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Unmanned Spaceflight.com _ Spirit _ Post-Solstice at Home Plate North
Posted by: briv1016 Jul 2 2008, 11:37 PM
They are back to taking pictures for the Bonestell Pan.
4. What EDRs did we request?
Expected EDRs by sequence number and image type:
Sol Seq.Ver ETH ESF EDN EFF ERP Tot Description
----- -------- --- --- --- --- --- ---- -----------
01595 p2600.12 2 2 0 0 2 6 pancam_tau
01596 p2600.12 0 0 0 0 0 0 Unexpected sequence!!!!
01597 p2600.12 0 0 0 0 0 0 Unexpected sequence!!!!
01598 p2600.12 0 0 0 0 0 0 Unexpected sequence!!!!
01599 p2111.05 13 13 0 0 2 28 pancam_cal_targ_L234567Rall
01599 p2273.09 13 0 0 13 2 28 pancam_bonestell_col16_pt3_L234567Rall
01599 p2600.12 2 2 0 0 2 6 pancam_tau
01599 p2898.03 0 0 0 0 0 0 pancam_point_150deg_L1R1
Total 30 17 0 13 8 68
Posted by: Tesheiner Jul 3 2008, 06:33 AM
Those are very good news! 
FWIW, the last shot of that mosaic was 40 days ago during sol 1559.
01553::p2271::09::13::0::0::13::2::28::pancam_bonestell_col14_pt1_L234567Rall
01559::p2272::09::13::0::0::13::2::28::pancam_bonestell_col16_pt1_L234567Rall
01599::p2273::09::13::0::0::13::2::28::pancam_bonestell_col16_pt3_L234567Rall
Posted by: Tesheiner Jul 3 2008, 01:20 PM
And another thing to celebrate!
Happy 1600 sols.
Posted by: john_s Jul 3 2008, 03:58 PM
Methinks the recent posts belong in a new thread, as we start to look forward to Spirit's spring activities. It's a long time since we slid into Home Plate North. Moderator??
Posted by: djellison Jul 3 2008, 04:02 PM
John's right - we're now post-equinox, science is, slowly, back on the agenda...time for a new Martian Spring, and a new thread
Posted by: alan Jul 3 2008, 10:58 PM
shouldn't that be post solstice?
Posted by: briv1016 Jul 8 2008, 06:52 AM
Has anyone else noticed this really old data onboard? (Prior to final winter parking on Sol 1466)
Priority: 25
d0815_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01409 0.0 4
d0814_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01411 0.0 2
d0816_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01424 0.0 1
d0818_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01431 0.0 2
d0820_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01434 0.0 2
r1321_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01436 0.0 1
d0824_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01448 0.0 1
r1325_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01457 0.0 1
Priority: 61
p1560_navcam_DustDevil_SF_LEYE_lvlaz245_01319 1.5 2
Priority: 75
f0000_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01376 0.1 2
f0000_Unexpected sequence!!!!_01394 0.1 1
Priority: 82
p1561_navcam_fast_DustDevil_SF_LEYE_lvlaz_290_01430 11.6 15
p1565_dd_watch_MASK_az275_max10Mb_5min_01441 1.0 1
p1561_navcam_fast_DustDevil_SF_LEYE_lvlaz_290_01449 12.3 16
Priority: 98
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01392 10.3 18
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01393 1.2 2
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01394 3.4 6
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01395 13.7 24
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01396 4.6 8
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01398 4.3 8
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01399 6.5 12
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01400 3.3 6
f0006_fs_commanded(eg_sunfind,autonav)_01402 3.2 6
Is this data that is just pending deletion or does it actual have to be down-linked?
reformatted in the interests of visual decorum
Posted by: djellison Jul 8 2008, 07:21 AM
It's just really low priority. Sunfinding Pancam images or autonav Navcam frames don't really matter - but if the bandwidth is there, then why not.
Doug
Posted by: briv1016 Jul 9 2008, 09:13 AM
3 new updates:
sol 1580-1586, June 13-19, 2008: Battery Power on the Rise
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1580
sol 1587-1594, June 20-27, 2008: Here Comes the Sun
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1587
sol 1594-1600, June 27-July 03, 2008: Biding Time
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1594
Posted by: fredk Jul 17 2008, 03:17 PM
New versions of the Bonestell pan at the halfway point at http://martianchronicles.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/spirits-bonestell-panorama/
Posted by: Astro0 Jul 18 2008, 07:43 AM
For anyone who doesn't want to download the 21mb version on the blog, here's a scaled down version.
