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Latest Spirit Update
Extrication Attempt Begins
Spirit Status for sol 2084-2090
Release Date: 11/19/09
Spirit has begun her long-awaited extrication process.
The first commanded motion was on Sol 2088 (Nov. 17, 2009). Two straight forward steps of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) each were sequenced. However, due to a hair-trigger limit on the rover tilt, the drive stopped as soon as it began and no discernable motion in the rover was observed.
With improved value for the rover tilt, the same two-step motion was sequenced on Sol 2090 (Nov. 19, 2009). Spirit successfully completed the first step of the planned motion. The second step was not performed because Spirit exceeded the 1-centimeter (0.4-inch) three-dimensional distance limit that was imposed in the plan. The center of the rover moved approximately 12 millimeters (0.5 inch) forward, 7 millimeters (0.3 inch) to the left and about 4 millimeters (0.2 inch) down. The rover tilt changed by around 0.1 degree. Small forward motion was observed with the non-operable right-front wheel. The left-front wheel showed indications of climbing.
It is cautioned that these motions are too small to establish any trends at this time. The plan ahead is to continue forward driving once all the necessary analysis is complete and reviewed.
As of Sol 2090 (Nov. 19, 2009), Spirit's solar-array energy production is 346 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.517 and a dust factor of 0.588. Total odometry is 7,729.97 meters (4.80 miles).
Latest Opportunity Update
'Marquette' Study Begins
Opportunity Status for sol 2063-2068
Release Date: 11/19/09
Opportunity has been investigating a rock called "Marquette Island."
The rover approached the rock on Sol 2063 (Nov. 12, 2009) and has been using the Moessbauer (MB) spectrometer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) to collect measurements on the rock to assist in determining the rock composition. Opportunity also has taken close-up images using the microscopic imager (MI) on Sol 2065 (Nov. 14, 2009).
The rock abrasion tool (RAT) on the arm will lightly brush the rock to reveal the surface beneath the layer of dust. After receiving the results of the RAT brush, the science team will decide whether to look even deeper into the rock by grinding a couple of millimeters (about a tenth of an inch) down into it and performing additional science observations.
There has also been extensive imaging of the surrounding rocks around Marquette. The elevation mirror shroud of the miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) is being opened when appropriate with the expectation of eventual dust cleaning. No dust cleaning of the Mini-TES mirror has been noted yet.
As of Sol 2068 (Nov. 17, 2009), Opportunity's solar-array energy production was 385 watt-hours, with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.482 and a dust factor of 0.530. Total odometry was 18,906.82 meters (11.75 miles).
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