Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Nuclear Energy News .




MARSDAILY
Opportunity Uses Robotic Arm Tools on Rock
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jul 06, 2012


File image of Opportunity's robot arm.

Opportunity continues to explore the north end of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater, specifically the transition layer between Cape York and Meridiani Planum.

Mars Odyssey has returned to service and supported downlinks on both Sols 2995 and 2996 (June 27 and 28, 2012).

Previously Ultra High Frequency relay for the rover had been limited to just two relay passes per week from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

On Sol 2990 (June 21, 2012), in-situ measurements including the Microscopic Imager (MI) and Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) began on the rock target "Grasberg."

On Sol 2992 (June 24, 2012), a slightly offset target, "Grasberg 2," was similarly analyzed. And finally, on sol 2995 (June 27, 2012), the original Grasberg target was brushed using the Rock Abrasion Tool in preparation for further MI and APXS analysis.

Though no new cleaning events appear to have occurred, the rover continues to benefit from previous solar array dust cleaning events and a slightly improved tilt.

As of Sol 2995 (June 27, 2012), solar array energy production was 559 watt-hours with a lower atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.330 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.698.

Total odometry is 21.43 miles (34,491.99 meters).

.


Related Links
Mars Rovers at JPL
Mars Rovers at Cornell
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








MARSDAILY
Mars Panorama: Next Best Thing to Being There
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jul 06, 2012
From fresh rover tracks to an impact crater blasted billions of years ago, a newly completed view from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows the ruddy terrain around the outcrop where the long-lived explorer spent its most recent Martian winter. This scene recorded from the mast-mounted color camera includes the rover's own solar arrays and deck i ... read more


MARSDAILY
Denmark can triple its biomass production and improve the environment

Researchers tap into genetic reservoir of heat-loving bacteria

Prairie cordgrass: Highly underrated

New loo turns poo into power

MARSDAILY
GE's solar panel factory on hold

Japanese Energy Supply Gets FiT With Solar Bonds

New England Clean Energy Wins Two Solarize Projects

TUV Rheinland PTL's New Services Support Large-Scale Solar Power Plants

MARSDAILY
U.S moves massive wind farm plan forward

Belgium wind farm a go after EIB loan

Opponents force Wales wind farm hearings

Toward super-size wind turbines: Bigger wind turbines do make greener electricity

MARSDAILY
Clean cookstoves unaffordable to Bangladeshi women

Swiss firm wins $120m power station contract in Iraq

New clean energy bank to turbo-charge investment

AREVA inaugurates the world's first hydrogen backup power system for Data Centers

MARSDAILY
Nabucco: Competition key to EU gas race

Japan considers buying disputed islands: PM

Rescuers work to save surviving Chinese miners: report

How do you turn 10 minutes of power into 200? Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency

MARSDAILY
Study in Nature sheds new light on planet formation

New Instrument Sifts Through Starlight to Reveal New Worlds

Planet-Forming Disk Turns Off Lights, Locks Doors

New Planet-weighing Technique Found

MARSDAILY
Australia tweaks ASC sub maintenance deal

US Navy orders next-generation hovercraft

Poland's Gdansk shipyards to recruit 600 staff

Sensational Malaysian submarine scandal resurfaces

MARSDAILY
Butterfly ejecta and wrinkle ridges in Melas Dorsa

Mars Panorama: Next Best Thing to Being There

Evidence for Mars Life Could Come From Phobos

Opportunity Uses Robotic Arm Tools on Rock




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement