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RE: The Opportunity rover

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Checks Out 'Cape of Good Hope' - sol 1097-1103, March 07, 2007:

Opportunity is healthy and is currently driving on the promontory called "Cape of Good Hope." The rover performed some miniature thermal emission spectrometer measurements and took panoramic camera images of "Madrid" and "Alava," which are outcrops on the western side of Cape of Good Hope. Opportunity also performed some miniature thermal emission spectrometer and long baseline stereo of dunes at the base of the next promontory.
On sol 1100, Opportunity executed step two of the Visual Target Tracking technology checkout.
On sol 1102, Opportunity had a joint 1 (shoulder azimuth) stall during the instrument deployment device (rover "arm") sequence. It was determined that this stall was similar to past stalls, so on sol 1103 a diagnostic test will be performed. If this is successful, the rover will take a confirmation microscopic image, then drive towards the rim of Cape of Good Hope.
Opportunity drove about 84 metres between sols 1097 and 1102.

Sol-by-sol summary:

Each sol there is a panoramic camera tau at the beginning of the plan and before the afternoon Mars Odyssey pass. There is a miniature thermal emission spectrometer elevation sky and ground during the Odyssey pass. There is also a mini- miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground in the morning of each sol, just prior to handing over to the next sol's master sequence.

Sol 1097 (February 23, 2007): On this sol, the rover used its panoramic camera to image "Madrid" and "Alava" (outcrop on the west side of Cape of Good Hope). The miniature thermal emission spectrometer was used to examine dunes at the base of the next promontory, a long baseline image of the dunes was taken and a panoramic camera image of Cape of Good Hope. A pre-Odyssey tau measurement was taken and during the Odyssey pass, miniature thermal emission spectrometer measurements of Madrid and "Coslada" were completed. A post-Odyssey argon measurement was taken.

Sol 1098: In the morning of this sol the rover looked at the sky with its panoramic camera and conducted mini-miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground measurements. Opportunity then stowed its arm, drove to Cape of Good Hope, unstowed its arm, took post-drive navigation camera "end of drive" images, post-drive panoramic camera images in the drive direction and a post-drive panoramic camera tau;

Sol 1099: Opportunity used its panoramic camera to take images of the sky this morning. The cameras (on the rover's "head") and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a mini-sky azimuth measurement and a and sky and ground observation. The panoramic camera then conducted a soil survey and then examined the ground in front of the rover. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a systematic soil observation.

Sol 1100: In the morning of this sol, the miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a mini sky and ground observation. The rover then stowed its "arm," checked out its visual target tracking sequence and drove toward Cape of Good Hope. The rover then unstowed its "arm," took post-drive navigation and panoramic camera images in the drive direction. A panoramic camera tau measurement was taken.

Sol 1101: Opportunity used this morning to get thumbnail images of the sky with its panoramic camera and to assess the sky and ground with its miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover then stowed its "arm," used its front hazard avoidance cameras to image the area in front of it. The "arm" was then unstowed and Opportunity took a 13-filter panoramic camera image. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a 7-point sky and ground observation. Before the Odyssey pass, the panoramic camera conducted a sky survey.

Sol 1102: On this sol, the panoramic camera took a 13-filter calibration for dust on the low-gain antenna, the camera was then used to image "Cabo Corrientes." Before an attempt to use the microscopic imager, there was a joint failure. A tau measurement was taken and then a miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground observation.

Sol 1103 (March 2, 2007): Opportunity completed a miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground observation in the morning of this sol. A diagnostic test was run on the rover's instrument deployment device ("arm"). Depending on the results of the test, another attempt will be made to take a microscopic stereo image of target "Donut." The plan then calls for the "arm" to be stowed, the rover to bump back and take a panoramic camera image of Donut. Opportunity will then be set to drive toward the rim of Cape of Good Hope.

As of sol 1102, Opportunity's odometry is 10,202 metres.

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Image taken by the Opportunity rover on Sol 1096.

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Credit NASA

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Panorama taken by the Opportunity rover at the Cape of Good Hope on March 6, 2007 (Sol 1107).

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Credit NASA

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Panorama of the dark streaks below cliffs taken by the Opportunity rover at Cabo Corrienntes on February 23, 2007 (Sol 1096).

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Credit NASA

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Image taken by the Opportunity rover on Sol 1095

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Credit NASA

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: The View from 'Cabo Corrientes' - sol 1091-1096, February 23, 2007:

Opportunity is healthy and is currently driving on the promontory "Cabo Corrientes." The rover completed the long baseline stereo imaging of "Cape Desire" and is currently imaging the promontory on the other side of Cabo Corrientes called "Cape of Good Hope."
On Earth, Cape Desire is at the western (Pacific) end of the Strait of Magellan, marking the end of a hazardous passage through the strait. Magellan supposedly "wept for joy" when he discovered it, and so named it because he had been "desiring to see it for a long time."
Opportunity also performed an argon measurement on sol 1092.
Opportunity drove about 36 metres between sols 1088 and 1095.

Sol-by-sol summary:

Each sol there is a panoramic camera tau measurement at the beginning of the plan and before the afternoon Mars Odyssey pass. There is a miniature thermal emission spectrometer elevation sky and ground during the Odyssey pass. There is also a mini-miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground in the morning of each sol, just prior to handing over to the next sol's master sequence.

