Post Conjunction: Santa Maria to Cape York, The Journey to 'Spirit Point' |
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Post Conjunction: Santa Maria to Cape York, The Journey to 'Spirit Point' |
 Feb 8 2011, 03:35 PM
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#1
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 Senior Member  Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197  |
Starting a new topic to include Eduardo's Google overlay for the rest of the journey to Cape York:
http://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/gmars_ma...41_1775_RED.kml Follow the link above and it should load right in to your Google Mars features. I took a low crow's flight along the final 6km this morning. Below in green is what I think the final route will look like. Also an interesting feature along the way that appears to be a cluster of rocks, possibly Santa Maria ejecta, or large meteorite fragments. Note how the dune has evolved around the three (or more) objects. Object is at -2.199395°, -5.396676° -- roughly 3km down range from Santa Maria. EDIT: bad link replaced, wider context image added for three rocks.
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-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Feb 8 2011, 11:53 PM
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1089 Joined: 19-February 05 From: Close to Meudon Observatory in France Member No.: 172 |
QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Feb 8 2011, 04:35 PM)  ...Below in green is what I think the final route will look like. The Green path is interesting indeed. On my side, I bet for a "directissime" (as we say in French) route to Cape York (RED path on ElkGroveDan's good map), because Oppy is now on a very flat terrain with just small dust ripples. I think the Navigators will just race (straight route) on the smoothier terrain available in front of them (maybe with short stops at small craters), not only to gain time, but speed also, while saving some energy by avoiding wheel friction on "pavements"... We'll see 
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Feb 9 2011, 01:35 AM
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 8-February 04 From: Arabia Terra Member No.: 12 |
I can see them making a beeline. I think the path from here to Cape York will be one of straightest they've ever made.
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Feb 9 2011, 06:53 AM
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 The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Members who can't access HiRISE images via the IAS Viewer, or who haven't got Google Mars, might find this zoomed-in view of the "final approach" to Cape York interesting... I think Oppy will be driving over/through/round some *fascinating* ground features as she rolls up towards CY...
I'll add a "scale Oppy" later, have to head out to work now... 
-------------------- |
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Feb 9 2011, 05:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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| Guest_Oersted_* |
Feb 9 2011, 11:55 PM
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Guests |
No big scientific musings here, I just have to say that I'm non-plussed by the thought that Opportunity - after all these years - is actually heading for large-scale morphology. It might be just another crater, but it feels like Landfall.
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Feb 10 2011, 01:02 AM
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
QUOTE (Oersted @ Feb 9 2011, 06:55 PM) ...It might be just another crater... Endeavour is not just another crater. It is the one and only crater that Opportunity will visit that presents material from another - more ancient - age of Mars. The rim of Endeavour was there before the layers of sulfates, before the hematite 'blueberries', before anything else that opportunity has seen.
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| Guest_Oersted_* |
Feb 10 2011, 09:12 AM
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Guests |
We agree. It is totally different from what we have seen so far, that was more or less the gist of my posting.
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Feb 10 2011, 05:20 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 507 Joined: 10-September 08 Member No.: 4338 |
I would guess the MER team would want to get to Endeavour well before the next winter. Who knows what the next Martian season will bring?
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Feb 11 2011, 02:31 AM
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#10
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Opportunity, being more equatorial than Spirit, has never needed a tilt during winter.
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Feb 11 2011, 03:55 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 507 Joined: 10-September 08 Member No.: 4338 |
A late summer or fall dust storm could always make the winter hazardous, even for Opportunity.
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Feb 11 2011, 06:51 AM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Indeed - such an event occurred just before ingress to Victoria...with Whr's down to <100. And then once the skies cleared it just carried on.
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Feb 19 2011, 06:42 PM
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
Might the rover drivers forego the climb of "Ledge York" and instead study the surrounding hydrated bedrock before heading straight for the clays at Tribulation ?
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA13708 Saving precious time and beating MSL Or will Oppy now be headed for a specific location targeted by CRISM ? Best of luck and W/Hrs to the team! -------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Mar 9 2011, 08:31 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Columbia, MD Member No.: 1083 |
Per Ray Arvidson at LPSC, Opportunity will start driving toward Cape York between Monday and Wednesday next week.
