 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Stationary Spirit Progressing On Long-Term Experiments
Pasadena CA (SPX) Jun 12, 2006 Closing in on two-and-a-half years of operations in the hostile Martian environment and suffering from a stuck right-front wheel, NASA's Spirit rover nevertheless remains otherwise healthy and continues to make progress on the rover's winter science experiments. Spirit has begun work on a new photon-transfer-calibration experiment designed to measure electronic noise picked up by CCDs - imaging sensors that convert light into electrical current in the rover's cameras. Last week the rover conducted the calibration experiment on the panoramic camera and rear hazard-avoidance cameras. Spirit also began an experiment to look for wind-driven changes in the Martian surface by making the first of several monthly checks, using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera, of a bright soil target nicknamed Tyrone. In addition, the panoramic camera acquired column 18 of the McMurdo panorama, a 360-degree view of its current surroundings on a slope of the hill by that name in the Gusev Crater region. Over the weekend, Spirit's science team members had the rover remove another 2 millimeters of soil as part of a soil analysis experiment. The newly exposed soil target is called Progress 3. Sol-by-sol summaries: Sol 860 (June 4): Spirit completed 30 minutes of remote sensing and conducted the photon transfer calibration on the panoramic camera. Demonstrating that the rover is capable of multi-tasking, Spirit spent 60 minutes communicating with NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft as Odyssey passed overhead while Spirit also studied Martian terrain targets with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Sol 861: Spirit collected images with the microscopic imager and transmitted 70 megabits of data over UHF frequencies during a morning telecommunications link with Odyssey. Spirit also checked the three-dimensional movement of the rock abrasion tool at the end of the rover's instrument arm. This process involves taking measurements from encoders, which resemble dials on a safe. The encoders tick off the distance traveled by motor shafts and convert the mechanical motion into electronic signals. The results enable engineers to check for slippage or sticking that would necessitate changes in the amount of movement needed to position the instrument as desired. Sol 862: Spirit acquired the first part of Column 18 (a 1-by-3 mosaic) of the McMurdo panorama. The rover spent 60 minutes communicating with Odyssey as it passed overhead, while also conducting remote targeted sensing using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Sol 863: Spirit acquired the second half of Column 18 (a 1-by-3 mosaic) of the McMurdo panorama and took a picture of the Martian sunset. Sol 864: Spirit took a 13-filter color image of the Tyrone soil target using the panoramic camera and conducted analysis of the ground and sky at different elevations using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Sol 865: Spirit completed the photon transfer calibration experiment on the rover's rear hazard-avoidance cameras. Sol 866 (June 10): Spirit used its rock-abrasion tool to brush away a third layer of soil 2 millimeters thick from the soil target called Progress. Spirit spent nearly an hour on the task as part of a progressive soil-brushing experiment before documenting the spot with images from the panoramic camera using all 13 color filters. Odometry: As of sol 863 (June 7), Spirit's total odometry remained at 6,876.18 meters (4.27 miles). Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Mars Exploration Rovers Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Lunar Dreams and more
Aeroflex Awarded Mars Science Lab Contracts
Plainview NY (SPX) Jun 12, 2006Aeroflex Incorporated announced Friday that its Motion Control Division has been awarded a contract for Mars Science Laboratory high-torque actuators from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. In addition, Aeroflex has been awarded a contract for a series of gearheads for the MSL low- and medium-torque actuators. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
