Mars Exploration Rovers

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Opportunity Updates

sols 2573-2580, April 20-27, 2011: Opportunity Makes Three Drives This Week

Opportunity continues the trek towards Endeavour crater.

The rover drove on Sols 2574, 2576 and 2579 (April 21, 23 and 26, 2011), covering over 340 meters (1,115 feet) to the southeast. The rover's right front wheel motor currents have settled down some, but the project continues to monitor this. The plan ahead is more driving.

As of Sol 2580 (April 27, 2011), solar array energy production was 381 watt-hours with an elevated atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.870 and a solar array dust factor of 0.507.

Total odometry is 28,384.22 meters (28.38 kilometers, or 17.64 miles).

Source: NASA/JPL - Opportunity Updates

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Spirit Updates

sols 2602-2607, April 29 - May 4, 2011: Spirit Remains Silent at Troy

No communication has been received from Spirit since Sol 2210 (March 22, 2010).

The project is continuing the recovery effort of both Deep Space Network X-band and ultra-high frequency (UHF) relay communication attempts.

Total odometry is unchanged at 7,730.50 meters (4.80 miles).

Source: NASA/JPL - Spirit Updates

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Opportunity Updates

sols 2581-2587, April 28 - May 4, 2011: Opportunity Images Small Craters

Opportunity continues the trek towards Endeavour crater with a brief sojourn through a small field of young impact craters.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the first American into space, Alan Shepard, the Mars Exploration Rover project informally named the craters in this impact field after the spacecraft of the NASA Mercury Program.

On Sol 2581 (April 28, 2011), Opportunity began the approach to the crater field with a 110-meter (360-foot) drive to the southeast. On Sol 2583 (April 31, 2011), the rover cautiously navigated near the craters with a drive of just over 120 meters (394 feet). On Sol 2585 (May 2, 2011), Opportunity drove 28 meters (92 feet) due south heading between the two largest craters, named "Friendship 7" and "Freedom 7." On the next sol, the rover made a 7-meter (23-foot) approach toward the crater Freedom 7 to carefully image the interior. On the next sol, Opportunity performed a cleaver "dog leg" maneuver first due south, then due east to safely navigate around and out of the crater field, while catching opportunities for some close-up imaging of the craters.

The rover's right front wheel continues to show only modestly elevated motor currents. However, the project continues to track this. The plan ahead is more driving as Opportunity leaves these carters behind and heads towards Endeavour, some 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) away.

As of Sol 2587 (May 4, 2011), solar array energy production was 367 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.819 and a solar array dust factor of 0.510.

Total odometry is 28,708.06 meters (28.71 kilometers, or 17.84 miles).

Source: NASA/JPL - Opportunity Updates