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Mar 16 2011, 02:02 PM
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Some musings on the road ahead for Oppy...
http://roadtoendeavour.wordpress.com/2011/...aring-to-depart -------------------- |
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Mar 16 2011, 02:47 PM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4279 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
Your blog is always a pleasant reading, Stu, and I believe we are all eager to start moving again. Incidentally, I'm already working on the JPEG route map covering this final leg (see below a half scale version).
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Mar 17 2011, 09:41 AM
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#17
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 59 Joined: 18-July 07 From: London, UK Member No.: 2873 |
It's going to be a pretty flat ride!
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Mar 17 2011, 07:33 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 252 Joined: 27-April 05 Member No.: 365 |
And an overall downward slope the rest of the way can't be bad for those poor, sore wheels!
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Mar 17 2011, 10:22 PM
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
ET, thanks in advance for your ongoing efforts! Another innocent question: in your image, are the lighter-shaded areas rocky?
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Mar 18 2011, 02:16 AM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1044 Joined: 17-February 09 Member No.: 4605 |
QUOTE (Burmese @ Mar 17 2011, 07:33 PM) And an overall downward slope the rest of the way can't be bad for those poor, sore wheels! Hardly a slope. 1:160 means effectively dead flat. The visual representation of these graphs with such different axis metrics can be misleading. But the MOLA passes are pretty far apart here so there could well be swales, bumps and hollows to be found. But overall it does look life the sediments did a real good levelling job on the terrain. |
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Mar 18 2011, 06:26 AM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
QUOTE (serpens @ Mar 17 2011, 07:16 PM) Hardly a slope. 1:160 means effectively dead flat. The visual representation of these graphs with such different axis metrics can be misleading.good levelling job on the terrain. Remember - Petes chart is from a HiRISE derived DTM - probably three orders of magnitude better than any MOLA gridded product. |
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Mar 19 2011, 09:42 AM
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#22
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Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 8-February 04 From: Arabia Terra Member No.: 12 |
2542 is a driving sol...
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Mar 19 2011, 12:22 PM
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#23
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Member Group: Members Posts: 121 Joined: 26-June 04 From: Austria Member No.: 89 |
I´m just curious - is it possible for Oppy to drive on top of Cape York ? The view around must be stunning !
Robert |
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Mar 19 2011, 12:46 PM
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#24
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
QUOTE (Roby72 @ Mar 19 2011, 08:22 AM) I´m just curious - is it possible for Oppy to drive on top of Cape York ?.... Check out this post and those that follow for a discussion of this.Short answer: Quite possibly. Long answer: With an interesting "crack" at the North end, interesting ejecta blocks at the South end, and possible interesting erosion features all along the juncture between Cape York and the Meridiani pavement, who knows how long it will be before the urge to bypass all that and climb to the top will take hold. On the other hand, Cape York may turn out to be an easier traverse for Opportunity than Home Plate was for Spirit. Maybe a quick jog to the top before heading to the North or South end could be in store. Maybe head one way along the edge -- to the North for example -- then head the other way along the top. Or vise versa. |
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Mar 19 2011, 06:21 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
The scope of Cape York is kinda amazing to consider. This place is big -- like, Texas big!
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Mar 19 2011, 07:03 PM
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#26
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
Well... Victoria Crater big, anyway.
So to examine Cape York as thoroughly as the perimeter of Victoria was examined could take a year.