A little bit of sky adjustment and brightening to show more detail.
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This is only halfway through the pan, so the entire image will be incredible when finished.
Enjoy
Astro0
Posted by: Astro0 Jul 31 2008, 04:46 AM
HiRise image of Spirit's Winter #3 location on Sol1591.
http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_008963_1650
Posted by: fredk Jul 31 2008, 03:06 PM
From the caption to that hirise image:
I don't recall hearing the drive plan officially before (though we could guess their motives based on the imaging they did of the valley to the west), so this looks like trying to drive back onto HP where the slope is drivable is not planned. I was hoping for a re-traverse of HP since we know the driving is good. I hope we don't get bogged in the west valley...
Posted by: centsworth_II Jul 31 2008, 03:31 PM
The layering at the Northwest 'corner' where Spirit first arrived at Home Plate has been the most impressive IMO. It looks like the layering along the West side may offer more of the same, making it a very scenic drive down the valley.
Posted by: briv1016 Aug 1 2008, 06:30 AM
With the worst of winter over and power levels hopefully on the rise, does anyone have any idea when they will switch to a 3-day communication schedule or even a 2-day?
ETA: Along those same lines, does anyone want to venture an educated guess as to when they will be able to reactivate the survival heaters?
Posted by: briv1016 Aug 6 2008, 09:07 PM
4 new updates:
sol 1601-1607, July 04-10, 2008: Solar Energy Evens Out
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1601
sol 1608-1614, July 11-18, 2008: A Juggling Act
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1608
sol 1615-1620, July 19-24, 2008: Time to Recharge the Batteries
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1615
sol 1621-1627, July 25-31, 2008: With Batteries Charged, Spirit is Ready for More Science
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1621
Interesting to note; on the sol 1608-1614 update they've re-added the statement "In addition to making daily measurements of atmospheric opacity caused by dust with the panoramic camera, Spirit completed the following activities” to the sol-by-sol summaries.
Posted by: Oersted Aug 13 2008, 10:48 AM
Last posting in the Spirit forum was a week ago! - Just want to tell you little rover that we haven't forgot that you were the FIRST of our still-functioning assets on the Martian surface. Keep trekkin'!
Posted by: briv1016 Aug 13 2008, 11:03 AM
New update
sol 1628-1634, August 01-07, 2008: Waiting Out the Winter
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1628
Posted by: PaulM Aug 26 2008, 11:42 AM
Nice rocks which are probably ventifacts were photographed by Spirit on SOL 1637, which was 15 SOLS ago:
http://mars.lyle.org/imagery/color/2-271689561-6.jpg
The rocks which I think are ventifacts are those in which a clear line is seen where individual facets meet. Each facet is created by a sand blast from a different direction.
Wikipedia says:
"Ventifacts are rocks that have been abraded, pitted, etched, grooved, or polished by wind-driven sand. These geomorphic features are most typically found in arid environments where there is little vegetation to interfere with aeolian particle transport, where there are frequently strong winds, and where there is a steady but not overwhelming supply of sand."
The "Bonestell panorama" is taking a long time to acquire but will look really good when it is finished.
Posted by: Gray Aug 26 2008, 06:25 PM
It looks as if most of the larger rocks in that image are ventifacts. The piece of scoria in the fore ground looks remarkably unfaceted, or is it?
Posted by: CosmicRocker Aug 27 2008, 06:02 AM
That really is an interesting image from Spirit. The fact that most of the facets on those boulders and cobbles are similarly oriented is pretty convincing evidence that we are seeing ventifacts.
I can imagine how the surface texture of scoria might complicate the appearance of those rocks, but if you survey the scene for the population of scoria boulders, they mostly fit the trend. Also, as the surrounding/supporting sand moves with the wind, some of the rocks might acquire new orientations.
Posted by: briv1016 Aug 27 2008, 09:29 PM
First half of Bonestell Pan.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20080826a.html
Also, Exploratorium is back up.
Edit: Is anyone else having trouble getting the new images off the Exploratorium website and onto Midnight Mars Browser?
