[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: October 10-17, 2012

[Ron Baalke]

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

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Opportunity Is On The Move Around 'Matijevic
Hill' - sols 3098-3104, Oct. 10, 2012-Oct. 17, 2012:

Opportunity is conducting a local area survey around the location where
orbital observations show the presence of clay minerals at the inboard
edge of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater.

The rover is driving around the area called Matijevic Hill (named in
honor of Jake Matijevic). Opportunity performed four survey drives on
Sols 3098, 3101, 3103 and 3104 (Oct. 10, 14, 16 and 17, 2012), totaling
over 230 feet (70 meters). Each drive was preceded by targeted imagery
and followed by 360-degree Navigation camera (Navcam) panoramas. On Sol
3099 (Oct. 11, 2012), an atmospheric argon measurement was collected by
the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). The plan ahead is to
conduct more survey drives around this location.

As of Sol 3104 (Oct. 17, 2012), the solar array energy production was
579 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.604 and a solar
array dust factor of 0.624.

Total odometry is (21.82 miles) 35,120.59 meters.