[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: May 31 - June 05, 2012

[Ron Baalke]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-165

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Robotic Arm Gets to Work on Veins of Gypsum -
sols 2969-2974, May 31 - June 05, 2012:

Opportunity is investigating light-toned veins around the north end of
Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater.

On Sol 2969 (May 31, 2012), the rover drove 36 feet (11 meters) to the
northeast to approach one of these putative gypsum veins. On Sol 2971
(June 2, 2012), Opportunity bumped about 8 feet (2.3 meters) to place
the vein, now called "Monte Cristo," within the work volume of the
robotic arm. Taking advantage of the 3-sol weekend plan, the rover
included an atmospheric argon measurement by the Alpha Particle X-ray
Spectrometer (APXS) on Sol 2972 (June 3, 2012). On Sol 2974 (June 5,
2012), Opportunity began the in-situ (contact) investigation of the vein
Monte Cristo with a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic of an exposed portion
of the vein, followed by the placement of the APXS for a multi-sol
integration.

As of Sol 2974 (June 5, 2012), solar array energy production was 369
watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.364 and a slightly
improved solar array dust factor of 0.562.

Total odometry is 21.42 miles (34,469.86 meters).