- sol 1322-1328, Nov 05, 2007:
After successfully maneuvering into position and collecting additional scientific data from the top layer of the ring of light-colored rocks inside "Victoria Crater," Opportunity drove even farther into the crater's interior. Both "Steno," which the rover has been studying, and the next-lowest layer of light-colored rock, nicknamed "Smith," are part of a light-colored band of material that circumvents the interior of Victoria Crater partway below the surface.
Opportunity is in excellent health and has been receiving an average of
655 watt-hours per Martian day from the rover's solar arrays (100 watt-hours is the amount of energy needed to light a 100-watt bulb for 1 hour).On sol 1321 (Oct. 12, 2007), Opportunity successfully stowed the robotic arm and "bumped" a short distance to a second target on Steno. At the new target, nicknamed "Hall," Opportunity acquired an extra-large mosaic of stereo (3D) microscopic images. A typical microscopic image mosaic consists of 5 to 7 frames. In this case, Opportunity acquired 18 frames at multiple focal distances to help eliminate dust in the images. Opportunity also spent 17 hours and 45 minutes collecting compositional data about Hall with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer.
On Monday and Tuesday, Opportunity did not have coverage from NASA's Deep Space Network of antennas and spent the time collecting remote sensing data from science targets. The rover executed two sols of "run-out," when the rover follows the same control sequence but does not conduct any new science investigations. On such occasions, the rover transmits data as usual and attempts to activate a new master sequence of instructions the following sol.
Sol-by-sol summary:
In addition to standard observations that included measurements of atmospheric dust with the panoramic and navigation cameras, surveys of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and transfers of data to Earth via the Odyssey orbiter, Opportunity completed the following activities:
Sol 1322 (Oct. 13, 2007): Opportunity surveyed the grinding bit on the rock abrasion tool and acquired a 1-by-1-by-18 stereo, microscopic image mosaic of the rock target known as Hall. Opportunity collected 17 hours and 45 minutes worth of compositional data from Hall using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. The next morning, the rover surveyed the sky with the panoramic camera.
Sol 1323: Opportunity completed another survey of the sky at high sun using the panoramic camera, then scanned the sky for clouds using the navigation camera. After taking thorough measurements of atmospheric dust, the rover went into a deep sleep. The next morning, Opportunity took spot images of the sky with the panoramic camera and scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.
Sol 1324: Opportunity did not conduct new science activities because the rover did not have coverage from the Deep Space Network.
Sol 1325: Opportunity did not conduct new science activities because the rover did not have coverage from the Deep Space Network.
Sol 1326: Opportunity did not conduct new science activities because the rover did not have coverage from the Deep Space Network.
Sol 1327: Opportunity acquired a mosaic of images looking up toward "Cape Verde," a promontory on the rim of Victoria Crater, using the panoramic camera. The rover acquired full-color images of Smith using all 13 filters of the camera. Opportunity stowed the robotic arm and acquired full-color images of Hall, then drove toward the layer known as Smith. Following the drive, Opportunity took images of the surrounding terrain with the hazard avoidance and navigation cameras and unstowed the robotic arm. After communicating with the Odyssey orbiter, the rover went into a deep sleep. The next morning, the rover took spot images of the sky with the panoramic camera and searched for clouds with the navigation camera.
Sol 1328 (Oct. 19, 2007): Plans called for Opportunity to acquire thumbnail images of the sky with the panoramic camera, scan the sky for clouds with the navigation camera, and acquire data from the external calibration target with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover was scheduled to take a nap until 2 p.m. local Mars time and acquire a mosaic of atmospheric dust with the panoramic camera. The following morning, Opportunity was to survey the sky with the panoramic camera.
