[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: Nov 29 - Dec 4, 2012

[Ron Baalke]

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Opportunity Collects A Color Panorama And
Continues Rock Studies  - sols 3146-3151, Nov. 29, 2012-Dec. 4, 2012:

Opportunity is located at a place named "Matijevic Hill" (named in honor
of Jake Matijevic) at the inboard edge of Cape York on the rim of
Endeavour Crater.

The rover just finished collecting an extensive color Pancam panorama,
called the "Matijevic pan" and is now conducting extensive in-situ
(contact) investigations. On Sol 3146 (Nov. 29, 2012), Opportunity using
the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) performed a grind of the surface target
"Sandcherry." This was followed with an image mosaic collected by the
Microscopic Imager (MI) and then a placement of the Alpha Particle X-ray
Spectrometer (APXS) for an overnight integration. On Sol 3151 (Dec. 4,
2012), the rover moved just 9 inches (23 centimeters) to reach some new
surface targets.

As of Sol 3151 (Dec. 4, 2012), the solar array energy production was 536
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.866 and a solar array
dust factor of 0.599.

Total odometry is 22.02 miles (35,429.86 meters).