* Astronomy

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Independently Approaches and Studies A Rock Outcrop - sol 1234-1239, July 02, 2007:

Spirit remains healthy after attempting to wrap up scientific studies on an outcrop that contains several tantalising, high-silica targets. High-silica targets are of interest to scientists because water might have been involved in forming them. Spirit still has some work to do on two targets, known as "Eileen Dean" and "Innocent Bystander," before moving on to the elevated, circular plateau known as "Home Plate."
On Spirit's 1,235th sol, or Martian day of exploration (June 24, 2007), the rover successfully completed Step 4 of a new computer sequence called "IDD Autoplace." (IDD stands for Instrument Deployment Device, the technical name for the rover's robotic arm.) During the test, Spirit drove to a pre-selected target and autonomously gathered scientific data. The sequence enables the rover to select a substitute "target of opportunity" if the pre-selected target is out of range, which is exactly what happened during the first two tests.
Over the next month, Spirit will collect data in support of future Mars rover missions by taking images of the Sun each day with the navigation camera. These images are being used to develop an alternate method for orienting the rover.

Sol-by-sol summary:
In addition to daily remote science observations of the atmosphere and terrain using the panoramic camera and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and communication activities including morning direct-from-Earth uplinks via the rover's high-gain antenna and evening downlinks at UHF frequencies via the Mars Odyssey orbiter, Spirit completed the following activities:

Sol 1234 (June 23, 2007): Spirit acquired full-colour images, using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera, of outcrop exposures known as "Virginia Bell," "Nancy Warren," and "Innocent Bystander." The rover acquired panoramic camera images of a target known as "Eileen Dean." Spirit surveyed several targets using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, including "Mary Dailey," "NancyWarren3," "Dolores Moore," "Louella Daetweiler," "NancyWarren_background," "MaryDailey2," and "Eileen Dean."

Sol 1235: Upon awakening, Spirit surveyed the sky with the panoramic camera. Spirit then moved slightly closer to Eileen Dean. The rover completed Step 4 of the automatic targeting test by touching a spot that was offset from the target by about 5 centimetres with the Mössbauer spectrometer, acquiring a 1-by-1-by-seven mosaic of microscopic images, and placing the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer on the spot and collecting data with the instrument. Spirit acquired navigation camera images and conducted a sky survey at low sun with the panoramic camera. Prior to the overpass of the Odyssey orbiter, the rover took images of the sky, known as "sky flats," for calibration purposes.

Sol 1236: Spirit used on-board software to watch for dust devils in addition to completing standard remote-science observations.

Sol 1237: Spirit rotated in place toward Eileen Dean, completing a final yaw, or pivot, of 42.8 degrees. Working autonomously, Spirit touched Eileen Dean with the Mössbauer spectrometer, acquired a 1-by-1-by-7 mosaic of microscopic images of the target, and completed alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer studies on the target. Spirit acquired images with the navigation camera. Spirit examined the rover's external calibration target with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer to verify that there was no dust contamination on the mirror as a result of recent dust-cleaning events related to Martian winds. Spirit acquired full-colour images, using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera, of the rover's solar arrays, also to characterise changes in dust accumulation on the surface. Prior to the overpass of the Odyssey spacecraft, Spirit observed the Sun with the navigation camera in support of the Mars Science Laboratory rover scheduled for launch in 2009. The goal of these observations is to see if navigation camera images of the sun can be used to orient the rover.

Sol 1238: In the morning, Spirit monitored dust build-up on the rover's mast, surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera, and acquired movie frames with the navigation camera in search of dust devils. Spirit acquired microscopic images of the solar arrays, capture magnet, and filter magnet to document dust levels since the most recent dust-cleaning events on sols 1233 and 1234 (June 22-23, 2007). The rover acquired microscopic images of Eileen Dean and collected data on the target using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. Spirit acquired four sets of comparative measurements with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer early in the day, in the afternoon, overnight, and early the next sol. Spirit observed the Sun with the navigation camera in support of the Mars Science Laboratory rover scheduled for launch in 2009. The goal of these observations is to see if navigation camera images of the sun can be used to orient the rover.

