places after being ejected from the nearly 200-meter-diameter (656-foot) crater.

The science team sent the rover to "Bonneville" to find out more about where the rocks they have examined so far originated. Reaching the rim of this deep dish has been a major priority since day one.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-14-2004, 04:04 AM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Sits Still for Science - sol 68, Mar 13, 2004

Spirit spent all of sol 68, which ended at 2:28 a.m. PST on March 13, 2004, at the "Bonneville" crater location. It began the morning operating the panoramic camera to acquire the first images of what will be a 360-degree shot of "Bonneville's" rim and basin, and the "Columbia Hills" to the southeast.

Spirit also moved the instrument deployment device, or rover arm, into position to acquire panoramic camera images of the magnets on the rock abrasion tool. It then placed the Moessbauer spectrometer on soil for a short integration after taking five microscopic imager images.

Around 13:35 Mars Local Solar time, one of Mars' moons, Deimos, passed in front of the sun. Scientists and rover controllers took this opportunity to image the moon's transit with the panoramic camera before completing mini thermal emission spectrometer observations of the crater interior.

Spirit's work isn't over though. The Moessbauer will continue analyzing the soil at "Bonneville's" rim through the night.

Sol 69, which will end at 3:07 a.m. PST on March 14, 2004, will also be a no-drive sol during which Spirit will acquire the second half of the 360-degree panoramic camera image of Bonneville. Spirit will also perform remote sensing of the inside of the crater and analyze soil targets with the Messbauer and alpha particle x-ray spectrometer.

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Aiming for Shark's Tooth - sol 47, Mar 12, 2004

On sol 47, which ended at 2:10 p.m. PST on Friday March 12, Opportunity awoke to "No Particular Place to Go" by Chuck Berry in recognition of the stay at "Berry Bowl." Engineers also played "That's Amore" by Dean Martin in honor of the Phobos moon's transit across the sky.

Opportunity finished remnants of activities from the past sol's research at "Berry Bowl." The sol started with the hazard avoidance camera taking a picture of the "Berry Bowl" area as a context picture. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer then performed some "sky stares" of the atmosphere. At 11:30 Local Solar Time, the robotic arm started moving. It picked up the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and moved to a new location nearby, then switched to the Mössbauer spectrometer. Both spectrometers are searching for clues about the chemical composition of the mysterious "blueberries."

Later, Opportunity took panoramic camera images of the suite magnet on the rover itself, which is collecting atmospheric dust samples to understand why the martian dust is so magnetic. The panoramic camera also took images of a target dubbed "Fool's Silver," which contains an interesting angular feature in the outcrop.

After all the morning's hard work, Opportunity took a short siesta to rest and recharge. Opportunity reawakened a few hours later to take more images of the atmosphere with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera. Those were taken in the same locations as the morning measurements to compare the atmospheric data throughout the sol.

At 15:40 Local Solar Time, Opportunity took about a dozen images of the Sun to catch the eclipse by the martian moon, Phobos. Opportunity once again shut down for a nap and woke up at 4:53 Local Solar Time, sol 48, for a tool change and a communications session with the Odyssey orbiter. While the rover was awake for the Odyssey pass, the rover heated up the robotic arm, which had chilled to almost -80 degrees Celsius (-112 degrees Fahrenheit). The motors cannot move at that frigid temperature, so the rover arm heated for 32 minutes to surpass the operational temperature of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). As the rover arm quickly cooled, the heat lasted long enough (5 minutes) for the arm to twist its wrist and change instruments from the Mössbauer spectrometer back to the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

The rest of the plan for sol 48, which will end at 2:49 p.m. PST on Saturday, March 13, is to perform quite a few complicated maneuvers. Opportunity plans to brush an area with the rock abrasion tool, analyze the brushed area with the spectrometers, then drive 10 meters (33 feet) along the slippery slopes of the outcrop to "Shark's Tooth" in "Shoemaker's Patio."

