Return to driving anticipated for Opportunity; Spirit remains silent at Troy

The pancam mast assembly (PMA) azimuth error from Sol 2257 (May 30, 2010), is still being resolved on Opportunity, although with a likely explanation in hand.

Diagnostics were run on Sols 2259, 2261, 2262 and 2265 (June 1, 3, 4 and 8). In every case, the diagnostics indicated a healthy PMA azimuth actuator. Further investigation now suggests that the miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) is the origin of the PMA symptom and that the PMA was just waiting on a signal from the Mini-TES that never arrived. Anomalous symptoms were observed from the Mini-TES earlier on Sol 2250 (May 23, 2010). Investigations are underway on the instrument. Meanwhile, final checkouts are being performed to return the PMA to normal use and to resume driving.

As of Sol 2266 (June 9, 2010), solar array energy production was 287 watt-hours, atmospheric opacity (Tau) was 0.465 (Sol 2256) and the solar array dust factor improved to 0.589.

Total odometry is 20,862.01 meters (20.86 kilometers, or 12.96 miles).

 

Spirit remains silent at Troy

Spirit remains silent at her location called "Troy" on the west side of Home Plate. No communication has been received from the rover since Sol 2210 (March 22, 2010).

It is likely that Spirit has experienced a low-power fault and has turned off all sub-systems, including communication and gone into a deep sleep. While sleeping, the rover will use the available solar array energy to recharge her batteries. The rover electronics module (REM) is expected to get colder than ever before. When the batteries recover to a sufficient state of charge, Spirit will wake up and begin to communicate over X-band and Ultra-High Frequency (UHF).

There is the additional risk that the rover may trip a mission clock fault. If that happens, the rover would remain asleep until the batteries have recharged sufficiently and there is enough sunlight on the solar arrays to wake the rover. With the passing of the southern winter solstice (on May 13, 2010), solar energy levels and temperatures should be improving.

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

 

Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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