Mars Rover Spirit Mission Update Thread

[munkin]

Jon,<br /><br />Interesting article and thanks for the link. I am just wondering if the softness of gypsum would make any crystals that formed (on the surface) prone to mechanical weathering (ie. from wind blown sand). <br /><br /> If these crystals are actually gypsum - then they must have formed quite recently.

 

[JonClarke]

If these are anthodites they are quite short and either young, or broken off. I would suggest broken off, as the crystals have flat cleavage rather than pointy growth terminations. This would be consistent with wind action.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[munkin]

Do you think that they may have been broken when Spirit took readings close to the formation???<br /><br />They look as though they have been *mashed* into the soil.

 

[JonClarke]

Maybe, but I think the cleavage planes look dirty, so i think they have been broken for a while.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

This area has rocks of very different morphologies juxtaposed, and microscopically, Peace certainly seems different from anything we have seen before. I fear that between too many interesting science targets and dust storms slowing us down we will never reach the summit of Husband Hill. <br /><br />Ah well, may all of our missions be so successful that we have to choose between good and even better.

 

[thechemist]

"Alligator" is the next science target. Looks a lot like it came from Endurance <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/forward_hazcam/2005-01-29/2F160283749EFFA2K1P1214L0M1.JPG <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[radarredux]

More "created in the presense of water" rocks? I think the micro images are from the same area as the pancam image. The material brushed away from the RAT has an interesting sloughed look, and it has the bright white look that we have seen before in the 2nd Pancam image.<br /><br />Pancam image:<br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/pancam/2005-01-31/2P160191205EFFA2HTP2543R2M1.JPG<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/pancam/2005-01-31/2P160191189EFFA2HTP2543R1M1.JPG<br /><br />Micro images:<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/micro_imager/2005-01-30/2M160103235EFFA2HPP2957M2M1.JPG<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/micro_imager/2005-01-30/2M160102936EFFA2HPP2957M2M1.JPG<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/micro_imager/2005-01-30/2M160102579EFFA2HPP2957M2M1.JPG

 

[fangsheath]

Here is a composite of the rock in question. Even taking into account the fact that this is not "true" color, the material is remarkably light-colored. The rock does give the impression of being quite soft, perhaps even more so than those of West Spur. I am anxious to hear about the chemistry.

 

[bobvanx]

Okay, that one micro image has some of the oddest formations I've seen, unless it was coral or worm-eaten.

 

[JonClarke]

Meniscus cements in coarse sandstone?<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[bobvanx]

Why not? I'm not sure it's very coarse. Could be clays, could be part of an ancient shoreline.<br /><br />Other parts of this rock look like weathered carbonates, and some of the nodule/pore spacing looks remarkably like what gets left by terrestrial organisms. Where's the chemistry observations? Go, MER team!

 

[fangsheath]

This is an interesting rock, seems to have a rind on top, but on the left side this appears to wrap around and dip into the rock structure. I wouldn't mind having a closer look, but judging from the most recent flight director's update, they will continue eastward and hope to reach Larry's Lookout some time this weekend. I suspect that the large loose rocks and bedrock outcrops in this area will elucidate much more clearly the story of these hills

 

[claywoman]

When we WE know the makeup of Peace? How long before they tell us what it is?

 

[thechemist]

An approximate color full panorama from Sols 318-325 before ascending the hill, and a<br />cool QTVR (QuickTime) 360 degree movie have been uploaded at the MER JPL site.<br /><br />http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/pre.../20050204a.html<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

This area in front of Spirit is sure interesting, and Opportunity-like.<br />Especially the "cracks"-"channels" on the right of the image look like similar ones inside Endurance (anyone remember the fence ? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />)<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/pancam/2005-02-04/2P160819738EFFA2LHP2363L7M1.JPG <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

As the rover finally crests Cumberland Ridge, we are getting our first good look at the terrain just north of Husband Hill. A beautiful panorama is sure to follow soon.

 

[mah_fl]

Looks like an interesting white outcrop on the far slope on the right.

 

[fangsheath]

The flow of science data out of JPL is too irregular to make a prediction about when we will hear about the makeup of Peace. We have come to take the steady stream of prompt raw imagery for granted, but judging from reports I think that was an unusually public-minded gesture on the part of Jim Bell, not without criticism from his colleagues. For some reason the flight director's updates have been very frequent lately, perhaps that is reason to hope for more frequent updates in the science realm.

 

[thechemist]

A two-pancam panorama of the valley. We are almost to the top of the ridge.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[claywoman]

Okay here...does anyone see anything strange about these rocks? such as they seem to almost shimmer and are smooth, almost as smooth as a hazel nut's shell....Have I just not been paying attention or is maybe the picture somewhat skewed?

 

[thechemist]

Here is a full 4-pancam version of the valley view: <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

Not to wax poetic, but as the stark beauty of this desert planet unfolds before us, I am struck at how Mars is truly becoming fleshed out as a place, not merely a far-off globe. The ridge to the east is a little higher than I thought, so we can't see much of the interesting lowland beyond it yet, but as we ascend toward Husband Hill that will change. We are a mere 700 feet or so from the summit of Husband Hill.

 

[thechemist]

It is not very far, true, but it is uphill ! I do not know how easy it will be to climb up Cumberland ridge, with slopes on both sides of the rover. <br />They do not have much experience with climbing up ridges, unfortunately, but I am confident, those rover drivers have become experts <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

I have some concerns, too, not so much about the rover's ability to deal with the terrain, but about the delays that seem inevitable with the numerous interesting science targets along the way. Much as we would like to think of these vehicles as unstoppable, the reality is otherwise. I am by no means sure that Spirit has enough sols ahead of it to make it.<br /><br />There may be some pretty steep bits, especially up near the top, and the terrain will probably be consistently rocky on the way, with consequent wear and tear. But the loose soil that impeded her progress below is behind us, I expect much less slippage in general.

 

[fangsheath]

Raw images taken through the 432 nm filters (violet) often give the rocks a glossy appearance. Part of the reason is that these uncorrected images are almost always too bright. My observation is that there continue to be very different rock morphologies closely juxtaposed, and I suspect that the stratigraphic relationships between these will soon become clearer as we are encountering larger rocks and more bedrock outcrops.