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-15-2004, 06:02 PM

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SPIRIT UPDATE: New Panorama on Board - sol 69, Mar 14, 2004

During its 69th sol on Mars, ending at 3:07 a.m. Sunday, PST, NASA's Spirit finished shooting frames with its panoramic camera for a full 360-degree color view of the surroundings visible from the crater rim where the rover is perched. Once the panorama frames are transmitted to Earth, scientists will use them and information from Spirit's miniature thermal emission spectrometer to assess the structures and composition of the crater interior and other surfaces in view.

Spirit did not move from its vantage point on the south rim of the crater nicknamed "Bonneville." An extra downlink session was added via relay by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter to accelerate getting the panoramic imaging data to Earth. The total amount of data received from Spirit during the sol through relays and direct-to-Earth transmission was 225 megabits.

In the martian afternoon, Spirit added a set of observations with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer in coordination with overhead passage of NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter, which carries a similar spectrometer looking down. Events of the sol also included two camera sessions requested by engineers. The first was to get high-resolution images of Spirit's heat shield on the northern rim of "Bonneville." The other was to photograph wheel tracks to help rover mobility specialists assess slippage. For sol 69's wake-up music, the team spun John Lennon's "Watching the Wheels."

Plans for sol 70, ending at 3:47 a.m. Monday, PST, feature more remote sensing from the rover's current location, before a drive along the rim begins on sol 71.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Shark Ahead - sol 48, Mar 14, 2004

NASA's Opportunity finished inspecting the "Berry Bowl" site and drove 10 meters (33 feet) toward a new target during its 48th sol on Mars, which ended at 2:50 p.m. Saturday, PST.

The rover used all four tools on its arm during the morning, ending with a brushing by the rock abrasion tool, then post-brushing examinations with the microscope and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. This closed out three sols of work at "Berry Bowl" to compare the composition of targets with and without groups of the BB-sized spherules believed to have formed while the local environment was wet.

Opportunity then stowed its arm and drove toward an area dubbed "Shoemaker's Patio" at the southwestern end of the outcrop the rover has been studying since it arrived on Mars. This informal name pays tribute to the late geologist Dr. Eugene Shoemaker of the U.S. Geological Survey. Opportunity's more specific target is a rock called "Shark's Tooth" at the near edge of the patio. The drive did not quite put that target within reach of the robot arm. Activities of the sol also included atmospheric observations with the panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer, plus post-drive imaging with the navigation camera.

Mission controllers at JPL chose John Williams' "Jaws: Main Title and Fist Victim" as the wake-up song for sol 48.

Plans for sol 49, ending at 3:28 p.m. Sunday PST, call for finishing the approach to "Shark's Tooth" after a morning examination of the ground right in front of the rover. Inspection of "Shark's Tooth" with tools on the robotic arm is planned for sol 50.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-15-2004, 09:34 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit's Busiest Day - sol 70, Mar 15, 2004

Spirit began what would be a very busy sol 70, which ended at 3:47 a.m. PST March 15, by analyzing a soil target dubbed "Gobi 1" with the Mössbauer spectrometer. This was the first of 43 observations that Spirit would complete on sol 70, breaking the previous observation record of 31 observations in one sol.

After the successful Mössbauer integration, Spirit took panoramic camera images of the sky. Then the miniature thermal emission spectrometer analyzed rock and soil targets. Following this, Spirit turned its panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer to a range surface and atmospheric observations. Before the sol ended, Spirit also took microscopic images of the Mössbauer footprint left on the soil target and switched instruments to the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer for a long integration starting early on sol 71 at the "Gobi 1" location.

Spirit will spend Sol 71, which will end at 4:26 a.m. PST March 16, completing the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer analysis, taking panoramic camera images and microscopic imager images of the area, and then driving 15 meters (49.2 feet) to a location dubbed "Serpent Dune" in the afternoon.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-15-2004, 09:36 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040315a/x_pubeng_bonnevillecolor-A071R1_th418.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040315a/x_pubeng_bonnevillecolor-A071R1_br2.jpg)

Bonneville in Color

The rim and interior of a crater nicknamed "Bonneville" dominate this 180-degree, false-color mosaic of images taken by the panoramic camera of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. Spirit recorded this view on the rover's 68th sol, March 12, 2004, one sol after reaching this location. The rover remaining here in part to get this very high-resolution, color mosaic, from which scientists can gain insight about the depth of the surface material at Bonneville and make future observation plans. On sol 71, Spirit was instructed to drive approximately 15 meters (49 feet) along the crater rim to a new vantage point.

