To the Cape!, Quackmire and arm troubles |
To the Cape!, Quackmire and arm troubles |
Mar 31 2008, 12:16 PM
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#1
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14448 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
"Hey folks! I’m on-duty with Opportunity this week and it’s going to be pretty exciting. We are in the process of driving the rover over to the wall of Cape Verde to study the layers of rocks there in much greater detail. I will be posting updates all week with the spectacular new pictures that we should be receiving. Stay tuned, it’s going to be a pretty cool week!"
Thanks for the update Ryan : http://martianchronicles.wordpress.com/200...ng-to-the-cape/ I wonder how close they'll get. I think no closer than the height projected from it's base ( i.e. 45 degrees ) |
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Mar 31 2008, 12:34 PM
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#2
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8789 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Rock on!!!
-------------------- 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 31 2008, 12:45 PM
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#3
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Woohoo!! Go get 'em Oppy! About time our gal lifted her eyes off the ground and looked up again.
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Mar 31 2008, 01:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2887 Joined: 22-April 05 From: Ridderkerk, Netherlands Member No.: 353 |
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Mar 31 2008, 03:00 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 279 Joined: 19-August 07 Member No.: 3299 |
I wonder how close they'll get. I think no closer than the height projected from it's base ( i.e. 45 degrees )
Why do you think that Opportunity won't be closer than the distance of the height of wall? |
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Mar 31 2008, 03:44 PM
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#6
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14448 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Why do you think that Opportunity won't be closer than the distance of the height of wall? Restricted visibility for Mars Odyssey communications. You would probably be taking a 1/3rd off total downlink if you brought the local horizon to 45 deg elevation (given that the spacecraft will appear to move slower nearer the horizon, thus more of the session, and thus the data, is sent at the lower elevations. ) Doug |
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Mar 31 2008, 04:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 |
I'm probably missing something very simple here, but how long does it take to take a photo? Why can't they do short in-out maneuvers for the close-up snaps, backing out each time to a better location for sunbathing and data transmission?
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Mar 31 2008, 08:19 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 753 Joined: 23-October 04 From: Greensboro, NC USA Member No.: 103 |
I'm probably missing something very simple here, but how long does it take to take a photo? Why can't they do short in-out maneuvers for the close-up snaps, backing out each time to a better location for sunbathing and data transmission? The problem would be if something unexpected happened that aborted the drive-away, anything from wheel slippage to a 'safe mode' event. That could potentially strand Oppy in a very bad place and the situation could deteriorate rapidly if there wasn't enough sunlight or ability to 'see' the orbiters. -------------------- Jonathan Ward
Manning the LCC at http://www.apollolaunchcontrol.com |
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Mar 31 2008, 08:29 PM
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#9
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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 |
When I sew the title of this new topic (I din't notice it was in Oppy section) I thought : I do not remember of any launch scheduled at Cape ...Canaveral !
After last week news of nearly shutting the rovers down...it's even a much better new ! -------------------- |
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Mar 31 2008, 09:06 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 |
The problem would be if something unexpected happened that aborted the drive-away A finite risk, certainly, but maybe manageable. I guess you'd have to do repeated stabs to and fro along the same track going a little further in each time, with the back-outs at the far end being slightly downhill (which they probably would be anyway). I doubt if the total daily insolation anywhere (in fine weather) would be as bad as it was out on the plain during the dust storm, and if you're just edging cautiously out of trouble as opposed to sending lots of data you don't need that much relay time. If it's the only way to address a major science objective some risk is maybe worthwhile? |
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Apr 1 2008, 04:42 AM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2228 Joined: 1-December 04 From: Marble Falls, Texas, USA Member No.: 116 |
Thanks, Ryan, for the heads-up on this week's plans.
With regard to how closely Opportunity might approach the cliffs of Cape Verde, I think the local geomorphology also limits the places where Oppy is likely to tread. I would guess that the toe of the talus slope surrounding Cape Verde is a boundary beyond which this rover is unlikely to stray. -------------------- ...Tom
I'm not a Space Fan, I'm a Space Exploration Enthusiast. |
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Apr 1 2008, 07:37 AM
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#12
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14448 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
"We're hoping to get close enough to reach out and touch the face of this cliff,"
Squyres, in the TPS Rover update for March. Mr conservative here got it wrong. |
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Apr 1 2008, 08:33 AM
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#13
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4280 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
Great news IMO!
(I was planning to post the exact same piece of info. Doug, you beat me.) "Opportunity roved the first 5.5 meters (18 feet) of the journey to Cape Verde on Sol 1484 (last Thursday, March 27, 2008) and followed that with another 5 meter (16.4-foot) drive on Sol 1486 Saturday (March 29, 2008)" Next drive is planned for sol 1489. Images should be down in less then 24h. |
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Apr 1 2008, 10:50 AM
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#14
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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 |
So, this is the "surprise" SS talked about a few weeks ago! I like it
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Apr 2 2008, 12:53 AM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4260 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
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