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TOPIC: Mars Exploration Rover Spirit
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RE: Mars Exploration Rover Spirit
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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Slowly Begins Driving Again - sol 1024-1038, December 05, 2006:

Spirit is healthy and preparing to drive away from the rover's winter station after completing scientific investigation of a rock nicknamed "King George Island." The rock, according to principal investigator Steve Squyres, contains some of the best-rounded grains ever seen in a Martian rock. Scientists will try to determine how the grains formed -- perhaps with help from wind or water.
Spirit arrived at King George Island on Sol 1022 (Dec. 17, 2006) after a short bump (very short drive) from a disturbed soil target nicknamed "Bear Island." Upon arrival, Spirit took a mosaic of microscopic images of King George and collected data using the alpha-particle X-ray and Mössbauer spectrometers. Spirit then brushed the target with the wire bristles on the rock abrasion tool before collecting more alpha-particle X-ray and Mössbauer data for comparison with data from the unbrushed surface.
Spirit's next planned target is a rock aptly nicknamed "Esperanza," the Spanish word for hope. The first of several drives to reach that goal began on Sol 1037 (Dec. 3, 2006). On Sol 1030 (Nov. 25, 2006), the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter used its high-resolution camera to acquire images of Spirit's "Winter Haven," where the rover has spent its second Martian winter, and of Spirit's lander, which arrived on Mars Jan. 4, 2004.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

In addition to Spirit's daily science observations, which include measuring atmospheric dust opacity with the panoramic camera, surveying the sky and ground using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and scanning the Martian sky for clouds using the navigation camera, the Mars rover did the following work:

Sol 1024 (Nov. 19, 2006): Spirit collected data about the Martian atmosphere using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer and monitored dust accumulation on the panoramic camera mast.

Sol 1025: Spirit acquired super-resolution panoramic camera images of the circular plateau-like feature known as "Home Plate" and measured the amount of light detectable at night and during Martian twilight.

Sol 1026: Spirit coordinated daily science observations with an overflight of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The rover measured surface reflectivity using the panoramic camera.

Sol 1027: Spirit acquired a mosaic of images of King George Island and collected data from the same rock target using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 1028: Spirit studied King George Island using the Mössbauer spectrometer.

Sol 1029: Spirit studied Esperanza and two other rock targets known as "Zhong Shan" and "Korolev" using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1030: Spirit continued to assess King George Island using the Mössbauer spectrometer and investigated a distant rock outcrop known as "Oberth" using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1031: Spirit brushed the surface of King George Island using the rock abrasion tool and acquired microscopic images and alpha-particle X-ray data of the freshly brushed surface.

Sol 1032: Spirit acquired Mössbauer data from the brushed surface of King George Island.

Sol 1033: Spirit acquired information about rock targets known as "Syowa" and "Wiltgen" using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1034: Spirit collected microscopic images of two soil targets known as "Clarence" and "Deception" and recommenced analysis of the brushed surface of King George Island using the Mössbauer spectrometer.

Sol 1035: Spirit analysed a spot on the same rock surface but offset from the target known as King George Island by acquiring microscopic images and collecting corresponding compositional data with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 1036: Spirit acquired a 13-filter, full-colour panorama of the soil target known as "Tyrone" and again analysed Korolev and Esperanza from a distance using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1037: Spirit stowed the robotic arm carrying scientific instruments and began driving toward Esperanza.

Sol 1038 (Dec. 4, 2006): Spirit tested new capabilities for automated placement of the robotic arm.

Odometry:
As of sol 1036 (Dec. 2, 2006), Spirit's total odometry was 6,877.63 metres.

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SPIRIT UPDATE: More Remote Science for Spirit - sol 1017-1023, December 04, 2006:

Spirit is healthy. Downlink of information from the rover resumed after a 48-hour gap in downlink that resulted from NASA's Mars Odyssey releasing most of its Deep Space Network coverage earlier in the week to Mars Global Surveyor to support efforts to recover communications with Global Surveyor.
This week, Spirit changed robotic-arm targets from "Berkner Island" to "Bear Island" and executed a microscopic image mosaic, five hours of data collection with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and nearly 48 hours with the Mössbauer spectrometer. The engineering team planned and commanded Spirit's second drive of the season on sol 1022.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 1017 (Nov. 12, 2006): Spirit used its microscopic imager to take exposures for a stereo mosaic of target Bear Island, then placed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on that target. After the Mars Odyssey pass, the rover took a tau (atmospheric clarity) measurement and then began a five-hour reading with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 1018: The panoramic camera took thumbnail images of the sky, and the navigation camera scanned for clouds. The team changed tools to the Mössbauer spectrometer and used it for a 10-hour integration on Bear Island.

Sol 1019: In the morning, the miniature thermal emission spectrometer assessed the sky and ground, and the panoramic camera examined the sky. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer then stared at target "Baudoin." Some engineering maintenance was done and then the Mössbauer spectrometer was restarted on target Bear Island.

Sol 1020: In the morning, the miniature thermal emission spectrometer assessed the sky and ground, and the panoramic camera examined the sky. The rover restarted the Mössbauer data-collection on Bear Island for a 23-hour, overnight integration.

Sol 1021: Spirit's miniature thermal emission spectrometer assessed light-toned material in the rover's tracks in the morning. The Mössbauer spectrometer was restarted on Bear Island. The panoramic camera conducted a light experiment by taking multiple images throughout the day. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer assessed target "Allan Hills" during the communications pass with Mars Odyssey. After the Odyssey pass, the Mössbauer observation was completed and the panoramic camera took a tau measurement at sunset.

Sol 1022: Spirit's arm was stowed before the rover began a short drive to a nearby outcrop. After the drive the navigation and hazard avoidance cameras took images. A tau measurement was taken as well.

Sol 1023 (Nov. 28): The panoramic camera took images of targets "El Dorado" and "Prat" as well as thumbnail images of the sky. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a sky and ground observation.

Odometry:
As of sol 1023, Spirit's odometry is 6,877.63 metres.

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Image taken by the Spirit rover on Sol 1036.

SpiritSol 1036
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Credit NASA

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Navigation Camera image taken by the Spirit rover on Sol 1026.

SpiritSol1026
Credit NASA

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Panoramic Camera image taken by the Spirit rover on Sol 1025

SpiritSol1025
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Image taken by the Spirit rovers front Hazcam on Sol 1022.

SpiritSol1022
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Spirit traverse map on Sol 994

spiritLOC
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SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit's 'Arm' Busy Checking New Targets - sol 1013-1016, November 13, 2006:

After Spirit's successful 0.71-metre bump on sol 1010, the team has new targets in the robotic arm's work volume for the first time in 204 sols. There is some interesting light and dark material within arm's reach and this week the team planned a robotic arm campaign including a microscopic imager mosaic, four hours of alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration and 43 hours of Moessbauer spectrometer integration. Spirit is receiving a little over 320 Watt-hours now and is able to occasionally use the Moessbauer or alpha particle X-ray spectrometer overnight.

Sol-by-sol summary:

Sol 1013 (Nov. 8, 2006): This sol began with the usual engineering block tau (atmospheric clarity) measurement, then a calibration of the miniature thermal emission spectrometer before that instrument was used to stare at the sky and ground. Spirit then used its front hazard avoidance cameras to look at the robotic arm's work volume, then unstowed the arm and took a stereo microscopic image of target "Berkner Island." The rover then placed the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on Berkner Island and integrated for four hours. Spirit used its miniature thermal emission spectrometer to stare at target "Davis" during the afternoon when NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft passed overhead.

Sol 1014: The rover changed tools to the Moessbauer spectrometer and integrated for 23 hours.

Sol 1015: During the morning of this sol, Spirit conducted dust monitoring of its panoramic camera mast assembly (its neck and head). The rover then restarted the Moessbauer on target Berkner Island for a 10-hour integration. A panoramic camera tau measurement and a miniature thermal emission spectrometer observation of sky and ground were conducted around the Odyssey pass.

Sol 1016: On this sol, Spirit took images with its navigation camera. It then restarted the Moessbauer spectrometer on Berkner Island for a 10-hour integration. Total integration time is 43 hours at this target. The rover then conducted a panoramic camera sky observation.

Odometry:
As of sol 1016 (Nov. 11, 2006), Spirit's odometry is 6,976.89 metres.

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The Mars Exploration Rovers managed to log another couple of significant milestones this month even as they worked in place, on autopilot, for the last two weeks during superior conjunction, the period that occurs every 2 years when Earth and Mars orbit into positions on opposite sides of the Sun, obscured from each other. With the conjunction now over, the rovers are slated to be back in command operation by tomorrow, All Hallow's Eve or, more popularly, Halloween.

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McMurdo panorama
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This 360-degree view, called the "McMurdo" panorama, comes from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. From April through October 2006, Spirit has stayed on a small hill known as "Low Ridge." There, the rover's solar panels are tilted toward the sun to maintain enough solar power for Spirit to keep making scientific observations throughout the winter on southern Mars. This view of the surroundings from Spirit's "Winter Haven" is presented in exaggerated colour to enhance colour differences among rocks, soils and sand.

McMurdo1000sol
Medium Image (245 kB) | Large (79.3 MB)
Credit NASA/JPL/Cornell

Oct. 26, 2006, marks Spirit's 1,000th sol of what was planned as a 90-sol mission. (A sol is a Martian day, which lasts 24 hours, 39 minutes, 35 seconds). The rover has lived through the most challenging part of its second Martian winter. Its solar power levels are rising again. Spring in the southern hemisphere of Mars will begin in early 2007. Before that, the rover team hopes to start driving Spirit again toward scientifically interesting places in the "Inner Basin" and "Columbia Hills" inside Gusev crater. The McMurdo panorama is providing team members with key pieces of scientific and topographic information for choosing where to continue Spirit's exploration adventure.
The Pancam began shooting component images of this panorama during Spirit's sol 814 (April 18, 2006) and completed the part shown here on sol 932 (Aug. 17, 2006). The panorama was acquired using all 13 of the Pancam's colour filters, using lossless compression for the red and blue stereo filters, and only modest levels of compression on the remaining filters. The overall panorama consists of 1,449 Pancam images and represents a raw data volume of nearly 500 megabytes. It is thus the largest, highest-fidelity view of Mars acquired from either rover. Additional photo coverage of the parts of the rover deck not shown here was completed on sol 980 (Oct. 5 , 2006). The team is completing the processing and mosaicking of those final pieces of the panorama, and that image will be released on the Web shortly to augment this McMurdo panorama view.

This beautiful scene reveals a tremendous amount of detail in Spirit's surroundings. Many dark, porous-textured volcanic rocks can be seen around the rover, including many on Low Ridge. Two rocks to the right of centre, brighter and smoother-looking in this image and more reflective in infrared observations by Spirit's miniature thermal emission spectrometer, are thought to be meteorites. On the right, "Husband Hill" on the horizon, the rippled "El Dorado" sand dune field near the base of that hill, and lighter-toned "Home Plate" below the dunes provide context for Spirit's travels since mid-2005. Left of centre, tracks and a trench dug by Spirit's right-front wheel, which no longer rotates, have exposed bright underlying material. This bright material is evidence of sulphur-rich salty minerals in the subsurface, which may provide clues about the watery past of this part of Gusev Crater.

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