[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - June 16, 2004

[Ron Baalke]

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Reaches the 'Columbia Hills!' - sol 156-158, 
June 16, 2004

On sol 156, Spirit roved 42 meters (138 feet) closer to a vantage 
point where it could observe the hill outcrops. Some of the images 
that Spirit sent back revealed a small and unusual rock that 
piqued scientists' interest and was informally named 
"End-of-Rainbow."

Part of the sol 157 plan was to observe End-of-Rainbow and use 
the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, Mossbauer spectrometer 
and microscopic imager to study the "Shredded" soil target. 
However, the command load for sol 157 never made it to Spirit. 
Further analysis indicated that the problem had to do with the 
frequency drift associated with the colder temperatures on Mars 
as the planet moves into its southern winter season. This was 
an anticipated problem, and the rover team has already imposed 
some strategies that will help to prevent the problem in the 
future.

So, Spirit got a break on sol 157 and began sol 158 with nicely 
charged batteries. She executed the activities originally 
planned for sol 157, and then began to drive a bit closer to 
End-of-Rainbow. Although the direct path to End-of-Rainbow 
would be only a 4-meter (13 feet) drive, it was deemed too steep 
and hazardous by the rover team, so they planned a multi-stepped 
drive that could get the rover to the target safely. On sol 158, 
the first part of the drive was completed, putting Spirit a 
little farther away from the End-of-Rainbow target, but with a 
straight shot to the rock for sol 159.