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Opportunity seeking clay minerals on steeper slopes
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Mar 15, 2016


File image.

Opportunity is exploring steep outcrops within Marathon Valley on the rim of Endeavour crater.

The rover is up on the very steep slopes of 'Knudsen Ridge'. The objective is to examine specific outcrop types for evidence of clay minerals.

On Sol 4297 (Feb. 24, 2016), the rover performed its first contact measurements of an exposed rock named 'Charles Caugee' (named for a member of the Corps of Discovery).

At this site, Opportunity used her robotic arm to collect a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic and then place the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the same for a multi-hour integration.

Opportunity collected Pancam and Navcam images on the following sol of the area around the rover. On Sol 4299 (Feb. 26, 2016) Opportunity bumped about 1 meter (3 feet) towards a target up a steep slope and took more images.

Another bump up the slope by the rover on Sol 4302 (Feb. 29, 2016) brought the rover 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) closer towards the intended target, named 'Pvt. Joseph Whitehouse' (another member of the Corps of Discovery).

As of Sol 4303 (March 1, 2016) the solar array energy production was 585 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.429 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.736.

Total odometry is 26.51 miles (42.66 kilometers) more than a marathon.


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Previous Report
MARSDAILY
Rover begins contact science of rock target on Knudsen Ridge
Pasadena CA (JPL) Mar 01, 2016
Opportunity is exploring 'Marathon Valley' on the rim of Endeavour crater. The rover is up on the very steep slopes of 'Knudsen Ridge.' Opportunity has begun the in-situ (contact) investigation of the current site. On Sol 4291 (Feb. 18, 2016), the rover bumped about 27 inches (68 centimeters) towards the first surface target, called 'Charles Caugee' (named for a member of the Corps o ... read more


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