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TOPIC: Mars Exploration Rover Spirit
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A spectacular field of Martian sand ripples separates NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit from the slopes of "Husband Hill." It has been 200 Martian days, or sols, since the rover started a descent from the top of the peak to the rover's current position on "Low Ridge." Looking back to the north on sol 813 (April 17, 2006), Spirit acquired this blue-filter (436-nanometer) view with the right panoramic camera (Pancam) while the Sun was low in the sky late in the afternoon. Because of the low-angle lighting (sunlight is coming from the left), images like this provide superb views of subtle textures in the topography both near and far. Husband Hill, where the rover was perched late last summer, rises prominently just left of center in this view. A 150-meter wide field of curving sand ripples named "El Dorado" lies at the base of Husband Hill.


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Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Sol 820

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Sol 807


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This mosaic of images shows the leading edges of the rover's solar panels at the bottom edge in the foreground. Above that is a sandy, hilly landscape. Beyond the rover and slightly to the right is a small peak, the slopes of which bear a scattering of large, dark rocks full of tiny holes. To the left of that, in the middle of the image on the horizon, is 'McCool Hill,' the tallest hill in view. Leading away from the rover in the direction of 'McCool' and then meandering off to the left is a pair of rover tracks. The right track is a furrow, the left shows wheel imprints.

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Sol 820



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Sol 814

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Sol 809

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Sol 809


This false colour image taken by Spirits' panoramic camera shows light-toned rocks, a light gray rock and several dark gray to black rocks.

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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Studies New Terrain - sol 812-819, Apr 21, 2006:

Spirit remains healthy and is enjoying the winter sun on Mars. This week, Spirit began acquiring a full-colour, high-resolution, 360-degree panorama nicknamed the "McMurdo Pan." The panorama campaign will take a few weeks because of power and data limitations. In addition, Spirit conducted a scientific study of a soil target called "Mawson" using instruments on the rover's robotic arm.

All the rock and soil targets in this area are being named after Antarctic research stations and explorers.

Sol-by-sol highlights:

Sol 812 (April 16, 2006): Spirit performed targeted remote sensing with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and acquired microscopic images of undisturbed soil.

Sol 813: Spirit conducted targeted remote sensing with the panoramic camera.

Sol 814: Spirit began acquisition of the "McMurdo Pan." The rover studied a soil target called "Mawson" with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 815: Spirit conducted targeted remote sensing with the panoramic camera and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 816: Rather than pause for new instructions, Spirit continued to acquire panoramic camera data following master sequences already transmitted to the rover.

Sols 817 to 819 (April 21-23, 2006): Plans called for Spirit to continue work on the "McMurdo panorama," complete overnight studies of the soil target called "Mawson" with the Mössbauer spectrometer, and conduct targeted remote sensing.

Odometry:
As of sol 816 (April 20, 2006), Spirit's total odometry remained at 6,876.18 meters.

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Traverse map on Sol 810.

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Sol 811

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