Posted by: Stu Aug 31 2008, 10:09 PM
First Spirit pic I've done in a while...
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Posted by: Tesheiner Sep 1 2008, 10:13 AM
Just found this interesting note in the http://www.planetary.org/news/2008/0831_The_Mars_Exploration_Rovers_Update.html, about attempting to drive up toward the top of Home Plate instead of moving downslope. Expect to happen after the middle of October.
Posted by: briv1016 Sep 8 2008, 10:16 PM
4 New Updates:
sol 1635-1642, August 08-15, 2008: Spirit Standing By
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1635
sol 1643-1650, August 16-24, 2008: Spirit Still Biding Time
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1643
sol 1651-1656, August 25-30, 2008: Spirit Still Biding Time -- and Checking the Clock
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1651
sol 1657-1662, August 31-September 05, 2008: Spirit Continues Work on Winter Panorama
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1657
Still no work on them turning back on the main heaters.
Posted by: briv1016 Sep 23 2008, 03:13 PM
2 New Updates:
sol 1663-1668, September 06-11, 2008: Light Duty for Now
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1663
sol 1669-1677, September 12-20, 2008: Warming Up on Mars
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1669
Also, it looks like Spirit was having a flashback of her reckless teenage years on the Sol 1678 downlink.
Sol Seq.Ver ETH ESF EDN EFF ERP Tot Description
----- -------- --- --- --- --- --- ---- -----------
00537 p2293.03 0 0 0 13 0 13 pancam_independence_col_2_6_L256R27
00537 p2294.03 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_independence_col_7_10_L256R27
00539 p1585.00 0 0 1 0 0 1 navcam_cloud_4x1_dwnsmp_RVRAz_calstart
00539 p2111.05 1 0 0 0 0 1 pancam_cal_targ_L234567Rall
00539 p2542.11 0 0 0 7 0 7 pancam_witherspoon_L234567Rall
00540 p2297.03 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_independence_col_19_22_L256R27
00546 p1585.00 0 0 3 0 0 3 navcam_cloud_4x1_dwnsmp_RVRAz_calstart
00575 p2651.06 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_dust_devil_movie_L6R2
00580 p1560.02 1 0 0 0 0 1 navcam_DustDevil_SF_LEYE_lvlaz245
00580 p1586.00 0 0 2 0 0 2 navcam_cloud_4x1_dwnsmp_RVRAz330
00580 p2626.02 2 0 0 0 0 2 pancam_sky_radiance_thumbs_L457R247
00581 p1745.03 0 0 0 1 0 1 navcam_5x1_az_252_3_bpp
00581 p2111.05 0 1 0 0 0 1 pancam_cal_targ_L234567Rall
00583 p2111.05 1 0 0 0 0 1 pancam_cal_targ_L234567Rall
00591 p2278.04 0 0 0 2 0 2 pancam_southern_basin_4cx3r_L7R1
00591 p2280.04 0 0 0 2 0 2 pancam_southern_basin_4cx3r_L7R1
00592 p1585.00 0 0 4 0 0 4 Unexpected sequence!!!!