Source images: http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&p=128456 http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&p=171593 |
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Mar 19 2011, 07:41 PM
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4247 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
QUOTE (centsworth_II @ Mar 19 2011, 08:03 PM) ...could take a year. I couldn't imagine them spending anything like a year at CY when the real goal of clays would be farther to the south (not that you meant to suggest that, 'worth).In fact, I wonder if they may decide to head straight for Tribulation, where the biggest exposure of clays seems to be, instead of CY. Or perhaps straight to Solander Point instead and then south to Tribulation. CY is quite a bit out of the way. |
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Mar 19 2011, 08:41 PM
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#28
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
QUOTE (fredk @ Mar 19 2011, 03:41 PM) ....I wonder if they may decide to head straight for Tribulation, where the biggest exposure of clays seems to be.... CY is quite a bit out of the way. And after we've gotten so worked up over how to study Cape York!  But finding clays before MSR is a stated objective. (How official, I don't know.) Of course, Tesheiner will have to redo his "final Leg" route map. |
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Mar 19 2011, 09:04 PM
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#29
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4279 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
QUOTE (SFJCody @ Mar 19 2011, 10:42 AM) 2542 is a driving sol... Yes, but the sequences planned for 2543 make me wonder if this is just a small bump before taking the second part of the LBS mosaic. 02539::p2260::09::48::0::0::48::2::98::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_4x3_L257R2 02539::p2261::09::36::0::0::36::0::72::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_3x3_L257R2 02540::p2262::09::12::0::0::12::2::26::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_1x1_L257R2 02540::p2263::09::12::0::0::12::2::26::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_1x1_L257R2 02540::p2264::09::48::0::0::48::2::98::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_4x3_L257R2 02541::p2265::09::36::0::0::36::0::72::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_3x3_L257R2 02542::p2266::09::8::0::0::8::0::16::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_left_1x2_L257R2 02543::p2267::09::12::0::0::12::2::26::pancam_Santa_Maria_LB2_right_2x3_L2R2 |
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Mar 19 2011, 09:44 PM
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#30
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 |
QUOTE (fredk @ Mar 19 2011, 07:41 PM) straight for Tribulation I agree. This must be gathering votes amongst those who will decide. In addition to the clays Tribulation has the same curious skirting shelf as Cape York so I can't see any obvious science that would be lost by missing out the latter except in the case that the rover fails just before reaching the slightly more distant target. |
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Mar 19 2011, 10:07 PM
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#31
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4247 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Mar 19 2011, 10:04 PM) Yes, but the sequences planned for 2543 make me wonder if this is just a small bump before taking the second part of the LBS mosaic. This post from Maxwell may clear things up a bit: QUOTE Today, we drove Opportunity to second eye of long-baseline stereo position. Drive time was very tight, so we might need a short bump Monday.
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Mar 21 2011, 03:40 PM
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#32
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10173 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Regarding the destination on Endeavour's rim... at LPSC two different posters showed the same graphic, of routes at the south end of Cape York which might offer access to the Noachian materials in the Cape itself. One climbed onto the top of the Cape near the south end, one skirted the Cape's south end to examine older rocks at the southeast corner. That graphic is not shown in the abstract accompanying one of the posters:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/2199.pdf But it is clear they expect interesting materials at Cape York and Botany Bay. No need to head south right away. Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Mar 21 2011, 05:13 PM
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#33
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Member Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Columbia, MD Member No.: 1083 |
Phil...if I remember correctly from a couple weeks ago, Ray Arvidson said that the engineers had told them that the proposed path straight up Cape York was a "suicide mission". Basically, Opportunity could get up there, but might not make it back down. So I think the southern path was/is preferred right now.
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Mar 21 2011, 05:33 PM
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#34
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4247 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
How could Oppy climb up somewhere that she couldn't get back down? Slippage would be a problem going up, not down.
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Mar 21 2011, 06:59 PM
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#35
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10173 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
"Phil...if I remember correctly"
Yes, you're right, he did say that. "How could Oppy climb up somewhere that she couldn't get back down" Dunno - except I think he might have meant the end part of the route. The interesting material seemed to be on the inner (eastern) slope of Cape York. The drive might be easy up to the top, as we've been saying in this discussion, but then tricky at the end as the targets on the steeper eastern slope were approached from above. For that reason they preferred the southern route, crossing the broad terrace at the base of the hill to taste the yummy stuff above it. Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Mar 21 2011, 07:46 PM
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#36
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 656 Joined: 20-April 05 From: League City, Texas Member No.: 285 |
Strictly in terms of topography, my target of choice is that wedge feature on the northeast corner. It looks to me like a water-eroded ravine, with hints of source channel and "deltaic" deposits spread on the plain to the northeast of the "mouth". This is the single most anomalous feature that I've seen since Home Plate. If I were driving, this would be the first target -- do a quick imaging survey, then go off and look at the spots with neat chemistry elsewhere while we digest the imaging results.
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Mar 22 2011, 07:00 AM
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#37
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4279 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
This is music to my ears.
 Scott Maxwell tweeted: QUOTE We expect to drive away Wednesday after all. Back on the road to Endeavour at last!
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Mar 22 2011, 01:47 PM
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#38
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
Buckle up kids. Has everyone used the restroom? Let's go!
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 22 2011, 03:58 PM
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#39
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2836 Joined: 22-April 05 From: Ridderkerk, Netherlands Member No.: 353 |
Next stop seen on Sol 2543 with the L2 Pancam.
Jan van Driel
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Mar 22 2011, 05:04 PM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I have this catastrophically unhealthy urge to shout 'POWERRRRR' in a Jeremy Clarkson Top-Gear kind of way.
But with < 500whrs, it seems a bit rude. |
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Mar 22 2011, 06:00 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 530 Joined: 21-March 06 From: Canada Member No.: 721 |
Shotgun!
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Mar 22 2011, 08:06 PM
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#42
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2922 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
QUOTE (jvandriel @ Mar 22 2011, 04:58 PM) Next stop You mean way point, don't you? 
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Mar 22 2011, 08:22 PM
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 Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
As a generally passive observer of Opportunity's travels, I am glad to hear that it is getting on with it.
Now, full speed ahead! -------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
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Mar 22 2011, 09:55 PM
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#44
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 Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
As another well known backseat driver would always say: "Engage"
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Mar 23 2011, 04:54 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
I back the wind too, c'mon wind, g'luck Oppy...
-------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Mar 23 2011, 11:15 AM
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#46
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
It continues to amaze me that Endeavour is almost the size of Oppy's journey thus far!
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Mar 23 2011, 12:00 PM
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#47
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 29-December 05 From: NE Oh, USA Member No.: 627 |
Great ride so far and the best is yet to come!!!!!
GO BABY!!! GO!!! Craig |
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Mar 23 2011, 04:37 PM
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#48
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 Director of Galilean Photography Group: Members Posts: 896 Joined: 15-July 04 From: Austin, TX Member No.: 93 |
Like a leaf in the wind!
-------------------- Space Enthusiast Richard Hendricks
-- "The engineers, as usual, made a tremendous fuss. Again as usual, they did the job in half the time they had dismissed as being absolutely impossible." --Rescue Party, Arthur C Clarke Mother Nature is the final inspector of all quality. |
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Mar 23 2011, 07:42 PM
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#49
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
-------------------- |
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Mar 24 2011, 04:48 PM
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#50
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
QUOTE (brellis @ Mar 23 2011, 11:15 AM) It continues to amaze me that Endeavour is almost the size of Oppy's journey thus far! Yep, that is rather impressive...
-------------------- |
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Mar 24 2011, 05:36 PM
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#51
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
As noted previously I have been attempting to coin a new unit of measure for the size of Endeavour; "The San Fernando Valley-sized crater" named after the region of Los Angeles that many JPL staff probably commute to and from. I think the rule is that it needs to appear in a press release or a news story for a unit of measure to achieve official UMSF sanctioned acceptance. Still hoping, fingers crossed.
Attached thumbnail(s)
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 24 2011, 05:46 PM
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#52
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 25-June 06 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 934 |
QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Mar 24 2011, 09:36 AM) As noted previously I have been attempting to coin a new unit of measure for Endeavour; "The San Fernando Valley-sized crater" named after the region of Los Angeles that many JPL staff probably commute to and from. I think the rule is that it needs to appear in a press release or a news story for a unit of measure to achieve official UMSF sanctioned acceptance. Still hoping, fingers crossed. So we are heading to Chatsworth? |
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Mar 24 2011, 10:26 PM
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#53
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Member Group: Members Posts: 166 Joined: 20-September 05 From: North Texas Member No.: 503 |
QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Mar 24 2011, 05:36 PM) "The San Fernando Valley-sized crater" I hope you are not going to imply that Oppy is now a "Valley Girl". 