JonnoB

03-15-2004, 09:45 PM

What is that shiny object on the far side of the crater?

Steven Cedrone

03-15-2004, 10:06 PM

It looks like it may be a problem with the photo. I don't recall seeing it in the black and white photos.

Steve

JackTheTripper

03-15-2004, 10:28 PM

This is from the caption for the black and white image taken from the same location...

"Just above the far crater rim, on the left side, is the rover's heatshield, which is visible as a tiny reflective speck. "

Steven Cedrone

03-15-2004, 10:32 PM

Heh, O.K., I don't think we are looking at the same reflection here. I thought Jonno was talking about something else. :oops:

Steve

Pat Logsdon

03-15-2004, 11:22 PM

This what I'm looking at:

http://www.mybunny.org/images/dart.jpg

I guess it's possible that it's a heat shield from re-entry. My guess is that if the image is blown up, we'll find that some joker at JPL photoshopped a Dodge Dart into the picture. :mrgreen:

JonnoB

03-15-2004, 11:32 PM

This what I'm looking at:

http://www.mybunny.org/images/dart.jpg

That is the item I was referring to when asking the question.

I guess it's possible that it's a heat shield from re-entry. My guess is that if the image is blown up, we'll find that some joker at JPL photoshopped a Dodge Dart into the picture. :mrgreen:
Unless they have another picture of higher quality or an overhead image from an orbiting satellite, how could they say that it was the heat shield? It could just as well be another Rover from the aliens on planet Neptune.

Or better yet, it could just be an earthly object that got into the picture on the advanced filming studio on the Universal Lot B where the entire Rover project is being filmed. :twisted:

JackTheTripper

03-16-2004, 12:32 AM

Here (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040315a/x_pubeng_bonnevillecolor-A071R1.jpg) is a very hi rez pic of the one Steve posted above. I believe it is the heat shield or the parachute or both.

***WARNING*** The image above is about 26 megs.

Pat Logsdon

03-16-2004, 12:46 AM

For those with slow connections, here's a hi-res pic of the object in question:

http://www.mybunny.org/images/capture2.jpg

And here's a blown up image:

http://www.mybunny.org/images/capture2a.jpg

It looks a bit more <technical term>heat shield-ey</technical term> now.

Steven Cedrone

03-16-2004, 06:04 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Finishing up at the Outcrop - sol 50, Mar 15, 2004

On sol 50, which ended at 4:08 p.m. PST on March 15, Opportunity got closer to completing its observations of the rock outcrop. The rover arm, with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer at the ready, was placed on the rock called "Shark's Tooth" for a 30-minute observation. The microscopic imager then took a series of pictures of the targets "Enamel 1" and "Lamination." The focus then switched back to "Shark's Tooth" for an examination by the Moessbauer spectrometer.

The song chosen to awaken Opportunity was "The Dentist" by Bill Cosby, in honor of the toothy targets in "Shark's Cage."

The sol also included many panoramic camera observations of targets with creative names like "Patio Rug," "Anaconda Snake Den," "West Zen Garden" and "Garter Snake."

The next sol calls for a final experiment at the outcrop called "scuffing." "Scuffing" essentially turns one of the rover wheels into a tool to scrape a rock to help determine its hardness. The rock "Carousel" will be scraped by Opportunity's front left wheel. After that experiment, the rover will begin its trans-crater traverse to five soil survey targets, the first of which will lead Opportunity up the sandy southern face of the crater.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-16-2004, 08:47 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Steering to 'Serpent' - sol 71, Mar 16, 2004

Spirit began sol 71, which ended at 4:26 a.m. PST March 16, 2004, with a morning nap to re-charge after the record-breaking number of activities it accomplished on sol 70. After that, it was back to work. Spirit began by retracting the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, closing the doors, and imaging the doors with the front hazard avoidance cameras to confirm that they were closed. Spirit then proceeded to observe a soil target with the microscopic imager, and it also used the panoramic camera to observe the magnets, do a sky survey and capture a dust devil movie.

