[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update - August 15-22, 2012

[Ron Baalke]

Opportunity Drives And Images Rock Outcrop - 
sols 3043-3050, August 15-22, 2012:

Opportunity is moving south along the inboard edge 
of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater.

On Sol 3044 (Aug. 16, 2012), the rover drove just 
over 131 feet (40 meters) staying close to the outcrop 
terrain along Cape York. As Opportunity drives she has 
been heavily documenting the exposed outcrop with both 
Navigation Camera and Panoramic Camera color imagery.

On Sol 3046 (Aug. 18, 2012), the rover completed a drive 
of over 328 feet (100 meters), again collecting outcrop 
imagery along the way. Sol 3049 (Aug. 21, 2012), saw 
another 131 feet (40 meter) drive, assembling an 
extensive image set of the outcrop.

It is in this region of Cape York where orbital data 
indicate the presence of phyllosilicate clay minerals. 
Opportunity is documenting this area in order to allow 
the science team to select the best region for an 
extensive in-situ (contact) investigation for these 
clay minerals.

As of Sol 3050 (Aug. 22, 2012), the solar array 
energy production was 530 watt-hours with an 
atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.696 and a solar array 
dust factor of 0.683.

Total odometry is 21.65 miles (34,846.61 meters).