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Spirit Continues Drive As Power Levels Decline
Pasadena CA (SPX) Nov 14, 2007 Spirit has been gradually losing power, with energy levels dropping to 320 watt-hours per Martian day (100 watt-hours is the amount of energy needed to light a 100-watt bulb for one hour). Measurements of atmospheric dust, known as Tau, have been averaging 0.65. That dust level is typical of levels measuring throughout most of the mission, but power levels are lower than in previous years because of higher dust accumulation on the solar panels. The rover estimates dust levels by measuring opacity -- the degree to which the atmosphere is impenetrable by light. During most of Spirit's mission on Mars, except during the recent dust storms, tau values have fallen between 0 and 1. During the trek to reach the north edge of "Home Plate" before the next Martian winter, Spirit had time to conduct only one scientific campaign. Scientists selected a rock target nicknamed "Pecan Pie" (investigators are nicknaming targets on top of Home Plate for things served in bowls) for closer investigation, at a location known as "Site 5." Spirit brushed Pecan Pie, took pictures of it with the microscopic imager, and analyzed its composition with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. Planned measurements over the weekend included an analysis of iron-bearing minerals with the Moessbauer spectrometer before resuming the drive. The successful brush of Pecan Pie marked the first time that Spirit had used the new, two-sol brushing procedure that enabled continued use of the rock abrasion tool following the failure of the grind encoder. Spirit continued to collect images of the west side of Home Plate (known as "West Valley" to science team members) while advancing northward. The images are important for understanding the geology as well as for planning the hoped-for, post-winter drive to a hill known as "von Braun" south of Home Plate. Spirit remains healthy. On Sol 1369 (Nov. 9, 2007), plans called for Spirit to run a diagnostic of the rock abrasion tool by pointing it at the hazard avoidance camera for photo documentation while running the motor at various voltages. The resulting measurements of the spinning of the tool will provide a baseline for eventual failure of the motor and for comparison with Spirit's twin, Opportunity, on the other side of Mars. Sol-by-sol summary In addition to receiving morning instructions directly from Earth via the high-gain antenna, sending evening data to Earth at UHF frequencies via the Odyssey orbiter, measuring atmospheric dust levels with the panoramic camera, and surveying the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, Spirit completed the following activities: Sol 1363 (Nov. 3, 2007): Spirit acquired pre-drive, panoramic camera images of targets known as "Posole," "Green Chile," and "Flan," then drove 24.83 meters (84.46 feet) to Site 5 on Home Plate. The rover acquired post-drive image mosaics with the navigation and panoramic cameras. The next morning, Spirit completed a survey of rock clasts with the panoramic camera and took a mosaic of images with the navigation camera. Sol 1364: Spirit acquired images of the distant dune field known as "El Dorado" with the panoramic camera, and after communicating with the Odyssey orbiter during its overhead pass, measured atmospheric argon with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. In the morning, Spirit completed a full-color, systematic ground survey using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera. Sol 1365: Spirit spent the day recharging the battery. The following morning, Spirit searched for dust devils using the navigation camera. Sol 1366: Spirit placed the rock abrasion tool on Pecan Pie and acquired a mosaic of images known as the "West Valley View" with the panoramic camera. The next morning, the rover took spot images of the sky with the panoramic camera and acquired movie frames in search of dust devils with the navigation camera. Sol 1367: Spirit acquired another mosaic of images of West Valley View with the panoramic camera. In the morning, Spirit acquired full-color images, using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera, of the rover's tracks. Sol 1368: Spirit conducted scientific studies of Pecan Pie, including brushing the surface of the rock target with the brush on the rock abrasion tool, acquiring stereo microscopic images of the brushed surface, and collecting 9 hours of compositional data with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. The rover also acquired a mosaic of images of West Valley View with the panoramic camera. The following morning, Spirit took thumbnail images of the sky with the panoramic camera. Sol 1369 (Nov. 9, 2007): Plans called for Spirit to run diagnostic tests of the rock abrasion tool and acquire a mosaic of images of West Valley View with the panoramic camera. The rover was to spend 22 _ hours acquiring data with the Moessbauer spectrometer, be on the lookout for morning dust devils, and acquire movie frames at 8-minute intervals to record the progress of dust devils if they occurred. Odometry: As of sol 1367 (Oct. 30, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7,383.75 meters (4.59 miles). Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Lunar Dreams and more
The Appeal Of Mars
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Nov 12, 2007Despite the numerous technical and medical-biological problems it would face, a manned mission to Mars is being spoken about with more and more certainty. Yet it is unclear why we should take such great risks to land astronauts on the Red Planet. Nor do we know whether the huge costs of such an expedition would ever be recouped. |
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