[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rover Update - June 23, 2004

[Ron Baalke]

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

SPIRIT UPDATE: 'Pot-of-Gold' Revealed - sol 161-163, 
June 23, 2004

Spirit currently sits at the base of the "Columbia Hills" 
in an area called the "Hank Moore Hollow." This area has 
a collection of intriguing rocks on its rim, one of 
which, "Pot-of-Gold," will be the first target for 
scientists' observations.

Spirit used the microscopic imager to get an up close 
view of Pot-of-Gold on sol 161, but unfortunately, the 
images were out of focus. Rover planners attribute the 
blurry shots to a lower than expected rock contact 
prior to the imaging sequence. Spirit did successfully 
acquire Mossbauer observations of Pot-of-Gold on this sol.

On sol 162, Spirit was commanded to retake the 
microscopic images of Pot-of-Gold and do extensive 
observations with the Mossbauer and alpha particle 
X-ray spectrometer instruments. The microscopic images 
were successfully obtained, but a positioning fault of 
the instrument deployment device prevented the Mossbauer 
and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observations from 
executing.

Spirit successfully completed the work with its 
instrument deployment device on sol 163, and took some 
additional microscopic images of Pot-of-Gold.