Spirit Makes Slight Progress on New Route

MARSDAILY

Spirit Makes Slight Progress on New Route - sol 1831-1837

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by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (SPX) Mar 14, 2009
After initially making good progress on a new route around "Home Plate" to the east, Spirit has been struggling in local terrain on the northeast corner of Home Plate.

The route is difficult because the direction is up-slope with a lot of loose, fine material denying the five-driving-wheel rover good traction.

After getting about 15 meters (49 feet) away from Home Plate last week in just two drives, Spirit made only 1.4 meters of progress on Sol 1831 (Feb. 26, 2009).

The next two drive sols accomplished only about 2 meters each. On Sol 1837 (March 4, 2009), Spirit had difficulty turning to face a new direction, again because of the soft terrain.

The plan is to back downslope a little, turn and attack the uphill grade a little more cross-slope.

As of Sol 1837 (March 4, 2009), Spirit's solar array energy production is 282 watt-hours, atmospheric opacity (tau) is 0.742, and the dust factor on the solar array is 0.320. The rover is in good health as it attempts to make its way around the northeast corner of Home Plate. Spirit's total odometry is 7,602.42 meters (4.72 miles).

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MARSDAILY

Mars Rover Spirit Faces Circuitous Route

Pasadena CA (SPX) Mar 06, 2009
Loose soil piled against the northern edge of a low plateau called "Home Plate" has blocked NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit from taking the shortest route toward its southward destinations for the upcoming Martian summer and following winter.

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