Sol 1239 (June 28, 2007): The activities for this day were mostly a repeat of those of the previous sol, except for the four sets of measurements with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit acquired 15 hours and 23 minutes of data from Eileen Dean using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer.

Odometry:
As of sol 1237 (June 26, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7,147.93 metres.

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit's Solar Power Levels Continue to Rise - sol 1226-1233, June 27, 2007:

Spring cleaning continued on NASA's Spirit rover, as atmospheric turbulence on Mars cleared away more dust from the solar panels on the rover's 1,233rd sol, or Martian day, of exploration (June 22, 2007). As a result of this most recent dust-clearing event, Spirit out-produced the electrical energy of Spirit's twin, the Opportunity rover on the opposite side of Mars, by about 50 watt-hours. (That's the amount of electricity needed to burn a 50-watt light bulb for one hour.) Tau measurements estimating the amount of dust in the atmosphere rose from 0.69 to 0.75. (Perfectly clean solar arrays would have a dust factor of 1.0, so the larger the dust factor, the cleaner the arrays.) Electrical energy rose to 738 watt-hours.
In addition, Spirit investigated an unbrushed rock outcrop known as "Nancy Warren," a candidate high-silica target. On sols 1226, 1227, and 1228 (June 15-17, 2007), the rover worked on a second investigation intended to study the brushed surface of the rock. Because the rover did not complete the brushing operation, Spirit ended up taking a second set of measurements that was identical to the first.
On the rover's 1,232nd sol of exploration (June 21, 2007), Spirit attempted to scuff a rock target known as "Virginia Bell" but didn't quite reach it and ended up scuffing a soil exposure about 15 centimetres  away, creating a new target that scientists dubbed "Innocent Bystander."

Sol-by-sol summary:
In addition to daily observations of atmospheric dust levels using the panoramic camera, surveys of the sky and ground using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and communication activities including morning direct-from-Earth uplinks via the rover's high-gain antenna and evening downlinks at UHF frequencies via the Mars Odyssey orbiter, Spirit completed the following activities:

Sol 1226: Spirit placed the rock abrasion tool on Nancy Warren, placed the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer on the target, collected data with the instrument, and completed an overnight transmission of data to the Odyssey orbiter.

Sol 1227: Spirit acquired a mosaic of microscopic images of Nancy Warren, placed the Mössbauer spectrometer on the target, and acquired data with the instrument. The rover acquired images of the spacecraft deck with the navigation camera. Spirit conducted reconnaissance and surveyed targets known as "Patricia Courtney," "Lenora Mandella," "Barbara Rotvig," and "Pauline Crawley" with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover scanned for clouds using the navigation camera and monitored dust on the rover mast.

Sol 1228: Spirit continued to study Nancy Warren using the Mössbauer spectrometer. The rover acquired a full-colour panorama of light-coloured wheel tracks using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera. Spirit conducted reconnaissance and surveyed the tracks as well as targets known as "Shirley Crites," "Betty McKenna," and "Naomi Meier" using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover completed an overnight transmission of data to the Odyssey orbiter and acquired an eastward-looking mosaic of images using the navigation camera.

Sol 1229: Spirit continued analysis of Nancy Warren using the Mössbauer spectrometer. The rover acquired images of the spacecraft deck with the panoramic camera to document the previous week's dust-cleaning event that occurred on sol 1224 (June 13, 2007). Spirit acquired movie frames with the navigation camera in search of dust devils.

Sol 1230: Spirit acquired microscopic images of the solar arrays, the dust capture magnet, and the filter magnet, along with panoramic camera images of the solar arrays, to document the dust-cleaning event of sol 1224 (June 13, 2007). The rover acquired microscopic images of undisturbed soil near the silica-rich outcrop known as Nancy Warren along with data using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. Members of the science team hope to use the data to characterise local soil that might be contaminating the outcrop.

Sol 1231: Spirit resumed measurements of Nancy Warren using the Mössbauer spectrometer. The rover surveyed targets on Nancy Warren known as "Gertrude Weise," "Naomi Meier," "Rykors," "Silian," "Sith," "Skeel," "Sompus," and "Betty Jane Comet" using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 1232: Spirit acquired microscopic images of a target called "Darlene Mickelson" and attempted to crush the outcrop in the vicinity of Virginia Bell by driving over it to expose more silica-rich outcrop material. The rover acquired post-drive images of the target area using the navigation camera.

