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RE: The Opportunity rover

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Image taken by the Opportunity rover of twilight on Meridiani Plane on 7th December, 2006 (Sol 1020).

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Credit NASA

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Panorama taken by the Opportunity rover of Bottomless Bay on the 19th December, 2006 (Sol 1032)

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Credit NASA

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Looks for Entry Point into Crater - sol 1022-1028, December 18, 2006:

Opportunity is healthy and driving toward "Bottomless Bay" to gather data on whether this would be a suitable future entry point into "Victoria Crater." The rover will continue traversing the crater rim and collecting images of the cliff walls.
On Dec. 6, 2006, corresponding to the 1020th sol, or Martian day, of Opportunity's mission on the surface of Mars, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter entered safe mode, a protective state during which only those systems vital to the orbiter's health continue to operate. Odyssey provides the relay communications link for most data received from the Opportunity and Spirit rovers. Rover handlers responded to the temporary unavailability of Odyssey by planning only one sol of driving and limiting remote sensing activities until the orbiter returned to normal relay mode on Opportunity's sol 1026 (Dec. 12, 2006).

Between sols 1021 (Dec. 7, 2006) and 1027 (Dec. 13, 2006), Opportunity drove 84 metres.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 1022 (Dec. 8, 2006): Opportunity took backward-looking panoramic images, monitored the rover mast for dust, acquired thumbnail panoramic images of the sky, and measured atmospheric dust.

Sol 1023 : Opportunity measured atmospheric dust and acquired forward-looking images using the panoramic camera, acquired images to accompany surveys by the miniature thermal emission spectrometer using the navigation camera, and scanned the sky and ground using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover monitored atmospheric dust at sunset, measured atmospheric density of argon gas with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, and scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.

Sol 1024: Opportunity measured atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera, scanned the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and acquired panoramic camera images of the work volume to be examined using the instruments on the rover's robotic arm.

Sol 1025 : Opportunity measured atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera, surveyed the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera, and acquired thumbnail images of the sky using the panoramic camera.

Sol 1026 : Opportunity measured atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera, surveyed the horizon with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera, and acquired thumbnail images of the sky using the panoramic camera.

Sol 1027 : Opportunity measured atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera, drove 30 metres, acquired navigation camera images of the area ahead, and acquired post-drive panoramic camera images and atmospheric dust measurements. The rover surveyed the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.

Sol 1028 (Dec. 14, 2006): Opportunity measured atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera, drove 40 metres, took post-drive navigation camera images, monitored the rover mast for dust, and surveyed the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Odometry:
As of sol 1027 (Dec. 13, 2006), Opportunity's total odometry was 9,669 metres.

-- Edited by Blobrana at 20:01, 2006-12-19

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The location of the Opportunity rover at Victoria crater on Sol 1028 ( Dec 15, 2006)

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Credit NASA

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Panorama of mouth of Bottomless Bay taken by the Opportunity rover on 14th December, 2006 (Sol 1027)

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Credit NASA

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Image taken by the Opportunity rover with its panoramic camera on Sol 1019.

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Credit NASA

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Image of "blueberries" taken by the Opportunity rover at Victoria crater, on October 5, 2006 (Sol 959)

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Credit NASA

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OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity's Odometer Reaches Six-Mile Mark at 'Bottomless Bay' - sol 1016-1021, December 07, 2006:

Opportunity is healthy and wrapping up imaging of "Bottomless Bay" (Bahia sin Fondo) at "Victoria Crater."
On Sol 1016, Opportunity arrived at Bottomless Bay and began making science observations. Opportunity also performed step one of a series of checkouts of its new capability for more autonomous assessment of where it is safe to place its robotic arm. This test did not involve any arm motion.
On Sol 1018, the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer measured the atmosphere's argon density. While pointed at the atmosphere, the instrument was turned on and left integrating for almost three hours. With the temperature and argon density in hand, scientists can calculate what percentage of the atmosphere at the rover site is argon. By doing measurements of this nature, scientists can get a better understanding of how atmospheric gases mix between the poles and the equator.
On Sols 1019, 1020 and 1021 Opportunity was busy completing photography of Bottomless Bay.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Daily, Opportunity completes science observations that include: tau (atmospheric clarity) measurements with the panoramic camera, cloud searches with the navigation camera, and stares at the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1016 (Dec. 2, 2006): Opportunity drove for two hours, adding 30 metres onto its drive toward Bottomless Bay. The rover then took a navigation camera mosaic in the drive direction and completed step one of checking the capability for autonomous placement of the robotic arm.

Sol 1017: Opportunity used part of this sol to conduct the daily science observations and then used the rest of the sol to recharge.

Sol 1018: The rover examined the ground in front of it with the panoramic camera and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Those instruments were also used to monitor dust accumulation on the solar panels. The alpha particle X-ray spectrometer began a 2.5-hour argon density measurement.

Sol 1019: The panoramic camera took images for the first half of a stereo mosaic of Bottomless Bay. Opportunity then turned so it would be in a better position for communication.

Sol 1020: Opportunity used part of this sol to conduct the daily science observations and then used the rest of the sol to recharge.

Sol 1021 (Dec. 7, 2006): The rover took a 2-metre drive along Bottomless Bay and the panoramic camera took the second half of the stereo mosaic of Bottomless Bay.

As of sol 1016's drive, Opportunity's total odometry is 9,584.69 metres.

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Panorama taken by the Opportunity rover of Bottomless Bay on 6th December, 2006 (Sol 1019).

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