[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: November 30 - December 6, 2011

[Ron Baalke]

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Opportunity to Stop and Study Rocks - 
sols 2791-2797, November 30 - December 6, 2011:

Opportunity is currently exploring one of the candidate sites for
winter, on the north end of "Cape York" on the rim of Endeavour Crater.

On Sol 2792 (Dec. 1, 2011), the rover bumped backwards about 9 feet (2.7
meters) to better view a rock outcrop and to increase the rover tilt
toward the Sun. The northerly tilt, favorable for energy production,
increased from 6 degrees to 9 degrees.

On Sol 2795 (Dec. 4, 2011), Opportunity bumped further to approach some
in-situ (contact) science targets on the rock outcrop, called
"Saddleback." The plan ahead is to perform some in-situ science on the
rock outcrop with the instruments on the end of the robotic arm.

As of Sol 2797 (Dec. 6, 2011), solar array energy production was 305
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.755 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.487.

Total odometry is 21.35 miles (34,360.76 meters, or 34.36 kilometers).