Then it was time to drive. Spirit completed a 15-meter (49.2 feet) blind drive followed by a 3-meter (9.8 feet) auto-navigation drive around the south rim of "Bonneville" crater toward a drift named "Serpent." Once there, Spirit completed post-drive science observations and a miniature thermal emission spectrometer study of the atmosphere, ground and future drive direction.

Spirit's main objective on sol 72, which ends at 5:06 a.m. PST March 17, 2004, will be to disturb and analyze the material at Serpent. Spirit will drive over the dune and back up to an optimal observation position. It will then analyze the area with the panoramic camera and mini thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit will end the sol by driving back on top of the dune.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-17-2004, 04:30 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: "Scuff and Go" - sol 51, Mar 16, 2004

Opportunity reached the first of five targets in its current soil survey on the rover's 51st sol on Mars. The sol, which ended at 4:47 p.m. PST on March 16, began with a salute to the rover's intended target on the southern face of the crater where it has been exploring since its early sols on Mars. "Song of the South" by Alabama was chosen to wake Opportunity for a busy sol that involved a 15-meter (49.2 feet) u-shaped drive toward the soil target.

Before the rover ventured away from the outcrop that has been the focus for the majority of its mission, alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observations were completed on the red rind dubbed "Shark's Tooth." The arm was stowed before Opportunity "scuffed" the rock "Carousel" with its front left wheel. Results of the experiment were imaged as Opportunity backed up and prepared for its drive away from the outcrop.

Backing down towards the center of the crater and then arcing around the Challenger Memorial Station, Opportunity ultimately drove back up the slope to a position fairly close to the rim. On its way to the current soil target, the rover was also able to image the trench it previously dug on sol 23 from a different angle.

In the coming sols, Opportunity will use the instruments on its arm to examine all five soil targets identified for the soil survey.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-17-2004, 04:33 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040316a/site19_navcam_cyl_L-A072R1_th544.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040316a/site19_navcam_cyl_L-A072R1_br.jpg)

Drifts of Dust or Something Else? (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040316a.html)

While the interior and far walls of the crater dubbed "Bonneville" can be seen in the background, the dominant foreground features in this 180-degree navigation camera mosaic are the wind-deposited drifts of dust or sand. NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit completed this mosaic on sol 71, March 15, 2004, from its newest location at the rim of "Bonneville" crater.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-17-2004, 04:36 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040316a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_031504_sharkscage-B051R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040316a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_031504_sharkscage-B051R1_br.jpg)
Opportunity Studies Bait in Shark's Cage

In its 49th sol on Mars, NASA's Opportunity had nearly concluded its scientific examination of the extreme southwestern end of the outcrop in Meridiani Planum. In the “Shark’s Cage” area of the neighborhood called “Shoemaker’s Patio,” featured in this image from the front hazard avoidance camera, Opportunity deployed its arm to study the features called “Shark’s Tooth,” “Shark Pellets,” and “Lamination.” “Shark’s Tooth” is a piece of the unusual red rind that appears to fill cracks in the outcrop. This rind may be some kind of chemical alteration of the rocks. “Shark Pellets” is an area of soil that was under investigation as part of the crater soil survey. “Lamination” is a target with very thin layers that resemble uniform pages in a book, an indication of how the sediments were deposited. A final experiment in this area will be attempted on sol 51. Opportunity’s front left wheel will “scuff” the rock called “Carousel.” “Scuffing” involves scraping the rock with one wheel while holding all the others still. This experiment essentially turns the rover wheels into tools, to try and determine the hardness of the target rock.

Steve

Stik

03-17-2004, 04:02 PM

Steve,

First, thanks for keeping such a great record of the day in and day out progress of the Mars exploration for interested parties..

If you don't mind, I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to a space pioneer that has made this all possible.

NASA Remembers William H. Pickering, Former Director Of JPL

Dr. William H. Pickering, a central figure in the U.S. space program and former director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., passed away Monday of pneumonia at his home in La Canada Flintridge, Calif. He was 93.

