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Rover Conducting Science At Crater Rim

File image.
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 28, 2011
Opportunity is in position for solar conjunction at the southeast rim of the 80-meter (262-foot) diameter Santa Maria crater.

The southeast region of the rim shows evidence for hydrated sulfate minerals. Opportunity is positioned near a bright surface target called "Luis de Torres," and has begun the planned in-situ (contact) surface since campaign that will continue through solar conjunction.

On Sol 2485 (Jan. 20, 2011), a microscopic imager (MI) mosaic of Luis de Torres was collected. The target was brushed by the rock abrasion tool (RAT) on a previous sol.

On Sol 2486 (Jan. 21, 2011), the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) was placed on the same target for a post-brushed integration.

On the next sol, the Moessbauer (MB) spectrometer was then positioned on the target for a multi-week integration that will last through the solar conjunction period.

As of Sol 2489 (Jan. 24, 2011), solar array energy production was 554 watt-hours with an elevated atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.854 and a solar array dust factor of 0.616.

Total odometry is 26,658.64 meters (26.66 kilometers, or 16.56 miles).



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MARSDAILY
Rover Is Spending Several Weeks At Crater Rim
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 21, 2011
Opportunity is in position for solar conjunction at the southeast rim of the 80-meter (262-foot) diameter Santa Maria crater. Solar conjunction is the period when communications between Earth and Mars are disrupted because the Sun is directly in between the two planets. The southeast region of the rim shows evidence for hydrated sulfate minerals. Opportunity is positioned near a bright sur ... read more







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