Opportunity performs science, rolls towards Endeavour crater

Opportunity took advantage of some exposed rock outcrop to perform an in-situ (contact) science campaign to sample the surface at roughly one-kilometer (0.62-mile) intervals.

On Sol 2315 (July 29, 2010), the rover performed a short 16-meter (52-foot) drive to position herself on exposed outcrop for a weekend science campaign.

On Sol 2317 (July 31, 2010), the robotic arm (instrument deployment device, or IDD) was moved first, so the panoramic camera (Pancam) could image the work volume. Then the IDD collected a microscopic imager (MI) mosaic of a surface target, called Valparaiso, followed by the placement of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) on the same target for integration. More remote sensing science was collected on the following sols. On Sol 2320, Opportunity resumed the drive toward Endeavour crater with a 71-meter (233-foot) drive to the southeast.

As of Sol 2320 (Aug. 3, 2010), solar array energy production was 529 watt-hours with atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.415 and the solar array dust factor of 0.744.

Total odometry is 21,948.13 meters (21.95 kilometers, or 13.64 miles).

Spirit in 'Sweep & Beep' mode

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, trying to recharge her batteries. There is the additional risk that the rover may trip a mission clock fault. If that happens, the rover would lose track of time and remain asleep until there is enough sunlight on the solar arrays to wake the rover, a state called "Solar Groovy." When the rover wakes from a mission clock fault, she would only listen. So starting on Sol 2333 (July 26, 2010), the project implemented a new procedure to address the possible mission clock fault.

Each sol, the Deep Space Network mission controllers send a set of X-band beep commands, called "Sweep & Beep." If the rover has experienced a mission clock fault and is awake during the day, the rover will be listening during brief, 20-minute intervals each awake hour. Because of the possible clock fault, the timing of these 20-minute listening intervals can't be known. So the project will fill the likely awake period with multiple "Sweep & Beep" commands. If the rover hears one of these commands, it will respond back with an X-band beep signal, telling them she is there and allowing them to investigate the state of the rover further. Although the project is using this new strategy now, a response from Spirit is not expected for some time, as the season is still very early spring on Mars.

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

 

Source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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