"Dr. Pickering brought a vision and passion to space exploration that was remarkable," said Dr. Ed Weiler, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Science. "His pioneering work is the very foundation we have built upon to explore our solar system and beyond," he said.

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/mar/HQ_04094_pickering.html

Space Oddity
David Bowie

"This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do
Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows"

Steven Cedrone

03-17-2004, 08:52 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Digs with a Jig - sol 72, Mar 17, 2004

Sol 72, which ended at 5:06 a.m. PST on March 17, was a day full of digging for NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. Spirit began the day taking panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of the drift dubbed "Serpent" before creating the "scuff" that would reveal the inside material at this location.

Then it was time to get into position. The rover drove about two-and-a-half meters (8.2 feet) to put the left front wheel up onto the drift. It then turned right and left five degrees to dig the left front wheel into the drift. When the "shimmy" was complete, Spirit backed 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) out of the hole. The digging and backing process was repeated four times to thoroughly scuff Serpent's side. Then Spirit backed up another meter (3.28 feet) to attain miniature thermal emission spectrometer, panoramic camera and navigation camera observations of the scuffed area. These observations will aid in in-situ target selection. To prepare for the upcoming in-situ work, Spirit drove forward 0.4 meters (1.3 feet) for additional imaging, and then drove forward a final 0.45 meters (1.5 feet) to put the scuff in the arm work volume.

Spirit spent the rest of the day obtaining navigation camera and panoramic camera observations of the intended drive direction around part of the crater rim. Spirit will do some work overnight, taking miniature thermal emission spectrometer thermal inertia and atmosphere measurements.

On sol 73, which will end at 5:46 a.m. PST on March 18, Spirit will conduct extensive microscopic imaging of sections of the drift, and run an overnight Moessbauer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration.

Steve

JackTheTripper

03-18-2004, 12:59 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Finds "Pot of Gold" on Mars - sol 72, Mar 17, 2004

As pictures of sol 72, which ended at 5:06 a.m. PST on March 17, were being processed the staff at NASA's JPL in Pasadena celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.... Maybe a little too well.

Whilst normally shy quiet scientists danced jigs on computer consoles while downing luke warm Zima cut with a splash of 7-up (Guinness is a little much for these nerds) photos from Spirits hazard cams and panoramic camera came in and went over looked. Once the drinking games were won or lost and the 100 sided dice were stowed away in their purple velvet bags, bow ties were donned (again) and it was back to work. Scientists were amazed at what they found. Rock solid evidence of life on mars.

Read more at this link. (http://www.bobx3.com/Spirit.jpg)

Steven Cedrone

03-19-2004, 04:21 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
sol 52, Mar 17, 2004: Scrutinizing the Soil

Sol 52, which ended at 5:27 p.m. PST on March 17, was a full day for Opportunity, punctuated by short naps. The rover arm was deployed on the first of five targets in the rover's current soil survey. The soil was examined by all the rover's spectrometers and the panoramic camera.

In the afternoon, the rover moved about 6 meters (about 20 feet) to the second soil target, performing several remote observations along the way. Closing out the sol, Opportunity's alpha particle X-ray spectrometer began to inspect the capture magnets on the front of the rover. Clues about Mars' watery history are present even in the smallest dust grains that settle on these magnet arrays.

Images of Opportunity's "scuff" experiment on the rock "Carousel" reached Earth this sol. Scientists are currently examining the results.

In honor of Opportunity's 52nd sol on Mars, engineers chose "Rock Lobster" by the B52s as a wake-up tune.

In the coming sols, the rover will travel to the final targets in the soil survey.

Steven Cedrone

03-19-2004, 04:22 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: A Close-Up of 'Serpent' - sol 73, Mar 18, 2004

Spirit spent most of sol 73, which ended at 5:46 a.m. PST on March 18, 2004, analyzing targets in the drift dubbed "serpent" with the microscopic imager. But before the close-ups began, Spirit acquired miniature thermal emission spectrometer inertia measurements on a disturbed area of soil. It also caputred panoramic camera images of the scuffed area, dubbed "Bear Paw," the wheel that did the digging, and a nearby rock target named "White Elephant."

