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MARSDAILY
Nearing First Landfall of Large Crater
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Aug 08, 2011

Opportunity's Traverse Map Through Sol 2676 - Full size image.

Opportunity is now only about 120 meters (394 feet) from "Spirit Point," the first landfall on the rim of Endeavour crater.

The rover drove four times in the last week on Sols 2670, 2671, 2674 and 2676 (July 29, 30, Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, 2011), totaling over 370 meters (0.23 miles) of drive distance and exceeding over 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) in total odometry.

The right-front wheel currents remain behaved. On Sol 2672 (July 31, 2011), Opportunity performed an overnight alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) spectrum of atmospheric argon. On Sol 2673 (Aug. 1, 2011), the rover used the autonomous AEGIS software to look for interesting outcrops.

The AEGIS software was awarded the NASA 2011 Software of the Year Award.

The plan ahead is more driving to reach Spirit Point. As of Sol 2675 (Aug. 3, 2011), solar array energy production was 385 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.03 and a solar array dust factor of 0.537.

Total odometry is 33,227.58 meters (33.23 kilometers, or 20.65 miles).




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MARSDAILY
Opportunity Past 20-Mile Mark As it Nears Large Crater
Pasadena CA (JPL) Aug 04, 2011
Opportunity is only about 1.1 kilometers (0.68 miles) from "Spirit Point," the first landfall on the rim of Endeavour crater. The rover continues to make very good progress, driving five times in the last week and totaling over 510 meters of drive distance. The right-front wheel currents remain behaved. The project continues to use backwards driving and actuator heating as mitigation ... read more


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