To the Cape!, Quackmire and arm troubles Options

[djellison]

"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 )

[Aussie]

The 'update' only covered the period 3-9 April. They are keeping this incident very quiet.

[Astro0]

The 'update' only covered the period 3-9 April. They are keeping this incident very quiet.

Actually Aussie, they are keeping very busy trying to resolve this "incident".
The website updates are done through the wider Mars program outreach teams and are not directly linked with the mission.
I'm sure that as they get updates and as time permits the small team puts together the updates and gets them online.

They are not keeping it "quiet", the MER drivers and engineers have a big job ahead of them.
First they need to get the IDD unstowed. Previous experience has shown that this could take weeks.
Next they need to get Oppy out of the 'quackmire'. They are about halfway already, and can continue to egress as soon as the IDD issue is resolved.

The best way to keep updated is to kep an eye here at UMSF and over at Emily's Planetary Society blog.

Keep the faith, and don't think for a minute that the MER teams would ever withhold anything from us.
SS has been very vocal about the openess of this mission and that has certainly been much of the catalyst for forums like ours.

Astro0

[elakdawalla]

The best way to keep updated is to kep an eye here at UMSF and over at Emily's Planetary Society blog.

Thanks, Astro0, but when it comes to Spirit and Opportunity I definitely rely on the watchful eyes of UMSFers to keep me apprised of the everyday state of the rovers. I'm worried by what I'm reading here, but Opportunity has gotten stuck before. The thing to do right now is to be patient, and trust the rover drivers to solve one problem at a time.

The one who does get the inside scoop is A. J. S. Rayl, who is no doubt reading this topic herself and preparing her questions to ask for her next update, which will be posted only nine days from now. So at least you have that to look forward to.

(Hi AJSR!)

--Emily