The microscopic imager work began at 11:00 am Mars Local Solar Time and was targeted at four points within the scuffed area on Serpent. The targets were given the bear-type names of Polar, Spectacled, Kodiak and Panda. For each target, seven microscopic images were taken to assure proper focus. At the Spectacled and Kodiak targets, a microscopic image with the filter in place was also taken for pseudo-color. Then the Moessbauer was placed on Panda and started an overnight integration. The arm activities were completed by about noon Mars Local Solar time, and were followed by the second thermal inertia measurement on the disturbed soil.

The rover took a siesta until 1:00 p.m. Mars Local Solar time, and then woke up for a series of mini thermal emission spectrometer observations on the rocks named "White Elephant," "Fruitcake," and "Dihedral." Then the third and last thermal inertia measurement was taken on the disturbed soil.

Spirit took another quick nap in the afternoon, and then completed sky measurements with the mini thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera.

Spirit will have an early start on sol 74, which will end at 6:25 a.m. PST March 19, 2004. Sol 74 will include a tool change to the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and the beginning of an integration on the drift target named Panda. Before the sol is over, Spirit will also analyze an undisturbed area of the Serpent drift before continuing to drive around the rim of "Bonneville" crater.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Two Down, Three to Go - sol 53, Mar 18, 2004

On sol 53, which ends at 6:07 p.m. PST on March 18, Opportunity first completed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer work from yestersol and then continued to study the second soil survey target with the Moessbauer spectrometer.

Following an afternoon nap, the rover used its microscopic imager to get close-up views of the soil. Opportunity then made its way to the third soil target, which involved a 5-meter (about 16 feet) drive. The alpha particle X-ray spectrometer was then positioned to examine the magnet arrays. Preparations were also made to conduct a miniature thermal emission spectrometer observation of the martian sky at dawn on the next sol.

"Ice Cream Man" by John Brim woke Opportunity this sol to remind it of the possible sweet treats that await at targets referred to as "Chocolate Chip" and "Coconut" in the neighborhood dubbed "Mudpie."

The soil survey will continue in the coming sols.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-20-2004, 05:15 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: 'Stub Toes' Won't Stop Spirit - sol 74, Mar 19, 2004

Spirit began the morning of Sol 74, which ended at 6:25 a.m. PST on March 19, 2004, by completing an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration on the target "Panda," inside the scuff on "Serpent" drift. Then Spirit placed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer back down on the target "Polar" for a 30-minute integration. During that integration, Spirit took some images of disturbed soil with the panoramic camera, and acquired some ground temperatures with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit then switched the tools on its robotic arm to the Mössbauer spectrometer for an hour-long integration on Polar. During that integration, the rover took some sky and ground measurements with the mini thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit finished its arm activities for the day by acquiring three microscopic images of Polar and three more of Panda.

Starting around 12:35 p.m. Mars Local Solar time, Spirit made a direct drive of about six meters (19.7 feet) to another section of the Serpent drift complex, called "Stub Toe." There the rover repeatedly scuffed the drift and advanced .15 meters (half a foot) in a series of five "scuff and drives." After the five scuffs and advances were made, Spirit roved forward another 3 meters (9.8 feet) and then looked back over its shoulder using the mini thermal emission spectrometer and navigation cameras to analyze the damage. The rover continued along the Bonneville crater rim with a 16-meter direct drive, and then an auto-navigation drive for 9 meters (29.5 feet). Spirit completed a final set of drives to set up for a touch and go on sol 75 at around 2:10 p.m. Mars Local Solar time. The total amount of driving for sol 74 was an impressive 34.3 meters (112.5 feet).

Spirit then took navigation camera and panoramic camera images of the drive directions for planning the sol 75 traverse. The rover acquired some mini thermal emission spectrometer reconnaissance images and then took a 30-minute siesta before the afternoon Odyssey relay pass. During that pass, Spirit used the mini thermal emission spectrometer to acquire a sky profile and ground temperature observations.

On sol 75, which will end at 7:05 a.m. PST on March 20, 2004, Spirit will place the microscopic imager on a soil target and drive about 22 meters (72.2 feet) around the Bonneville crater rim. Spirit will also conduct atmospheric observations with the mini thermal emission spectrometer and panoramic camera.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-20-2004, 05:18 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040319a/x_pubeng_interior-A075R1_th150.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040319a/x_pubeng_interior-A075R1_br.jpg)

A Double Take at 'Serpent' Drift (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040319a.html)

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit took this pair of microscopic imager pictures of the drift dubbed "Serpent" on Spirit's 73rd martian day on Mars after successfully digging into the side of the drift. The left image, which has a black box at the top caused by missing data, captures a transition part of the drift where lighter, undisturbed material meets disturbed, darker material. The microscopic view of the undisturbed material reveals sphere-like grains with diameters between one and two millimeters (.04 and .08 inches), which are similar to the grains Spirit observed in other drift areas near Spirit's landing site, Gusev Crater. These larger grains form a single layer or crust on the surface of the drift and are covered in a fine layer of martian dust.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-20-2004, 05:20 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040318a/18-AK-03-mi-A074R1_th200.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040318a/18-AK-03-mi-A074R1_br.jpg)

March 18, 2004

Mineral in Mars 'Berries' Adds to Water Story (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040318a.html)

A major ingredient in small mineral spheres analyzed by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity furthers understanding of past water at Opportunity's landing site and points to a way of determining whether the vast plains surrounding the site also have a wet history.

The spherules, fancifully called blueberries although they are only the size of BBs and more gray than blue, lie embedded in outcrop rocks and scattered over some areas of soil inside the small crater where Opportunity has been working since it landed nearly two months ago.

Individual spherules are too small to analyze with the composition-reading tools on the rover. In the past week, those tools were used to examine a group of berries that had accumulated close together in a slight depression atop a rock called "Berry Bowl." The rover's Mössbauer spectrometer, which identifies iron-bearing minerals, found a big difference between the batch of spherules and a "berry-free" area of the underlying rock.

More at the link above.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-21-2004, 10:49 PM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Sightseeing at Sweet Spots - sol 54, Mar 20, 2004

Opportunity flipped 115 meters (377.3 feet) on its odometer during the latest drives along the current soil survey campaign, surpassing the total drive distance of 1997's Sojourner rover. After performing a "touch and go" sequence at the third soil target south of the Challenger Memorial Station, Opportunity moved east to its fourth target. There the rover used its wheels to dig a trench that will be studied in coming sols.

The sol, which ended at 6:46 p.m. PST on March 19, started with brief alpha particle X-ray and Mössbauer spectrometer measurements on the soil target known as "Coconut2." These were followed by two sets of microscopic imager shots of Coconut2 and "ChocolateChip." The rover then stowed its arm and drove.

Remote sensing with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and the panoramic camera remote sensing was performed before, during, and after the drive and trenching activities. Also, Opportunity took additional images with its navigation camera imaging in preparation for next sol's drive to the final site inside the crater.

To prepare for the trenching on this sol, the wake-up song was "I Feel The Earth Move" by Carole King.

Steve

Steven Cedrone

03-23-2004, 01:30 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-s.jpg
SPIRIT UPDATE: One Step Closer - sol 77, Mar 22, 2004

Spirit woke up on sol 77, which ended at 8:24 a.m. PST on March 22, 2004, to "One Step Closer" by the Doobie Brothers, since the rover was to make its final approach to the rock target named "Mazatzal" today.

Before beginning the .9-meter (2.95 feet) drive to Mazatzal, Spirit analyzed the soil target "Soil 1" at its current location with the microscopic imager and Mössbauer spectrometer. During the Mössbauer integration, Spirit also took panoramic camera images and performed miniature thermal emission spectrometer analysis of the atmosphere and Mazatzal work area.

At 1:25 p.m. Mars Local Solar Time, Spirit completed the Mössbauer integration, took a few microscopic imager images of the impression left on "Soil 1" by the Mössbauer spectrometer and then stowed the instrument arm. Spirit then proceeded the short distance toward Mazatzal and took hazard avoidance camera images to confirm that its final resting place put the intended rock targets in reach of the instrument arm.

