Back to work, Post-hiatus but pre-entry |
Back to work, Post-hiatus but pre-entry |
Aug 25 2007, 04:10 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4256 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
I think the return to driving deserves a new topic for Oppy. According to this new release, Oppy is back up to 300 Whrs, and had a small cleaning event!
The release also gives a surprizing reason for the drive to the rim: QUOTE One reason the rover team chose to drive Opportunity closer to the crater rim was to be prepared, if the pace of dust accumulation on the solar panels increases, to drive onto the inner slope of the crater. This would give the rover a sun-facing tilt to maximize daily energy supplies. The drive was also designed to check performance of the rover's mobility system, so it included a turn in place and a short drive backwards. That explains why they drove to this point on the rim - if they enter they'll face south, as it's still southern summer.
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Guest_Sunspot_* |
Aug 25 2007, 08:51 PM
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#2
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Guests |
No more messing about on the rim or the plains, I think they really need to get Opportunity into the crater as soon as possible - it is, after all what they spent a couple of years driving for. The same with Spirit at Home Plate, the rover has been planning on driving up onto HP in the "next few days" for about 5 months.
One lesson from this dust storm is that they REALLY could lose the rovers at any time. Opportunity may have literally been a few watt hours of energy away from death. |
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