Mars Rover Spirit Mission Update Thread

[fangsheath]

Although I still believe the most likely scenario is for Spirit to miss the peak of Husband Hill, I have to say I am less confident about it as time goes on. The logical breakpoint, at which commitment needs to be made to either stay on the ridge or break off to the southeast, is indicated by the red dot. This spot is a mere 200 m or so from the peak (about the diameter of Bonneville Crater). I think they may well find the outcrops up toward the peak very difficult to resist, especially since they can have north-facing slopes all the way up and beyond. <br /><br />Meanwhile, recent Hazcam images suggest to me that they are very much trying to get the panels in a good orientation. This is quite tricky while driving backwards and using the right front wheel as little as possible. Improvise, adapt, and overcome, my JPL friends.

 

[fangsheath]

As the vehicle was yawing it imaged this very interesting rock (top). Notice what appear to be nodules and the suggestion of lamination, particularly in the upper third of the rock. The most recent Hazcam image shows the vehicle over the bottom rock, which is only a short distance from the one above, yet seems, for the most part, quite devoid of nodules.

 

[Leovinus]

I want them to get to that green stuff you show in your picture. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

I don't think there is any problem terrain-wise with reaching the depression to the northeast. However, if the vehicle were to commit to that area I would hope it would first run along the ridge and at least image the area to the south. That is one big advantage of running up to the peak - We could image virtually everything in the immediate vicinity, and assuming the Mini-TES is still working, at least get some spectra before commiting to one particular area. Even if it isn't, the Pancam might provide some clues to chemistry and certainly morphology.

 

[bobw]

The ground on the right side of the hills looks older in the picture with the red dot. Maybe it's a different layer over there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[abq_farside]

<i>As the vehicle was yawing it imaged this very interesting rock (top). ...</i><br /><br />I was also interested in seeing the different shades of soil, especially the distrubed soil underneath the rock and the tracks made by the rover.<br /><br />It is also interesting see what appears to be stains on the rock in the bottom picture. Or maybe it is just dust?<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em><font size="1" color="#000080">Don't let who you are keep you from becoming who you want to be!</font></em></p> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

I was thinking that the large outcrop on the extreme right of this image was what they are referring to as Clovis, but judging from today's flight director's report this is not correct. It is the large flat outcrop to the left of that, across the shallow swale. This is the rock that the most recent Hazcam images show the vehicle perched upon.<br /><br />Notice the quite obviously layered outcrops that await us higher up the ridge.

 

[thechemist]

Well, you are right fangsheath.<br />In the 04.08 FD update the outcrop on the right was shown on the screen and defined as the target.<br />But now it seems they decided to stop first over Clovis (nice picture of it in your image above).<br />That 04.08 update was not one of the best in information dissimination <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[jitte]

There was a NASA promo to send your name along on the MER missions on a DVD, they gave you a nice certificate for signing up.<br /><br />I never did hear anything about it after liftoff, did they even get sent along?

 

[fangsheath]

The Planetary Society provided a mini-DVD for each lander, each of which contains 4 million names. These mini-DVD's are made of silica glass and each of the landers has one mounted upon it. Both DVD's survived entry just fine and were imaged by the respective rovers. See:<br /><br />http://www.redrovergoestomars.org/

 

[jitte]

Thanks, fangsheath. From the site, I noticed that the "Red Rover Goes to Mars" project is made possible through a partnership with the LEGO Company. <br /><br />The LEGO "Life On Mars" toy series was made to resemble the "Martain Tubes", and made me wonder if it wasn't an attempt to accustom children at an early age to the concept of life having occured on Mars oin the past. My own private conspiracy theory. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[fangsheath]

Today Mars is at aphelion and begins moving closer to the sun, although the change is small for the next few months. It does mean that the light situation will not deteriorate any further to any significant degree. Particularly to the extent that the rovers can make use of north-facing slopes, power generation will get better.<br /><br />A recent update has the only actual power generation data I have seen from these vehicles. On north-facing slopes, Spirit generates 350-380 watt-h. I assume this is per day. On flat ground or south-facing slopes, it produces as little as 280 watt-h. According to the JPL site, driving consumes 100 watts. Thus 50 watt-h would give us 30 minutes of driving time. I'm sure this number varies, though. It would be nice if we got more engineering data.