Sol 1091 (February 17, 2007): On this sol, the rover took a panoramic camera long baseline stereo and a miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky & ground measurement.

Sol 1092: Opportunity used its panoramic camera to do a 13-filter soil survey and then a 13-filter stare at the foreground. The navigation camera was used in support of a miniature thermal emission spectrometer foreground stare. The alpha particle X-ray spectrometer was used after the Odyssey pass.

Sol 1093: In the morning of this sol, the rover's cameras monitored for dust. Opportunity then took a miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky & ground measurement. The cameras on the rover's "head" then scanned the sky and ground.

Sol 1094: The rover stowed its instrument deployment device ("arm") and bumped about 2.5 metres for left eye of stereo imaging. The arm was then unstowed, a post-drive navcam was taken, a post-drive panoramic camera image in the drive direction and a post-drive panoramic camera image of "Extrema Dura" (the outcrop behind the rover). The panoramic camera also began a long baseline stereo image.

Sol 1095: Before Opportunity drove this sol, the navigation camera took images. The panoramic camera continued the long baseline stereo image. A mini-miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky & ground measurement was taken. The rover then stowed its arm and drove eastward to image the cliff face of Cape Hope. After the drive, the rover unstowed its arm and took post-drive navigation camera images. The panoramic camera took a sky survey during solar array wakeup. In the morning, the rover looked for clouds and then took a mini- miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky & ground measurement.

Sol 1096: In the morning of this sol, Opportunity took a miniature thermal emission spectrometer 5-point sky and ground measurement. A panoramic camera image was taken of the Cape of Good Hope and nearby dunes. The rover's arm was then stowed, then Opportunity bumped about 4.5 metres for the left eye of stereo image. The rover then unstowed its arm and took post-drive navigation camera images, end of drive images and a post-drive panoramic camera image in the drive direction.

As of sol 1095 (February 21, 2007), Opportunity's total odometry is 10,113 metres.

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Panorama taken by the Opportunity rover on February 23, 2007 (Sol 1096)

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180 degree panorama taken by the Opportunity rover on February 22, 2007 (Sol 1095).

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Credit NASA

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Continues to Characterise Crater - sol 1084-1090, February 20, 2007:

Opportunity is healthy and is currently driving on the promontory "Cabo Corrientes" where its cameras imaged the north face of "Bahia Blanca" cliff walls. The rover is currently driving to another spot in order to image "Cape Desire."
February 9th, 2007, was the first day of spring in the southern hemisphere of Mars.
Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integrations were also performed to measure atmospheric Argon. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the atmospheric mixing processes and track their changes with time.
Opportunity drove about 20 metres between sols 1084 and 1087.
The theme of the names of the bays and capes of "Victoria Crater" come from the places visited by Magellan and his crew onboard the sailing ship Victoria during their circumnavigation of the world. Cape Corrientes is on the eastern coast of South America and was a useful landmark for Magellan's fleet. Bahia Blanca (White Bay) is a huge bay in Argentina. Magellan explored it looking for the Strait, but was not successful.

Sol-by-sol summary:

Each sol there is a panoramic camera tau at the beginning of the plan and before the afternoon Mars Odyssey pass. There is a miniature thermal emission spectrometer elevation sky and ground observation during the Odyssey pass. There is also a mini- miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground in the morning of each sol, just prior to handing over to the next sol's master sequence.

Sol 1084 (February 10, 2007): On this sol, the panoramic camera took a 13-filter image of the target "Santiago." The rover then stowed its arm and drove 27 metres out onto Cabo Corrientes. After the drive, images were taken with the navigation and hazard avoidance cameras. After the Odyssey pass, the rover completed a sunset tau and a nearly four-hour alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration.

Sol 1085: During the morning of this sol, the rover monitored for dust on its panoramic camera mast assembly, or "neck" and "head." The navigation camera looked for clouds and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a 7-point sky and ground observation. The panoramic camera then imaged the sun at midday. The navigation camera then looked for clouds and another miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky and ground observation was conducted.

Sol 1086: On this sol, the rover's navigation camera looked for clouds and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a 7-point sky and ground observation and assessed the atmosphere. The panoramic camera took thumbnail images of the sky, the navigation camera looked for clouds again and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted another 7-point sky and ground observation.

Sol 1087: The rover drove this sol, then took images with its navigation and panoramic cameras. The rover then conducted a tau measurement. The miniature thermal emission spectrometer was used during the afternoon Odyssey pass. The final commands of this sol involved the panoramic camera surveying the horizon and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer completing a mini observation of the sky and ground.

Sol 1088: On this sol, the navigation camera looked for clouds, the miniature thermal emission spectrometer completed a 7-point sky and ground observation and the panoramic camera took a 13-filter image.

Sol 1089: The morning of this sol began with a mini-miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground observation. A pre-drive navigation camera image was taken in support of the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover then stowed its arm and drove about 15 metres to get into position to image the other side of Cape Desire. After the drive, the rover unstowed its arm and took post-drive navigation camera images and completed a post-drive tau measurement.

Sol 1090 (February 16, 2007): On this sol, the navigation camera looked for clouds and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer conducted a 7-point sky & ground observation. A pre-Odyssey tau measurement was also taken.

Odometry:
As of sol 1087, Opportunity's total odometry is 10,077 metres.