Odometry:
As of sol 1327 (Oct. 18, 2007), Opportunity's total odometry was
11,577.99 meters (7.19 miles).------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Opportunity Prepares for Arrival of Phoenix While Exploring "Victoria Crater" - sol 1329-1335, Nov 06, 2007:
Opportunity is healthy and receiving an average of 685 watt-hours of energy from the solar arrays (that's enough energy to run a 100-watt lightbulb for almost 7 hours). On sol (Martian day) 1327 (Oct. 18,
2007), the rover backed away from the "Steno" rock layer inside "Victoria Crater" to move within reach of the "Smith" rock layer a few meters deeper into the crater. However, the rover terminated the drive earlier than planned when stereo images in the visual odometry system, which enables the rover to use computer smarts to compare stereo images and accurately determine the rover's location, failed to line up properly. Opportunity re-pointed the cameras, acquired new stereo images for visual odometry, and completed the drive to Smith on sol 1329 (Oct. 20, 2007).On Sol 1330 (Oct. 21, 2007), Opportunity supported a communications test on behalf of the Phoenix mission that demonstrated that large data sequences could be sent from Earth via the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter. The test involved multiple transmissions that were reassembled successfully on board by Opportunity. The rover recognized and received all four data sequences.
On sol 1332 (Oct. 23, 2007), Opportunity began a campaign that included acquiring a stereo (3D) microscopic image mosaic of Smith as well as compositional data about the rock outcrop. The following day, Sol 1333 (Oct. 24, 2007), Opportunity took panoramic camera images of a target known as "Sharp" -- a sequence of fine rock layers -- at different times of day to determine how the images were affected by changes in illumination. The day after that, sol 1334 (Oct. 25, 2007), Opportunity completed the first of a two-step process for brushing the surface of Smith. Plans called for Opportunity to finish the brushing sequence over the weekend, on sol 1336 (Oct. 27, 2007).
Sol-by-sol summary:
In addition to standard observations that included measurements of atmospheric dust with the panoramic and navigation cameras, surveys of the sky and ground with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and transfers of data to Earth via the Odyssey orbiter, Opportunity completed the following activities:
Sol 1329 (Oct. 20, 2007): Opportunity took pre-drive, full-color, panoramic camera images of a two-toned rock target known as "Sedgwick" as well as images of "Cape Verde," a rock promontory. The rover stowed the robotic arm and drove to Smith. Opportunity then acquired post- drive images with the hazard avoidance cameras, rearward - and forward- looking images with the navigation camera, and unstowed the robotic arm. The next morning, Opportunity took thumbnail images of the sky with the panoramic camera.
Sol 1330: Opportunity used the navigation camera to survey surfaces in the rover's shadow to characterize the brightness of the sky as well as dust on the camera itself. After the overhead pass of the Odyssey spacecraft, the rover spent 7 hours measuring atmospheric argon using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. In the evening, Opportunity communicated with Mars Express at UHF frequencies. The next morning, the rover surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera.
Sol 1331: After measuring atmospheric dust, Opportunity took a nap until
2:30 p.m. local Mars time. The rover surveyed the sky with the panoramic camera while continuing to monitor atmospheric dust. In the morning, Opportunity acquired full-color images, using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera, of iron-bearing particles accumulated on the rover's external magnets. The rover also monitored dust accumulation on the mast.Sol 1332: Opportunity acquired a panel of stereo microscopic images of Smith, including extra images to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (eliminate random interference) resulting from dust accumulation on the microscopic imager. The rover placed the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer on Smith, acquired panoramic camera images of a rock layer called "Lyell," and, after communicating with Odyssey, acquired data from Smith with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. The next morning, the rover surveyed the sky, took spot images of the sky, and surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera.
Sol 1333: Opportunity took panoramic camera images of both Sharp and Lyell. After transmitting data to Odyssey, the rover resumed collecting data from Smith with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. The next morning, the rover took thumbnail images of the sky, spot images of the sky, and surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera.
Sol 1334: Opportunity positioned the rock abrasion tool on Smith (the first step of the process for brushing the surface) and acquired panoramic camera images of rock targets known as "Kuenen" and "Lapworth." The next morning, the rover surveyed the sky with the panoramic camera, monitored dust accumulation on the rover mast assembly, and took spot images of the sky with the panoramic camera.
Sol 1335 (Oct. 26, 2007): Plans called for Opportunity to acquire panoramic camera image mosaics of Lyell, including specific targets known as "Lyell South" and a custom mosaic of a target called "Lyell Top." The rover was also to acquire panoramic camera images of a rock target known as "Conybeare." The following morning, the rover was to take thumbnail images of the sky and survey the horizon with the panoramic camera.
Odometry:
As of sol 1332 (Oct. 23, 2007), Opportunity's total odometry was
11,584 meters (7.2 miles).