Still listening for Spirit; Opportunity keeps on driving to Endeavour crater

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).

Opportunity continues to make good progress toward Endeavour crater as solar energy levels improve.

As stated previously, 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. When the batteries recover to a sufficient state of charge, Spirit will wake up and begin to communicate.

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 southern winter solstice back on May 13, 2010, solar energy levels and temperatures are expected to be improving.

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

Opportunity keeps on driving to Endeavour Crater

Opportunity continues to make good progress toward Endeavour crater as solar energy levels improve.

On Sol 2281 (June 24, 2010), the rover completed over 70 meters (230 feet), driving east/southeast. On Sol 2283 (June 26, 2010), the rover headed 57 meters (187 feet) to the northeast to avoid some large ripples. The rover drove again on Sol 2286 (June 29, 2010), covering over 70 meters (230 feet) to the east.

As of Sol 2286 (June 29, 2010), solar array energy production has improved to 354 watt-hours, atmospheric opacity (Tau) was 0.295 and the solar array dust factor is 0.577.

Total odometry is 21,408.21 meters (21.41 kilometers, or 13.30 miles).

 

Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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