Sol 1233: Spirit acquired movie frames in search of morning dust devils using the navigation camera and surveyed the post-crush target area using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Odometry:
As of sol 1232 (June 21, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7,143.87 metres.

This image was taken by the Spirit rover on Sol 1231

Expand (396kb, 1024 x 768) Credit NASA

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit's Solar Panels Get Spring Cleaning - sol 1219-1225, June 18, 2007:

Spirit got a second spring cleaning on Mars with a dust-cleaning event that increased power from the rover's solar arrays by 120 watt-hours. Spirit previously experienced dust-lifting winds in 2005. Energy from the rover's solar arrays is now higher than 600 watt-hours.
After completing scientific studies of rock exposures known as "Betty Wagoner" and "Elizabeth Emery," Spirit drove to another rock target called "Nancy Warren" to conduct studies with instruments on the rover's robotic arm, including the microscopic imager, the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, the brush on the rock abrasion tool, and the Mössbauer spectrometer. The next destination on Spirit's itinerary is the "on-ramp" of the elevated plateau-like feature known as "Home Plate."

Sol-by-sol summary:
In addition to daily observations of atmospheric dust levels using the panoramic camera, surveys of the sky and ground using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and communication activities including morning direct-from-Earth uplinks via the rover's high-gain antenna and evening downlinks at UHF frequencies via the Mars Odyssey orbiter, Spirit completed the following activities:

Sol 1219 (June 8, 2007): Spirit touched a rock exposure adjacent to Betty Wagoner known as "Betty Wagoner's Daughter" with the rock abrasion tool, brushed it, acquired a mosaic of microscopic images, touched the target with the Mössbauer spectrometer, and acquired more microscopic images. The rover placed the Mössbauer spectrometer back on Elizabeth Emery and collected data with the instrument, watched for dust devils, and completed an overnight relay of data to the Odyssey orbiter.

Sol 1220: Spirit acquired full-colour images of the work area reachable by the robotic arm using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera and watched for morning dust devils. The rover also acquired full-colour images using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera of targets known as "Melba Alspaugh," "Helen St. Aubin," and "Ruth Lessing." The rover acquired data using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer from targets known as "Melba Alspaugh2," "Betty Whiting2," "Joan Chiancola," and "Helen St. Aubin2." Spirit watched for dust devils, surveyed a target called "Jean Gilchrist" with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, and completed an overnight transfer of data to the Odyssey spacecraft.

Sol 1221: Spirit acquired spot images of the sky with the panoramic camera and drove toward Nancy Warren. The rover acquired image mosaics with the navigation camera and panoramic camera and completed an overnight tranmission of data to Odyssey.

Sol 1222: Spirit conducted a survey of rock clasts with the panoramic camera, scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera, and acquired movie frames in search of dust devils with the navigation camera. The rover acquired systematic foreground images using all 13 filters of the panoramic camera and a systematic foreground raster with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. Spirit again watched for dust devils and acquired movie frames with the navigation camera. The rover measured atmospheric argon using the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. Spirit surveyed the horizon with the panoramic camera and monitored dust on the rover's mast.

Sol 1223: Spirit completed a reconnaissance study of the rover's tracks using the miniature thermal emission spectrometer. The rover surveyed Nancy Warren with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer, approached Nancy Warren, and acquired post-drive image mosaics with the navigation camera. The rover completed an overnight relay of data to the Odyssey orbiter.

Sol 1224: Spirit acquired thumbnail images of the sky using the panoramic camera and conducted a high-sun survey with the panoramic camera. Spirit conducted reconnaissance with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and completed an overnight relay of data to the Odyssey spacecraft.

Sol 1225 (June 14, 2007): Spirit unstowed the robotic arm, acquired a mosaic of microscopic images of Nancy Warren, placed the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer on the target, and acquired data with the instrument. Spirit relayed data overnight to Odyssey.

Odometry:
As of sol 1225 (June 14, 2007), Spirit's total odometry was 7,141.67 metres.