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Mar 25 2011, 03:44 AM
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#54
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 Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
"OMG!!! Are those, like, you know, phyllosilicates??? That's, like, totally tubular!!!"
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 25 2011, 06:17 AM
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#55
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2228 Joined: 1-December 04 From: Marble Falls, Texas, USA Member No.: 116 |
-------------------- ...Tom
I'm not a Space Fan, I'm a Space Exploration Enthusiast. |
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Mar 26 2011, 12:31 PM
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#56
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
 Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to announce the departure of Opportunity from Santa Maria crater...
Attached thumbnail(s)
-------------------- |
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Mar 26 2011, 01:11 PM
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#57
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4279 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
And the navcam thumbnails pointing south.
   Flat and featureless everywhere. No, wait! What's on this pancam? A  BTW, the next drive is tomorrow, sol 2549. |
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Mar 26 2011, 01:52 PM
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#58
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
QUOTE (Stu @ Mar 26 2011, 04:31 AM) Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to announce the departure of Opportunity from Santa Maria crater... On the road again Goin' places that I've never been. Seein' things that I may never see again And I can't wait to get on the road again. -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 26 2011, 02:24 PM
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#59
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Imaginary HiRISE view of Oppy's departure, based on Tesh's .kml file. Rover scale is correct.
-------------------- |
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Mar 26 2011, 02:31 PM
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#60
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
You realize of course, we are now going to expect you to do that the rest of the way.
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 26 2011, 02:37 PM
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#61
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
I'll do it for every meteorite we stop at...
Larger version of that last pic up on my blog, if anyone wants a look: http://roadtoendeavour.wordpress.com/2011/...ell-santa-maria -------------------- |
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Mar 26 2011, 06:14 PM
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#62
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 13 Joined: 6-April 09 Member No.: 4720 |
QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Mar 24 2011, 01:36 PM) As noted previously I have been attempting to coin a new unit of measure for the size of Endeavour; "The San Fernando Valley-sized crater" named after the region of Los Angeles that many JPL staff probably commute to and from. I think the rule is that it needs to appear in a press release or a news story for a unit of measure to achieve official UMSF sanctioned acceptance. Still hoping, fingers crossed. Use to live in the Valley. Picturing Oppy driving from Chatsworth to North Hollywood kinda puts in in perspective. |
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Mar 28 2011, 08:30 AM
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#63
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Sigh... ***hate*** it when the image pipeline dries up like this, leaving us with only the itty-bitty "stamp" images to tease and torment us...
...but from those, it looks like "Escobar" could be a very interesting chunka rock...   -------------------- |
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Mar 28 2011, 10:49 AM
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#64
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Best I can do with what's available...
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Mar 28 2011, 01:23 PM
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#65
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
QUOTE (Stu @ Mar 28 2011, 01:30 AM) Sigh... ***hate*** it when the image pipeline dries up like this, leaving us with only the itty-bitty "stamp" images to tease and torment us... When I was a boy we used to DREAM of itty-bitty "stamp" images from Mars. The ones we had were so small that we were able to give names to each of the pixels. So don't you be going on about your torment, young man. Be glad for what you've got! -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 28 2011, 01:27 PM
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#66
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
I know, I know... and I'm not being ungrateful, really I'm not. I too remember the days when we had to rely on astronomy mags to show us pics MONTHS after they were taken. It's just *brilliant* timing that the pipeline jams on the *exact* day Oppy leaves Santa Maria and begins her long trek to Endeavour, isn't it? Like the photographer missed Columbus' ships leaving port because his batteries ran out. Not that there was a photographer. But you know what I mean. -------------------- |
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Mar 28 2011, 01:46 PM
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#67
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Member Group: Members Posts: 122 Joined: 19-June 07 Member No.: 2455 |
There wasn't a photographer on the Columbus trip? Oh crap. I got taken by the book of photos then. They seemed so real especially the one where the first mate was standing behind Christopher making horns over his head.
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Mar 28 2011, 05:52 PM
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#68
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Closer view...
