Opportunity Mission Update Thread

[centsworth_II]

I <b>AM</b> surprised. I'm probably posting the same image as you, cropped a little. The flat area on either side of the dune has the typical-looking blueberries that are scattered all over the plain. The crest of the dune appears to be covered with the smaller, irregular "berries" that are shown in the micro images (if I've finally got it right).<br /><br />I have to say, I wasn't expecting to be surprised like this by what I foolishly called a "monotonous" terrain! What took them so long to look at those dunes with the micro imager? Or have they done it before and I missed it? I really don't remember seeing side by side berries like this covering an entire micro image field.<br /><br />I had assumed that the dunes were composed of fine sand or dust. What a surprise! To me at least. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

Oops! I forgot to add my image.<br />I circled a spot on the top of the dune in yellow. I think this is the part of the dune where the layer of irregular berries is found. But I'm not really sure: Top, windward face, leeward face? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

This shot was taken near Anatolia, I believe.

 

[mah_fl]

They have and will continue to drive the rovers backwards to ensure even distribution of the wheel lubricants, driving "backwards" is not a problem at all, indeed it seems the rovers are more stable going up steep slopes backwards.

 

[xflare]

When are they going to start driving again? They haven't moved in more than a week, at this rate we'll never get to Vostock let alone the etched terrain.

 

[thechemist]

Hi Josh and welcome.<br />Your link does not seem to work. These features you describe seem more like crystallised salts deposited on the irregular berries creating a crust-like structure. I am not convinved that there is anything alive in these MI images.<br /><br />Sometimes our eyes look for patterns where none exists.<br />For example, in your bottom left image, I can see a small statuette (bust) of a female godess rotated 45o counterclockwise. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

Thanks, your link now works. This is way to small a feature to be resolved and studied with the spectrometers. It is sure unusual, but then again, this is another planet, with geological procedures that might look strange to us.<br /><br />Perhaps it would be better to transfer this discussion in the SETI forum, since this thread is for mission updates and the like. You can start maybe a thread there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[bobvanx]

Moving to the SETI forum is a good idea, but please allow me a post here.<br /><br />These structures look very much like they formed on the underside of a grain which has since blown away (or stuck to the instrument arm). They have the look of a salt encrustation or cementation.

 

[centsworth_II]

It looks like Opportunity is going to check out some rocks laying on the surface. They may be ejecta, as was Bounce. If so, they may have come from a close by as Endurance or Victoria or from much farther. Bounce rock came from 50 or so miles away.<br /><br />On the other hand, they could be meteors, like Heat Shield Rock. Or they could just be eroded out pieces of the layered rock that lies just under the surface of ripples and blueberries.<br /><br />My first impression is that they are not eroded out bedrock. They certainly didn't roll down a hill to this location. They also don't look to me to have the same smooth, melted look that the known meteor by the heat shield had. That leaves chunks of ejecta as my pick for their identity. If they have the same composition as the area's bedrock, they came from nearby, if some other composition, they came from farther -- or deeper.<br /><br />Just my thoughts. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thechemist]

Oppy is now positioned in front of this rock and has started examining it.<br />Let's wait and see ....<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[xflare]

It's just a piece of outcrop...nothing unusual.

 

[scottb50]

Outcrop, blown or deposited debris? there's another one just ahead and it has a pretty well defined wind pattern around it which indicates, to me it's been their a relatively short time, which is a long time, in reality.<br /><br />Until we can do core sampling around the planet we can't rule out life. Odds are better it once existed but is long long gone, but it's still a guess with no physical evidence. This might be good enough to get you locked away under the Patriot Act, but it doesn't make a hill of beans with science.<br /><br />The only way is to send people and since the existance of life is the only part of exploring Mars that seems to grab people, either good or bad, that's the best way to sell it. The only way we can do meaningful core samples is having people do them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jaredgalen]

According to the latest report, Oppy drove 177m on Sol 383!!!! <br />Cool

 

[alpha_taur1]

yes, in a Westerly direction.

 

[thechemist]

Oppy drove several hundred meters south, then a bit west to meat a crater threesome.<br />It is standing in front of it now.<br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2005-02-24/1F162544947EFF4700P1215L0M1.JPG<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

Oppy is still at the same position. Exploratorium stopped updating images for some reason (temporarily I hope <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ), so one has to rely to JPL for updates. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[aaron38]

There's a traverse map for Oportunity as well. 1.74 miles traveled and nothing out there to get in it's way. I think they're going to set a nice distance record. There's not much else to do but drive till the wheels fall off.<br /><br />

 

[thechemist]

March 02, 2005<br />Mars Rovers Break Driving Records, Examine Salty Soil<br /><br /><i>"Opportunity set a one-day distance record for martian driving, 177.5 meters (582 feet), on Feb. 19."<br /><br />"In one long weekend, Opportunity covered a distance equivalent to more than half of the 600 meters that had been part of each rover's original mission-success criteria during their first three months on Mars."</i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

Vostok does not look that impressive, with a few outcrops and filled with sand. I can see now why Squyres hesitated calling it a crater <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2005-03-07/1N163523165EFF4900P0685L0M1.JPG <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[silylene old]

Vostok sure isn't much ! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[aaron38]

Wow! That's an insane amount of driving for that little guy. Looking at that map I posted, I can't believe they got down to Vostok in 3 days.<br /><br />Does anyone know how far it is to the beginning of the etched terain?

 

[thechemist]

The etched terrain is about 600-700m to the southwest. Opportunity recently managed 450m in 6 sols. However, its future plans are not clear, first Vostok will be examined, and then ... we 'll see. Victoria is directly southwards, but far away at the moment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<i>"Vostok does not look that impressive..."</i><br /><br />Maybe "impressive" is not the word, but Vostok does have a certain attraction. I find it beautiful as a geologic feature. It looks like an minimalist artistic interpretation of a crater.<br /><br />What do you get when you take away all the "craterness" of a crater but the rim? Vostok!<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[yurkin]

I hop that they don’t try and go to deep into that crater. The inside is probably all dust puddle materials. Oppy will sink straight to the bottom.

 

[jaredgalen]

Mars Rover Suffers Instrument Glitch <br />Seems like Oppy is having a little trouble, only a little mind you.<br /><br />http://www.space.com/news/050315_rover_problem.html