Mars Exploration News  
MARSDAILY
Opportunity is on its Final Science Campaign at 'Marathon Valley'
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jun 28, 2016


File image.

Opportunity is exploring 'Marathon Valley' on the rim of Endeavour crater, investigating outcrops for evidence of clay minerals. The rover is nearing the completion of its investigation within Marathon Valley. Opportunity is engaged in one of its final big in-situ campaigns inside Marathon Valley.

On Sol 4406 (June 15, 2016), the rover bumped about 10 inches (25 centimeters) to line up for some surface targets. On the following sol, Opportunity used the robotic arm to collect a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic of the target and then placed the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) for a multi-hour integration.

Opportunity then on the next sol turned to line up with the next nearby target with a 17-inch (43-centimeter) bump. This was followed with a regular calibration of the MI with some 'sky flat' images.

The rover used the next two sols to collect a 360-degree Navigation Camera panorama and to perform a 'sky flat' calibration of the Panoramic Camera. Then, on Sol 4411 (June 20, 2016), Opportunity collected a Microscopic Imager mosaic of this new target and followed that with the APXS placement.

On Sol 4412 (June 21, 2016), Opportunity used the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) wire brush to brush clean that surface target and followed that with another MI mosaic and APXS placement and integration.

The next step will be to consider a RAT grind of that target.

As of Sol 4412 (June 21, 2016), the solar array energy production is 644 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.614 and a solar array dust factor of 0.721.

Total odometry is 26.60 miles (42.81 kilometers), more than a marathon.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
MERB Status
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
MARSDAILY
Opportunity Wraps up Work on 'Wheel Scuff'
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jun 21, 2016
Opportunity is exploring 'Marathon Valley' on the rim of Endeavour crater, investigating outcrops for evidence of clay minerals. The rover is close to completing its investigations within Marathon Valley. On Sol 4400 (June 9, 2016), Opportunity continued with the in-situ (contact) investigation of the area that was scuffed by the rover wheel. The rover collected a Microscopic Imager ... read more


MARSDAILY
Russia to spend $60M in 2016-2018 to fund space voyages to Moon, Mars

Russian Moon Base to Hold Up to 12 People

US may approve private venture moon mission: report

Fifty Years of Moon Dust

MARSDAILY
Chinese Space Garbageman is not a Weapon

China launches new carrier rocket: state media

China's new launch center to get new viewing areas

United Nations and China agree to increased space cooperation

MARSDAILY
Down to Earth: Returned astronaut relishes little things

NASA Ignites Fire Experiment Aboard Space Cargo Ship

A Burial Plot for the International Space Station

Three astronauts touch down after 6 months in space

MARSDAILY
Alex Parker Discovers Moon Over Makemake in the Kuiper Belt

Hubble locates new dark spot on Neptune

Pluto's Subsurface Ocean Likely Exists Today

Case Bolstered for a Present-Day Subsurface Ocean on Pluto

MARSDAILY
An Ocean Lies a Few Kilometers Beneath Enceladus's Icy Surface

Cassini goes up and over for final mission tour of Saturn

The hard knock life of Saturn's Epimetheus

Enceladus jets: surprises in starlight

MARSDAILY
Canada Launches Maritime Monitoring Satellite

Nepal, India agree to use satellite system for border pillars

DigitalGlobe Awarded Sole-Source Contract to Provide Advanced Analytic Services to the DIA

MDA to deliver broad-area maritime surveillance system using RADARSAT

MARSDAILY
Blue Origin has fourth successful rocket booster landing

TED Talks aim for wider global reach

Disney brings its brand to Shanghai with new theme park

Tech, beauty intersect in Silicon Valley

MARSDAILY
When it comes to brown dwarfs, 'how far?' is a key question

Newborn Planet Discovered Around Young Star

NASA's K2 Finds Newborn Exoplanet Around Young Star

"Electric Wind" Can Strip Earth-Like Planets of Oceans and Atmospheres









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.