[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - June 9, 2004

[Ron Baalke]

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Surpasses 3 Kilometer Mark! - 
sol 148-151, June 09, 2004

During sols 148 through 151, Spirit advanced significantly 
closer to the "Columbia Hills" and now sits only 220 meters 
(722 feet) from its first target at the base, a location 
informally named "Spur B."

Sol 148 was a driving sol, with Spirit completing a 64.7-meter 
(212.3 feet) engineer-directed drive. This put the rover in 
position for some sol 149 work with the robotic arm, and 
provided a great view of the Columbia
Hills.

On Sol 149, Spirit took a break from driving and surveyed the 
Columbia Hills with the panoramic camera and mini thermal 
emissions spectrometer. After that, the rover attained an 
alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observation of the filter 
magnet and capture magnet. Spirit takes a look at its magnets 
every now and then to assess what magnetically susceptible 
materials have accumulated. The last magnet check was on sol 92.

Spirit used its alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and 
Mössbauer spectrometer to observe a rock called "Joshua" on 
sol 150. Unfortunately, the rest of the sol's planned work 
with the instrument deployment device did not take place 
because of a command anomaly, which made Spirit think that a 
collision between the rock abrasion tool and the forearm might 
occur. Therefore, the tool change and all subsequent arm 
motions were prevented for the rest of the sol.

Spirit was back to business on sol 151, and finished observing 
Joshua and the science magnets with the tools on the instrument 
deployment device. After that, the rover was off, and 
successfully completed a 73-meter (240 feet) drive toward the 
Columbia Hills.