[meteorite-list] Mars Rover Opportunity Update: April 20-26, 2016

[Ron Baalke]

http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/status.html#opportunity

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Camera on Robotic Arm Passes Diagnostic Test  - sols 
4351-4357, April 20, 2016-April 26, 2016:

Opportunity is exploring 'Marathon Valley' on the rim of Endeavour crater, 
trying to identify specific outcrops for evidence of clay minerals.

The rover has been investigating the surface target, called 'Pierre Pinaut.' 
The rover experienced an anomalous camera fault on Sol 4350 (April 19, 
2016), during a Microscopic Image (MI) mosaic, so the activities in that 
plan did not complete. Opportunity then performed two sets of diagnostics 
on Sol 4352 (April 21, 2016). The MI images completed normally and several 
Panoramic Camera (Pancam) panoramas taken before and after the MI camera 
anomaly completed normally. On Sol 4354 (April 23, 2016), the original 
MI activity using the robotic arm from Sol 4350 (April 19, 2016), was 
repeated successfully which included the placement of the Alpha Particle 
X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). More Pancam panoramas were collected on the 
next sol. On Sol 4357 (April 26, 2016), the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) on 
the robotic arm was used to brush the surface target, followed by the 
placement of the APXS for a long integration.

As of Sol 4357 (April 26, 2016), the solar array energy production is 
618 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.541 and a solar 
array dust factor of 0.764.

Total odometry is 26.58 miles (42.78 kilometers), more than a marathon.