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Onward To The Valley Without Peril
Pasadena CA (JPL) Mar 13, 2007 Opportunity is healthy and continues its long baseline stereo survey of "Victoria Crater." The rover is currently perched atop the "Cape of Good Hope," making its way northeast to the mouth of the "Valley Without Peril." On sol 1104 Opportunity performed an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration on the martian atmosphere. This is a long-term monitoring of the density of Argon in the atmosphere, looking at how the Argon/Carbon dioxide mixing ratio changes as the polar caps acquire and sublimate carbon dioxide. On Sol 1109 the rover performed a preliminary test of a new method for rock abrasion tool grinds which does not rely on a failed encoder. Another test is scheduled for sol 1112. Next week Opportunity will conduct an extensive long baseline stereo survey of the Valley Without Peril and "Cape St. Vincent." This will allow the team to perform a comparative analysis of other bays in order to continue characterization of possible ingress and egress points in Victoria Crater. Sol-by-sol summary: In addition to Opportunity's daily science observations, the rover also performs panoramic camera tau measurements and miniature thermal emission spectrometer sky and ground stares. Sol 1104 (March 3, 2007): The rover took a color postcard panoramic camera image of "Cabo Corrientes," navigation camera imaging of the tracks, miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky and ground observation and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration on the atmosphere to look for Argon. Sol 1105: On this sol, Opportunity drove 8 meters (26 feet) southwest toward the edge of the Cape of Good Hope. The rover then began the first half of a long baseline stereo panoramic camera image of Cabo Corrientes across "Golfo (Gulf) San Matias." The rover then completed navigation camera imaging for next drive. Sol 1106: Opportunity conducted a panoramic camera horizon survey, looked for clouds with its navigation camera and monitored for dust. The rover also did a miniature thermal emission spectrometer 7-point sky and ground observation and a panoramic camera sky survey. Sol 1107: On this sol, the rover drove 4 meters (13 feet) south-southwest and completed navigation and panoramic camera imaging for next drive. Opportunity then began the second half of a long baseline stereo panoramic camera image of Cabo Corrientes across Golfo San Matias. The panoramic camera then had a look at the sky. Sol 1108: Opportunity drove 8 meters (26 feet) toward the Valley Without Peril, then used its navigation and panoramic cameras to image for the next drive. The panoramic camera looked at the sky. Sol 1109: Opportunity conducted a rock abrasion tool (RAT) grind test, then the panoramic camera did a 13-filter foreground survey and took a mosaic of the rover tracks. The navigation camera imaged the tracks and then the miniature thermal emission spectrometer assessed the foreground. Sol 1110: On this sol, the panoramic camera completed a 13-filter foreground survey and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer completed a 7-point sky and ground observation and foreground stare. Sol 1111 (March 10, 2007): The rover drove 40 meters (131 feet) northeast to the mouth of the Valley Without Peril. Opportunity then did navigation and panoramic camera imaging for next drive. The panoramic camera also had a look at the sky. As of sol 1108, Opportunity's odometery is 10,238.95 meters (6.36 miles). Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Mars Rovers at JPL Mars Rovers at Cornell Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Lunar Dreams and more
Early Mars Had Underground Water System
Paris (AFP) March 07, 2007Scientists on Thursday said they had found evidence that Mars was once latticed by an underground water system, proving that the Red Planet has had a long and complex relationship with one of the potential ingredients for life. Writing in the British journal Nature, researchers focussed on questions thrown up by NASA's Martian rover, Opportunity, in its exploration of a vast sloping plain called Meridiani Planum. |
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