-------------------- |
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Mar 28 2011, 07:44 PM
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#69
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
One thing missing in the comparison to the SF Valley is a million other rovers stuck in traffic.
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Mar 28 2011, 07:57 PM
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#70
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4247 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
Exploratorium's back!
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2547 http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2549 I like this area: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...2M1.JPG?sol2549 Looks like ejecta blocks from SM: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...2M1.JPG?sol2549 |
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Mar 28 2011, 08:05 PM
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#71
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
...and how...!
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Mar 28 2011, 09:31 PM
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#72
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Rough 'n ugly Santa Maria departure panorama...
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Mar 28 2011, 09:49 PM
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#73
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 Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3431 Joined: 11-August 04 From: USA Member No.: 98 |
Fond farewell...
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Mar 28 2011, 11:25 PM
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#74
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Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
Maybe it's because we're on the road again, but, this spot is just lovely...(Ejecta heaven)...
-------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Mar 28 2011, 11:43 PM
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#75
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
-------------------- |
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Mar 29 2011, 12:55 AM
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#76
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10173 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Mhoward's farewell pan in circular form...
Phil
-------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Mar 29 2011, 01:55 AM
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#77
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3431 Joined: 11-August 04 From: USA Member No.: 98 |
I wanted a desktop version. 100 degree field of view or thereabouts. (If you can do a better job on the sky, have at it. There's a raw version on my flickr page.)
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Mar 29 2011, 04:21 AM
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#78
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
A colourised version for good measure....goodbye SM! Nice knowing you
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Mar 29 2011, 04:41 AM
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#79
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
QUOTE (mhoward @ Mar 28 2011, 06:55 PM) (If you can do a better job on the sky, have at it. ) Not this time. -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 29 2011, 02:14 PM
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#80
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 562 Joined: 29-March 05 Member No.: 221 |
Looks like the twin peaks and yogi from pathfinder.
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Mar 29 2011, 08:34 PM
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#81
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1583 Joined: 14-October 05 From: Vermont Member No.: 530 |
QUOTE (paxdan @ Mar 29 2011, 10:14 AM) Looks like the twin peaks and yogi from pathfinder. Does look like Yogi, doesn't it? |
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Mar 31 2011, 04:09 PM
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#82
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4247 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
There was discussion a while ago of a low region just to the SE of Santa Maria. We're definitely in it now, as you can tell from how little we can now see of the rim of Endeavour.
Compare this view of the N rim "twin peaks" from when we arrived at SM: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all...J3P2297R2M1.JPG with this recent view: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...2M1.JPG?sol2552 And the far E rim with it's famously unnamed crater: http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all...J3P2297R2M1.JPG is now just barely peeking above the horizon: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...2M1.JPG?sol2552 I expect we'll climb back out of this low in a couple of drives when we make it to the exposed bedrock area ahead. I still think this is a really cool area: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...2M1.JPG?sol2551 |
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Mar 31 2011, 04:09 PM
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#83
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Another "not claiming it's accurate, it's just meant to be pretty, ok?!?!" rendering of a sunrise seen by Oppy as she heads for Endeavour...
PS. Brilliant comparisons, Fred, really dramatic differences. -------------------- |
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Mar 31 2011, 07:19 PM
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#84
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3431 Joined: 11-August 04 From: USA Member No.: 98 |
I like this area as well.
  P.S. Nice, Stu, very nice. |
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Mar 31 2011, 10:26 PM
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#85
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Member Group: Members Posts: 166 Joined: 20-September 05 From: North Texas Member No.: 503 |
QUOTE (Stu @ Mar 31 2011, 05:09 PM) it's just meant to be pretty, ok?!?!" And it is Stu. It is! Thanks. David |
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Mar 31 2011, 11:21 PM
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#86
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Animated those changes Fred, thanks again for pointing them out...
north rim: http://roadtoendeavour.files.wordpress.com...ation-n-rim.gif east rim: http://roadtoendeavour.files.wordpress.com...ation-e-rim.gif ( taken from http://roadtoendeavour.wordpress.com/2011/...e-hills-at-last ) -------------------- |
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Apr 1 2011, 08:01 PM
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#87
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4247 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
As of 2554, we've almost made it to the stretch of bedrock, and we can see more of the rim of Endeavour again:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2554 A bit farther and we'll get a closeup look at the "darkened terrain" mhoward pointed out a long time ago. |
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Apr 1 2011, 08:34 PM
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#88
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4279 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
QUOTE (fredk @ Apr 1 2011, 10:01 PM) A bit farther and we'll get a closeup look at the "darkened terrain" mhoward pointed out a long time ago. Just one more 100m drive and we might already see examples of that dark terrain.