Following the drive, the rover acquired more panoramic camera and mini thermal emission spectrometer observations of the atmosphere, and of interesting areas near the Mazatzal site including targets named "Sandbox," "Saber" and "Darksands."

Spirit finished up sol 77 by getting the mini thermal emission spectrometer in position for morning observations on sol 78.

Spirit will spend most of Sol 78, which will end at 9:04 a.m. PST on March 23, analyzing Mazatzal with the instruments on the robotic arm.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Try Again to Exit Crater - sol 56, Mar 21, 2004

NASA's Opportunity tried driving uphill out of its landing-site crater during its 56th sol, ending at 10:05 p.m. March 21, PST, but slippage prevented success. The rover is healthy, and it later completed a turn to the right and a short drive along the crater's inner slope. Controllers plan to send it on a different route for exiting the crater on sol 57.

Earlier on sol 56, Opportunity successfully examined a patch of soil dubbed "Brian's Choice" with its Moessbauer spectrometer, alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and microscopic imager. Following the drive, it made observations with its navigation camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Wake-up music for the sol was "Fly Like an Eagle," by the Steve Miller Band.

Steven Cedrone

03-23-2004, 01:32 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040322a/x_pubeng_mazatzal_nav-A078R1_th100.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040322a/x_pubeng_mazatzal_nav-A078R1_br.jpg)

"Mazatzal" Rock on Crater Rim

NASA's Spirit took this navigation camera image of the 2-meter-wide (6.6-foot-wide) rock called "Mazatzal" on sol 76, March 21, 2004. Scientists intend to aggressively analyze this target with Spirit's microscopic imager, Mössbauer spectrometer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer before brushing and "digging in" with the rock abrasion tool on upcoming sols Mazatzal stood out to scientists because of its large size, light tone and sugary surface texture. It is the largest rock the team has seen at the rim of the crater informally named "Bonneville." It is lighter-toned than previous rock targets Adirondack and Humphrey. Its scalloped pattern may be a result of wind sculpting, a very slow process in which wind-transported silt and sand abrade the rock’s surface, creating depressions. This leads scientists to believe that Mazatzal may have been exposed to the wind in this location for an extremely long time. The name "Mazatzal" comes from a mountain range and rock formation that was deposited around 1.2 billion years ago in the Four Peaks area of Arizona.

Steven Cedrone

03-23-2004, 01:33 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040322a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_032104_site5_rim_pan_cyl_jb-B057R1_th544.jpg (http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040322a/_xpe_pubeng_approved_032104_site5_rim_pan_cyl_jb-B057R1_br.jpg)

Eyeing "Eagle Crater"

This image mosaic, compiled from navigation and panoramic camera images during the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's 33rd, 35th, and 36th sols on Mars, shows a panoramic view of the crater where the rover had been exploring since its dramatic arrival in late January 2004. The crater, now informally referred to as "Eagle Crater," is approximately 22 meters (72 feet) in diameter. Opportunity's lander is visible in the center of the image. Track marks reveal the rover's progress. The rover cameras recorded this view as Opportunity climbed close to the crater rim as part of a soil survey campaign.

JustinGTP

03-25-2004, 12:51 AM

You're still going? 8O

Steven Cedrone

03-25-2004, 02:39 AM

Of course... :wink:

Steven Cedrone

03-25-2004, 02:41 AM

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/images/status-banner-o.jpg
sol 57, Mar 22, 2004: Opportunity Leaves the Nest

After a slightly slippery start yestersol, Opportunity made it out of "Eagle Crater"on sol 57, which ends at 8:45 p.m. PST on March 22. The drive along the crater's inner slope that was initiated on the last sol continued this sol until Opportunity exited its landing-site crater. Images from the navigation camera confirm that the rover is about 9 meters (about 29.5 feet) outside of the crater.

The rover also conducted remote sensing observations between naps this sol. After completing the drive out of the crater, the navigation camera imaged Opportunity's brand new view of the plains of Meridiani Planum.

During the martian night, rover planners will awaken Opportunity to take miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of the ground and the atmosphere.

The song chosen to motivate Opportunity to move up and out of the crater was "If You Don't Get it the First Time, Back Up and Try it Again" by the JBs and Fred Wesley.