Mars rover update - Opportunity Status for sol 43 - More Mojo

NASA - JPL ^ | 03-08-2004 | NASA

[Phil V.]

Daily Updates - March 8, 2004

Opportunity Status for sol 43 More Mojo posted Mar. 8, 5:15 pm PST

On sol 43, which ended at 11:31 a.m. PST on Monday, March 8, Opportunity awoke to ''You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)" by Bruce Springsteen in recognition of the fact that the rock abrasion tool grind did not touch the surface of its rock target on sol 42.

Using a combination of microscopic images, hazard avoidance camera images, and rock abrasion tool tests on sol 43, Opportunity’s engineering team discovered that the grind motor of the rock abrasion tool on Mars stalled prematurely during what’s called the "seek/scan" phase when the rock abrasion tool instrument searches for the rock face. This resulted in no contact during the actual grind activity on sol 42. The most likely causes of the stall are dust and dirt accumulations and temperature variations on the instrument. The tests also confirmed that engineers can safely increase the motor voltage on the instrument to prevent a future stall.

In the process of conducting the rock abrasion tool activities, Opportunity placed the Moessbauer spectrometer on "Mojo 2," a target on "Flat Rock."

The remainder of the sol included preparations for the future target in this area, dubbed "Berry Bowl," taking pictures with the panoramic and navigation cameras. Opportunity also took ground and atmospheric measurements with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

The plan for sol 44, which ends at 12:10 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 9 is to grind into "Mojo 2" using the rock abrasion tool and then to research the rock’s chemical composition using the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and the Moessbauer spectrometer.

[Phil V.]

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

[NormsRevenge]

Crank up the juice to the motor!!!

Let's go grinding!!!

[Cold Heat]

Well that explains the viagra rock!

[Phil V.]

Crank it up? Look at this microscopic image of the "failed grind". I do believe that I'm going to need to be darted again. I see fossils all over the face of this failed grind. The "men" are coming . . . they're coming again . . .

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[Phil V.]

BTW . . . did you guys & gals see this "stem cell research"?

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[Cold Heat]

I need to get a microscope and look in my navel! LOL!

[Frank_Discussion]

Okay, it's official: That's FRIKKEN WEIRD! Those little balls o' something are suspended by some thin aspect structuring. What IS that?!

[JRandomFreeper]

I see the miniature bubble structure that forms on the bottom of a pot of queso when not using a double boiler. Seriously. It looks like something got hot and burned, forming little bubbles.

Of course, the only thing I can think of that would do that is an organic compound.... So, I probably need to be darted, as well.

/john

[Cold Heat]

Of course, the only thing I can think of that would do that is an organic compound

If we knew how this photo fits into a macro view of the rocks structure, we might be able to discern more.

Perhaps it could be mineral balls that solidified from a constant drip effect.

All appear directional.(without 3-d glasses)

[Lokibob]

Amazing in 3-D.

[JRandomFreeper]

Microscope... 3D glasses.... Learn to wildly speculate without complete information, man! ;>)

You do have a point. The point I was making is that geologists see fossils, I see unwashed dishes. Context and full information would be a great help.

/john

[Phil V.]

Here's a link to one of the originals that I used to generate the 3-d analglyph . . .

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/037/1P131476255EFF0518P2392R1M1.JPG

[djf]

Is there a B&W of that pic? I checked the website, it looks like they decided to rearrange it, so now I can't find nuthing. Jerks!

[Fitzcarraldo]

Excellent find! Maybe this explains why many of the spheres have a small hole - that would be the spherules' 'belly button'.

Of course, bizarre morphologies will be attributed to tricks of lighting and perspective. /sarcasm

[FreedomCalls]

Another 3-D image:

[FreedomCalls]

And another! What's that thing hidden behind and under the ball with the flat top?

[JRandomFreeper]

Wow! Tiny little mushrooms. Or something.

Is there any consensus on what the outcropping of rock is? Sedimentary? What?

If sedimentary... as in a sea bed or stream bed... what makes little round features with stems in mud? Besides frogs and some fish?

/john

[djf]

I found it. They didn't rearrange it, but there are multiple sites. Some of the micrographs make the spheres look kind of "fuzzy". Maybe some kinda fungus.

[Cold Heat]

They are looking for fossils in the grinds.

These appear to be what they are. Microscopic images of rocks and mineral structure on a world that once was covered in liquid.