Mars Exploration News  
MARSDAILY
Opportunity microscopic imaging camera back to normal operations
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 16, 2016


File image.

Opportunity is exploring 'Marathon Valley' on the rim of Endeavour crater, searching specific outcrops for evidence of clay minerals.

The rover is currently conducting an in-situ (contact) science investigation on an outcrop target dubbed 'Pierre Pinaut.'

The imaging problems we were experiencing previously were traced to a sequencing error, and Opportunity has returned to normal operations as of the Sol 4367 (May 6, 2016), plan.

In that plan we recaptured the Microscopic Image (MI) mosaic of the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) grind from Sol 4363 (May 2, 2016), and discovered that the grind had not gone deep enough.

Therefore, a further grind (to a desired depth of 2-3 millimeters) was performed in the Sol 4370 (May 9, 2016), plan. This appears to have been successful and an MI mosaic of the new RAT hole is planned for Sol 4372 (May 11, 2016).

In addition, multiple APXS integrations have been performed on both the previous and current RAT holes during this period.

As of Sol 4371 (May 10, 2016), the solar array energy production is 653 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.458 and a solar array dust factor of 0.752.

Total odometry is 26.58 miles (42.78 kilometers), more than a marathon.


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Previous Report
MARSDAILY
Opportunity robotic arm camera passes diagnostic test
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 02, 2016
Opportunity is exploring 'marathon valley' on the rim of endeavour crater, trying to identify specific outcrops for evidence of clay minerals. The rover has been investigating the surface target, called 'pierre pinaut.' The rover experienced an anomalous camera fault on sol 4350 (april 19, 2016), during a microscopic image (mi) mosaic, so the activities in that plan did not complete. ... read more


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