Mars Exploration News  
MARSDAILY
Spirit Prepares for Winter

File image.
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (SPX) Feb 04, 2010
Sol 2151-2158 : Spirit is still embedded in the area called "Troy" on the west side of Home Plate. Energy levels for Spirit have been decreasing rapidly as winter approaches. To prepare for winter, the project is taking actions to improve northerly tilt of the rover to maximize solar illumination.

The best approach has been to drive Spirit backwards. The drives employ a wheel steering action "frog kick" with each drive step. To mitigate against wheel stalls associated with driving in this embedded terrain, an autonomous wheel diagnostics has been added.

If a wheel stall occurs, the diagnostic test is run on the stalled wheel. If the wheel passes the diagnostic, then driving resumes. This has been effective in permitting the driving to continue much further than otherwise.

Spirit continues to make several centimeters of backward progress with each drive without further sinkage. In some cases, the rover has gained in elevation.

However, northerly tilt has not improved due mainly to the counterclockwise yaw of the rover. Backward driving will continue with the aim to position the rover for the winter with the most favorable orientation achievable.

As of Sol 2158 (Jan. 28, 2010), the rover solar array energy production was down to 182 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.379 and a dust factor of 0.522. Total odometry is 7,730.46 meters (4.80 miles).



Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Mars Rovers
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


MARSDAILY
A Stationary Spirit
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Jan 28, 2010
Spirit is staying put. NASA has designated the once-roving scientific explorer a "stationary science platform" after months of unsuccessful attempts to free it from a sand trap. The rover's task in the next few weeks will be to shift itself into a more favorable position. The solar panels are now tilted 9 degrees to the south. An even tilt or a tilt to the north is needed to power the sola ... read more









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement