Opportunity Mission Update Thread

[radarredux]

Here are two more pictures of the dunes with the light slightly different. If your browser supports tabs, load each photo in a different tab and then flick back and forth between the tabs. Pretty neat.<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2004-08-28/1P146842216EFF35BGP2567L7M1.JPG<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2004-08-28/1P146842304EFF35BGP2567R1M1.JPG

 

[centsworth_II]

<i>"Dunes, tendrils, ripples and mini-ripples, and small-scale ripples..... Amazing !"</i> -- TheChemist<br /><br />And all this on something they call an upslope mega-ripple here. <br />The repetition of form at different scales is downright fractal! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thechemist]

RadarRedux,<br />Thanks for pointing to these amazing PanCam images of the dunes.<br /><br />And hello to fellow dune-lovers borman and centsworth_II <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Especially strange I find the solitary ripples on the other side of the crater going uphill (top of the images in Radar's post).<br />They look different and totally surreal. Some end at rocks, some not.<br /><br />Awesome and beautifully micro-rippled dunes in the center. <br />Isn't however the inside protected from the wind ?<br />How are the esoteric micro-ripples curved by winds inside the "dune microcraters" ? <br />Curious.... Anyone can shed a light ?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

<i>Borman:<font color="yellow">" Shadows or chemical? "</font></i><br /><br />It is difficult to judge, but most probably it is shadowing.<br />If I remember well, one filter PanCam of this scene is still missing from JPL.<br />Maybe the composite RGB image will help. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

A weird micro-image from 31-8-04, probably that's why they called it the "amazing science target" ? It looks like a partial RAT ?<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/micro_imager/2004-08-31/1M147183357EFF35BGP2906M2M1.JPG <br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/micro_imager/2004-08-31/1M147183125EFF35BGP2906M2M1.JPG <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

According to the latest status report for Oppy the "amazing science target" is named Escher.<br /><br />The latest forward HazCam image indicates Escher was RATed (or possibly just brushed ?).<br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2004-08-31/1F147187288EFF35BGP1214L0M1.JPG<br /><br />The position of the RAT hole (or brushing) on Escher is indicated on this older sol208 PanCam image. I have doubts because the rock was quite dusted on the particular spot.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<i>"The latest forward HazCam image indicates Escher was RATed (or possibly just brushed ?)."</i> -- TheChemist<br /><br />I find it curious that while most of the rock, Escher, is bare, they picked a spot covered with sand to investigate.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thalion]

I'm assuming they've fixed the stuck RAT, no? I haven't heard any news on it since it was stuck.

 

[thechemist]

I don't have a clue either, but if they RATed, it should be ok.<br />Opportunity is at Sol 215 now, and today they updated us on works up to Sol 208.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Hi borman<br /><br />Back from the bush. Your scenario is not incompatible with a lake model for the Terra Meridiani sediments. Most large lake deposits consist of multiple layers formed by lake filling-lake drying cycles. each cycle is simular, but not identical.<br /><br />Cheers<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>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Back from the bush.</font>/i><br /><br />Hey! Please start a thread talking about your experiences. I bet a lot of us would love to hear/read about them.</i>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

"A weird micro-image from 31-8-04, probably that's why they called it the "amazing science target"<br /><br />That reminds me of a fossil, how cool would that be is it was! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Thanks radar and borman. Most of the expeditionr reports are up on the web site at http://chapters.marssociety.org/canada/expedition-mars.org/ExpeditionTwo/ . Hopefully there will be some images soon as well.<br /><br />Cheers<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]

Welcome back Jon.<br />This is a L257 RGB composite false color image of the RAThole in Escher. Processing: sharpened once.<br />Mineralogical differences can be seen, since L2=750 nm (near-IR), L5=530 nm (green), L7= 430 nm (SP).<br /> originals <br />Should I say, intriguing ? <br /><br /><i> Edit: The color image must be rotated 180o to get the same perspective as the microimage a few posts above </i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

NASA Mars Rover Status 1 September 2004<br /><br /><font color="yellow">NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has resumed using its rock abrasion tool after a pebble fell out that had jammed the tool's rotors two weeks ago. <br /><br />The abrasion tool successfully spun a wire brush late Monday to scrub dust off two patches of a rock inside "Endurance Crater," and engineering data received Tuesday confirmed that the tool is fully recovered. Rover wranglers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., plan to use the tool's grinding rotor next to cut a hole exposing the interior of the rock.</font>/safety_wrapper> <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>

 

[thalion]

^<br />Thanks!

 

[fangsheath]

Here we begin to see clues to the origin of the "mystery rock." We can now see that this rock is at least partially layered. Other rocks in the vicinity show a similar structure. My working hypothesis continues to be that these are pieces of the original stratigraphy that were altered by the blast that created Endurance.

 

[thechemist]

fangsheath,<br />If one looks at Escher (there is an image a few posts above), there is some similarity in its surface texture (reptile like ?) with that of the "mystery" rocks in your last image.<br />Do you think that Escher might be related to the mystery rock ? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[fangsheath]

Although Escher seems to have some morphology that's different from what we've seen before, it is not entirely clear to me at this point how similar it is to the "mystery rock." Parts of the latter seem to have a gingerbread-cookie-like surface texture, but we don't have enough resolution yet for me to say for sure.

 

[JonClarke]

Hi my chemical friend<br />The reptile-like pattern you describe resembles what is called pachydermal weathering (as in the skin of an elephant) here on earth. I think it is taken as indicating shrink-well behaviour by traces of dispersed smectitic clays. It is not uncommon in terrestrial sandstones.<br /><br />Cheers<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]

Thanks Jon !<br />Your info and googling led me to this page :<br /><br />http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/general_info/bhop/Smectiteandbentoniteclay.html<br /><br />After I finished reading it, I had a big smile all over my face <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Put on your swimsuits ! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[silylene old]

Some bentonite trivia....Like many materials, there are good aspects and an evil aspect. Bentonite is used to make kitty litter and drilling slurry. But its evil use is as a dispersant for preparing weapons grade anthrax aerosols. <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>

 

[exoscientist]

Mars Express has detected the clay nontronite on Mars and perhaps other clays:<br /><br />NEW PERSPECTIVES ON MARS SURFACE MINERALOGY FROM THE INFRARED IMAGING<br />http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004AM/finalprogram/abstract_81352.htm<br /><br /> This was also detected by TES on MGS in Valles Marineris:<br /><br />COMPOSITIONAL MAPPING WITH TES IN VALLES MARINERIS, MARS. L. R. Gaddis, M. I. Staid,<br />and T. N. Titus, Astrogeology Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ, lgaddis@usgs.gov.<br />http://tes.asu.edu/TESworkshop/gaddis_abs.pdf<br /><br /><br /><br /> Bob Clark <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Thanks Bob<br /><br />I had heard of this OMEGA data but not seen it. Nontronite and Fe-smectite are swelling clays, of course. The presence of these were suspected from Viking data but in the enthusiasm for the cold dry Mars models people seem to have forgotten them. OMEGA rules!<br /><br />Cheers<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]

Also of great interest to me is Vaniman et al., "POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF AMORPHOUS MAGNESIUM SULFATE HYDRATES IN SOME CEMENTED SOILS ON MARS." A correlation between magnesium and sulfur is widespread on the surface of Mars, and the widespread presence of amorphous hydrated magnesium sulfate could explain the cohesiveness of the soil we have seen at both Gusev and Meridiani Planum.<br /><br />Actually, all of these are interesting.