Mars Rover Spirit Mission Update Thread

[marslauncher]

In the latest pictures from Gusev look like Spirit got the same works as Oppy, from really dirty solar panels to nice new shiny ones!<br /><br />700 Freaking WATT Hrs!<br /><br /> Taken from here! <br /><br />http://mer.rlproject.com/index.php?showtopic=762&st=0<br /><br />"omg... Looks like the dust devil actually heard you ... <br />700+ W/Hr!!! "

 

[claywoman]

The problem with you guys is you don't realize that the martians are only awake when the Rover's are asleep, therefore, you get to wonder why the solar panels get dusted, when in actuality, they are obviously done by a 'matrian' 'car wash.'

 

[yurkin]

That’s great news.<br />Spirit really needed this.<br /><br />And it got this great image of a twister!<br />

 

[bobw]

Thanks a lot for the link, Marslauncher. I read all that stuff and now I'm late for work <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

Spirit has spent more time climbing and studying the Columbia Hills than it did on its "primary mission" plus the long trip to the hills combined. Remember when reaching the hills was considered a far-from-certain prospect? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[retro555]

This solar panel cleaning event is truly surprising and great news! The next martian winter is over a year away, Earth time. There should be plenty of energy until then. The next biggest risk is the day-night cycle with the electronics - they were not tested beyond a few hundred Sols. But these rovers seem blessed by Providence. I look forward to more great panoramas and discoveries. I wonder if JPL still plays a song each morning when the rovers wake up? They should do "Alleluia" from Handle in gratitude!

 

[astrophoto]

I was thinking Sandstorm by Darude.

 

[thechemist]

If you look at images after Sol 407 you will find tens of higher resolution images of this "mound". It was studied with the spectrometers and even RATed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[radarredux]

The following Spirit image shows two Moessbauer prints, both on the left of the image in the walls left by the rover. The first print (order is relative, I guess) is in the darker soil in the top wall, and the second is in the bright white material on the lower wall.<br /><br />Is NASA still exploring the chemical makeup of the white material?<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu:16080/mars/spirit/pancam/2005-03-22/2P164633018EFFA8B5P2530L7M1.JPG

 

[aaron38]

Spirit was supposed to have taken a panorama from the top of the hill. I was assuming it would be released colorized and polished off.<br /><br />I haven't been able to find it. Does anyone have a link to it? Is there some delay?

 

[spacechump]

Does that even qualify as a sentence?

 

[telfrow]

I don't think so. I'm not sure how I'd describe it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[odysseus145]

I don't think English is his first language <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

<center><b>Spirit Slipping On New Terrain</b><br /><blockquote><p align="left"><font color="orange">Spirit is heading toward the summit of "Husband Hill." The rover has been making slow progress recently due to slippage on new, sandy terrain, but it is persevering to reach the target.<br /><br />The rover team performed image brightness tests with the navigation camera to assess how late in the sol Spirit can use sunlight for imaging.</font>/p></p></blockquote></center> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

Not much science data coming from JPL lately, here is an anaglyph of Larry's Lookout:<br /><br />http://home.att.net/~fangsheath/larryslookoutcopy.jpg

 

[toymaker]

I'm looking for orbital images of the rover's terrain, not the nearest area of exploration but some rathre expanded views from orbit. Are they any sites where I could find such images ?

 

[thechemist]

There are several orbit images of the landing sites at <br />http://www.msss.com <br /><br />Edit: The direct link : http://www.msss.com/mer_mission/index.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

The summit of Husband Hill beckons invitingly now, and for the first time I feel fairly confident that our little trooper will make it. Should be quite a view.

 

[JonClarke]

I think I can.... I think I can....<br /><br />The view will be awesome.<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>

 

[thechemist]

I don't want to spoil your eagerness, but I think this is probably just a local summit and not "the" summit <br />that will offer us the much-awaited view towards Ultreya abyss. <br />"The" summit should be ~200m away, and much higher in elevation. <br /><br />Plus it is getting slippery in the sand lately, so be patient <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

Judging from recent Navcam images, I would say that Spirit is no more than 150 m from the summit of Husband Hill, as the crow flies, and only about 100 m from the main ridge. I have indicated the approximate location on this map with a red circle.

 

[fangsheath]

We have certainly gained a lot of elevation, the tip of West Spur looks like little more than a hummock now. Perhaps some sharp-eyed enthusiast can scan for the lander.

 

[JonClarke]

False summits are occupational harzards when climbing hills, so you could be right <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />. I confess I am not a fan of the "Ultreya abyss", I think it is just a very dark sand patch.<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>

 

[thechemist]

Jon, you were correct to write "Ultreya Abyss" with "...". I don't think either it will be anything unusual. But there are some possible outcrops in our view from the top of the hill towards this direction. And the home-plate <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />What the heck, even the view of the plains will be spectacular ! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[starbaby57]

But where from there? With approval to operate for almost 18 months more, what next?