Mars Rover - Spirit Digs In

JPL NASA ^ | 3/17/04

[NormsRevenge]

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit acquired this navigation camera image on the 72nd martian day, or sol, of its mission (March 15, 2004), after digging its wheel into the drift dubbed "Serpent." Creating the commands that would generate this "scar" was not an easy task for rover controllers. Essentially, they had to choreograph an intricate dance for Spirit, maneuvering it up the side of the dune, shimmying its left front wheel a number of times to create the scuff, and then reversing to attain proper positioning for miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations. Before the task was finished, Spirit moved forward to put the scuff within proper reach of the rover's arm.

This scar allows the rover's instruments to see below the drift surface, to determine the composition of the materials. Initial results indicate that the drift material is similar to the basaltic sands that have been seen throughout Spirit's journey to the large crater dubbed "Bonneville." The material does not seem to be the same as that inside the crater.

Scientists are now looking to answer two questions: Why is the dark sand in the crater not the same as the dark sand in the drift? And why are there two different dark soil-type deposits in such a small place?

[NormsRevenge]

[NormsRevenge]

sol 72, Mar 17, 2004:
Spirit Digs with a Jig

Sol 72, which ended at 5:06 a.m. PST on March 17, was a day full of digging for NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. Spirit began the day taking panoramic camera and miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations of the drift dubbed "Serpent" before creating the "scuff" that would reveal the inside material at this location.

Then it was time to get into position. The rover drove about two-and-a-half meters (8.2 feet) to put the left front wheel up onto the drift. It then turned right and left five degrees to dig the left front wheel into the drift. When the "shimmy" was complete, Spirit backed 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) out of the hole. The digging and backing process was repeated four times to thoroughly scuff Serpent's side. Then Spirit backed up another meter (3.28 feet) to attain miniature thermal emission spectrometer, panoramic camera and navigation camera observations of the scuffed area. These observations will aid in in-situ target selection. To prepare for the upcoming in-situ work, Spirit drove forward 0.4 meters (1.3 feet) for additional imaging, and then drove forward a final 0.45 meters (1.5 feet) to put the scuff in the arm work volume.

Spirit spent the rest of the day obtaining navigation camera and panoramic camera observations of the intended drive direction around part of the crater rim. Spirit will do some work overnight, taking miniature thermal emission spectrometer thermal inertia and atmosphere measurements.

On sol 73, which will end at 5:46 a.m. PST on March 18, Spirit will conduct extensive microscopic imaging of sections of the drift, and run an overnight Moessbauer and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer integration.

[NormsRevenge]

[NormsRevenge]

Ping

[NormsRevenge]

Looks like OJ's footprints to me. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

HaPPy St. Pattie's Day To All :-)

[ErnBatavia]

Looks like Teddy's Oldsmobile tire tracks as he left the bridge...

[Phil V.]

Be patient. When I get home I'll ping the list. Right now I'm at my Mom's spelling my sister's care-giving. . . . MY SISTR IS A HERO . . .

[blackdog]

The Mars Rover sounds like it maneuvers like a cat in the litter box.

Mars looks like cat heaven. A palnet so big and sandy........

[DannyTN]

Is that a martian praying in the bottom right hand corner?

[blackdog]

If he's facing Mecca, we might consider another planet.

[DannyTN]

LOL, If he's facing Mecca let's do him a favor and martyr him now. Of course how can you tell whether he's facing Mecca or Jerusalem? From Mars they will both look the same.

[tet68]

You'd think with some of the most expensive cameras in the solar system, THEY'ED get some photos that weren't out of focus!

At least there isn't a big green thumb over the lens.

[DannyTN]

look the same = are in the same direction.

[blackdog]

Not to Shiela Jackson Lee and Al Gore.

[Ole Okie]

You'd think with some of the most expensive cameras in the solar system, THEY'ED get some photos that weren't out of focus!

You need to clean the coffee off your monitor. The pics look mighty sharp to me.

:)

[Yo-Yo]

Essentially, they had to choreograph an intricate dance for Spirit, maneuvering it up the side of the dune, shimmying its left front wheel a number of times to create the scuff, and then reversing to attain proper positioning for miniature thermal emission spectrometer observations.

Also a handy maneuver for putting out Martian cigarette butts.

[Phil V.]

If you'd like to be on or off this MARS ping list please FRail me.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LOL! Strange looking stuff!