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Apr 1 2011, 09:05 PM
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#89
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3431 Joined: 11-August 04 From: USA Member No.: 98 |
QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Apr 1 2011, 02:34 PM) Just one more 100m drive and we might already see examples of that dark terrain. Hooray! Whether or not it's anything interesting, what a rush to finally be here. |
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Apr 1 2011, 10:16 PM
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#90
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Member Group: Members Posts: 128 Joined: 28-October 08 From: Boston, MA Member No.: 4469 |
QUOTE (Scott Maxwell) At my instigation, we're getting an extra-good image of the right-front wheel before driving again. When it comes down, you'll see why. :-) What do you all make of this rather cryptic tweet from Scott? The smiley throws me. This week's Opportunity update notes that there has been a "small increase" in motor currents in the RF wheel. I'd think that any event that prompts the imaging of the wheel is likely to be bad news. So what's up with the smiley? Could it possibly be that he suspects the RF wheel is turning again (or has turned)? |
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| Guest_Sunspot_* |
Apr 1 2011, 10:17 PM
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#91
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Guests |
hmmm a cryptic tweet
QUOTE At my instigation, we're getting an extra-good image of the right-front wheel before driving again. When it comes down, you'll see why. :-)
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Apr 1 2011, 10:51 PM
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#92
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
If you look at the kapton cable wrapping - that FR strut has done a bit of shedding since conjunction. Or maybe the fact that we're cleat-down and a pile of dust built up 'behind' it that might slip and slide overnight.
We'll see tomorrow! |
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Apr 2 2011, 03:05 AM
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#93
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
Well Oppy's back in Maxwell-motion mode again.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...WJP1201R0M1.JPG That means that she's covering extra metres and that's a good sign. |
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Apr 2 2011, 04:20 AM
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#94
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
QUOTE (Astro0 @ Apr 1 2011, 08:05 PM) Well Oppy's back in Maxwell-motion mode again. I read a paper somewhere about that motion not being good for the rover and having the potential to cause the kapton tape on moving parts to unravel. -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Apr 2 2011, 05:36 AM
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#95
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Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
Thanks for those updates here, just good to know (what's going on
)
-------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Apr 2 2011, 05:41 AM
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#96
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
I think Scott's talking about the JPL logo on the inside of the wheel. I can't recall seeing that before...but then I've not been looking closely at the wheel while the view has been so spectacular!
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Apr 2 2011, 05:50 AM
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#97
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2228 Joined: 1-December 04 From: Marble Falls, Texas, USA Member No.: 116 |
QUOTE (mhoward @ Apr 1 2011, 03:05 PM) ... Whether or not it's anything interesting, what a rush to finally be here. Fantastic. I had forgotten about the dark areas that you had spotted. There is little doubt in my mind that it will be something interesting. I'll be holding my breath for the next hundred meters or so. One thing about the area, though; it appears to be riddled with an intricate network of Anatolia-like fractures. It looks like some pretty dangerous driving to me. 
-------------------- ...Tom
I'm not a Space Fan, I'm a Space Exploration Enthusiast. |
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Apr 2 2011, 06:29 AM
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#98
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1432 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
On the topic of the kapton tape peeling, I threw together a (very) rough animation of the peeling over the past couple years.
Attached thumbnail(s)
-------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Apr 2 2011, 06:56 AM
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#99
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
I have little love for kapton. It's very good insulation, but not very durable over time.
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Apr 2 2011, 01:06 PM
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#100
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Climbing up out of the local "dip"... The Crater is almost back in view...
-------------------- |
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