 

[blairf]

They are heading to the peak of Husband Hill according to this paper<br /><br />http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004AM/finalprogram/abstract_76967.htm<br /><br />by James Rice to be given at the December GSA conference.<br /><br />"Immediate plans are to perform IDD work on outcrop material and then ascend the summit of Husband Hill, which is the highest peak in the Columbia Hills,"

 

[fangsheath]

This beautiful rock might provide clues to reconciling the structure of rocks like Pot of Gold with those of Sabre and Clovis. Notice that the upper left face appears to be a rind and is largely devoid of nodules, while the front is obviously rich in nodules.<br /><br />I have done my best to color-correct this image to approximate "true" color. Although parts of the rock may look quite bluish, color sampling will reveal that they in fact have about equal amounts of red, green, and blue components.

 

[spacechump]

Here is my shot at color blending. This could just be my opinion but I think you have a little too much blue in there still, fang. I got a "darker" rock shade.<br /><br />

 

[fangsheath]

Now we can see up the ridgetop of West Spur more clearly and the summit of Husband Hill is once again visible. There is little doubt in my mind now - They will find the outcrops up near the peak irresistible. I just hope the vehicle can keep chugging that long.

 

[karatepe]

Holy smokes! Check out this image from Spirit:<br /><br />http://homepage.mac.com/michaelhoward/marsupdate/slideshow/2/all/210/2P145014016_fcL2L5L7.htm<br /><br />I'm not sure what we're seeing on the horizon (wall of Gusev crater, or something else?) but it looks much clearer than before. <br /><br />BTW, I haven't posted before, but I love this forum. Thanks to you all for your contributions here.<br />

 

[radarredux]

Nice image. The blue tint, especially in the atmosphere, makes it feel like home.<br /><br />By the way, for the conspiracy buffs out there, the following photo from spirit's micro imager of a RAT hole almost look like it has a sea shell fossil. Look at the far left, about 1/5 of the way down from the top. There is a crescent shape of lighter color rock with radial lines.<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/micro_imager/2004-08-10/2M145364733EFF8500P2959M2M1.JPG<br /><br />Perhaps related to the radial lines, it looks like the RAT was placed twice, the second one slightly offset from the first one. Any idea why it was double placed?

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">There is little doubt in my mind now - They will find the outcrops up near the peak irresistible.</font>/i><br /><br />I hope they make it there before Winter Break. I am afraid that the rover or sensors won't function well after a long period of non or limited use. I want to see the other side of the hill, especially the dark patches.</i>

 

[spacechump]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Nice image. The blue tint, especially in the atmosphere, makes it feel like home.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Remember, as nice as it looks its only a false color image.

 

[fangsheath]

This result is not from double placement, it is due to the head of the RAT not making a complete circuit. This was a very shallow RATing for some reason. As for the spiral markings, they are almost certainly scratches from the RAT bit. The parallel lines running across the RAT hole, though, are intrinsic to the structure of the rock.

 

[karatepe]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Remember, as nice as it looks its only a false color image.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Indeed. Much as I would like to believe that the sky on Mars is blue and the land looks like the painted dessert, I guess I know better. Unless the rocks are also blue.

 

[fangsheath]

In the distance we can indeed see the wall of Gusev Crater, and more closely some of the "crinkled terrain," as I call it, near the scarp that runs along the southern edge of the Columbia Hills. I must say I hold out little hope of ever reaching this interesting area. No complaints, Spirit has performed spectacularly.

 

[spacechump]

Man don't you just love that view?<br /><br />http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20040811a/site_85_navcam_360_cyl-A217R1.jpg

 

[mikehoward]

That is a great view, and it helps to put the individual images in perspective.<br /><br />Some pancam images of up towards the hills have started coming in. Someone more experienced than I will have to stitch them together, but here is one false-color image of what I take to be Husband Hill (correct me if I'm wrong). (And bear with me, I'm new at posting images here...)<br /><br />