Mars Exploration News  
MARSDAILY
Opportunity rock abrasion tool conducts two rock grinds
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 25, 2016


File image.

Opportunity is inside 'Marathon Valley,' up on north-facing slopes for improved solar array energy production.

The rover is conducting an in-situ (contact) science campaign on the surface target 'Pvt. John Potts' (informally named for members of the Lewis and Clark expedition).

Previously, Opportunity had performed two successful Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) grinds on this target totaling over 1 millimeter of grind depth.

On Sol 4257 (Jan. 14, 2016), the rover used the RAT again to grind another millimeter. With the grinding complete, the RAT brushed the target on Sol 4259 (Jan. 16, 2016), sweeping away the grind tailings.

Then, a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic was collected followed with the placement of the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) inside the ground target.

Also during this time, the rover continued collecting color Panoramic (Pancam) images of 'Knudsen Ridge' to form a large panorama mosaic of the valley ridge.

With the in-situ work now complete on this target, on Sol 4262 (Jan. 19, 2016), the rover bumped only 2 inches (5 centimeters) to position for another target for in-situ investigation.

As of Sol 4262 (Jan. 19, 2016), the solar array energy production was 454 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.471 and a solar array dust factor of 0.670.

Total odometry is 26.50 miles (42.65 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
MER-B at JPL
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 Abrasion Tool Conducts Two Rock Grinds
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 22, 2016
Opportunity is inside 'Marathon Valley,' up on north-facing slopes for improved solar array energy production. The rover is conducting an in-situ (contact) science campaign on the surface target 'Pvt. John Potts' (informally named for members of the Lewis and Clark expedition). Previously, Opportunity had performed two successful Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) grinds on this target totalin ... read more


MARSDAILY
Russia postpones manned Lunar mission to 2035

Audi joins Google Lunar XPrize competition

Lunar mission moves a step closer

Momentum builds for creation of 'moon villages'

MARSDAILY
China aims for the Moon with new rockets

China shoots for first landing on far side of the moon

Chinese Long March 3B to launch Belintersat-1 telco sat for Belarus

China Plans More Than 20 Space Launches in 2016

MARSDAILY
Japanese astronaut learned Russian to link two nations

NASA, Texas Instruments Launch mISSion imaginaTIon

Water in US astronaut's helmet cuts short Briton's 1st spacewalk

Roscosmos prepares to launch first manned Soyuz MS

MARSDAILY
The Voyage of a Lifetime: New Horizons Marks 10 Years Since Launch

'Ninth planet' may exist in solar system: US scientists

Predicting planets: The highs and lows

Caltech researchers find evidence of a real ninth planet

MARSDAILY
A Triple Play Out Saturn Way

Cassini Completes Final Close Enceladus Flyby

Cassini Closes in on Enceladus, One Last Time

Cassini gets bull's eye view of Enceladus and Tethys

MARSDAILY
SpaceX launches US-French oceans satellite

Flooding along the Mississippi seen from space

Fires burning in Africa and Asia cause high ozone in tropical Pacific

Satellites find sustainable energy in cities

MARSDAILY
Engineers Mark Completion of Orion's Pressure Vessel

2016 Goals Vital to Commercial Crew Success

Space: The here-and-now frontier

Russian Space Agency discussing possible training of Iranian astronaut

MARSDAILY
Follow A Live Planet Hunt

Lab discovery gives glimpse of conditions found on other planets

Nearby star hosts closest alien planet in the 'habitable zone'

ALMA reveals planetary construction sites









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.