00597 p1586.00 0 0 2 0 0 2 navcam_cloud_4x1_dwnsmp_RVRAz330
00613 p2288.04 0 0 0 6 0 6 pancam_post_drive_8x4_part3_L256R27
00615 p2593.12 0 1 0 0 0 1 pancam_morshead_L234567Rall
00615 p2594.12 0 7 0 0 0 7 pancam_clove_hitch_L234567Rall
00617 p2291.04 0 0 0 3 0 3 pancam_tennessee_8x2_L257R27
00620 p2292.04 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_everest_pan_col_1_7_L257R1
00621 p2294.04 0 0 0 9 0 9 pancam_everest_pan_col_13_17_L257R1
00631 p1590.00 0 0 0 1 0 1 FrontHazcamStereo_0.5bpp_pri17
00647 p2568.13 0 4 0 0 0 4 pancam_aster_L234567Rall
00647 p2571.13 0 2 0 0 0 2 pancam_cinquefoil_L234567Rall
00647 p2572.13 0 3 0 0 0 3 pancam_foxglove_L234567Rall
00647 p2573.13 0 3 0 0 0 3 pancam_lousewort_L234567Rall
00647 p2574.13 0 3 0 0 0 3 pancam_shawnee_L234567Rall
00650 p2580.13 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_foreground_L234567Rall
00652 p2743.03 0 0 0 2 0 2 pancam_meteor_search_L1R1
00664 p2535.14 0 0 0 2 0 2 pancam_thrasher_L234567Rall
00675 p2263.05 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_Seminole_pan_cols5_8_L256R27
00684 p2630.03 2 0 0 0 0 2 pancam_saw_skysurvey_L4578R2478
00689 p2567.14 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_Golden_Lake_L234567Rall
00689 p2574.14 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_Kipawa_Naanan_L234567Rall
00715 p2889.02 0 0 0 2 0 2 pancam_sky_flats_all_filt
00739 p1625.02 0 0 0 1 0 1 navcam_5x1_az_36_2_bpp
00740 p1733.01 0 0 0 1 0 1 navcam_3x1_az_234_1_bpp
00742 p1605.01 0 0 0 1 0 1 navcam_5x1_az_0_1_bpp
00748 p2271.05 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_Gibson_col_1_2_3_4_L257R127
Posted by: peter59 Sep 25 2008, 11:51 AM
Two good news
- With Martian winter on the wane, Spirit is using significantly less energy to stay warm. During the winter solstice, Spirit needed 90 watt-hours to run the heater. Now, the rover uses between 30 and 40 watt-hours.
- Solar-array energy has inched upward to 255 watt-hours
Posted by: BrianL Oct 3 2008, 06:30 PM
About time. You've neglected the long term planning of your favorite rover for too long. We need your vision to see into the future here as well. The Promised Land? Thera? The mouth of Ma'adim Vallis? Where would you send Spirit after Von Braun and Goddard? And will Steve listen to you a second time?
Posted by: ustrax Oct 3 2008, 07:15 PM
You are so right, Spirit is, undoubtfuly, my dearest plucky one...
I am working on it...Indeed I am!
Oh yes, I can see you guys just shaking your heads...
And SS doesn't have to listen...he just have to read!
Posted by: alan Oct 5 2008, 06:42 PM
55 frames of Bonestell panorama
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another 27 frames have been taken but remain on Spirit
Posted by: ustrax Oct 7 2008, 11:07 AM
I would like you guys, our resident geologists to drop some of your educated words on this image (original image has been replaced):
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-What's your take on the kind of process that may have lead to the formation of a landscape like this?
-There are two splat-like features, near the images' equator, one on the left another on the right, what might these be?
Thanks for thinking about it!
Posted by: briv1016 Oct 7 2008, 04:44 PM
Is Exploratorium backed-up again? They don't have any Bonestell images after sol 1671, even though the tracking site says several additional sections have been downlinked. It corresponds to the Bonestell chart at the very bottom of the tracking data page if that makes any sense.
Posted by: charborob Oct 7 2008, 06:00 PM
What is the scale of the main image. Is it at the same scale as the Columbia Hills image beside it?
My guess would be that the small knobs (including the one in the red square) are made of more resistant rock that was left over after a period of erosion.
Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 7 2008, 06:21 PM
Rui, normally for a reliable interpretation, you would need to indicate the scale and also show the context of the image - where is it, what's around it? That makes a big difference to a geological interpretation.
I would guess that the area is an old deposit of some kind that is being eroded away, leaving all these little hills as erosional remnants, and that the features you highlight are exhumed impact craters. But it's only a guess. At this resolution it's not really possible to say they are like Home Plate, and they look more like hollows than 'plates' even if one side has an outer scarp - I'd explain that as part of the layer beibng stripped away.
Phil
Posted by: alan Oct 7 2008, 06:27 PM
Spirit has been downloading thumbnails only of the Bonestell pan. Guessing here, downloading just thumbnails saves enough energy for Spirit to image an extra position in the panorama per working sol. This will allow the panorama to be finished earlier so Spirit can move from its current position. The remaining images can be downloaded later.
Posted by: ustrax Oct 7 2008, 06:33 PM
My guess would be that the small knobs (including the one in the red square) are made of more resistant rock that was left over after a period of erosion.
charborob, yes the scale is the same for both images.
Found a possible analogue from HiRISE:
http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_008778_1685
The explanation given is that...there is not an explanation yet, only guesses, like yours...
"But how did the rocks form, and why did they erode onto mounds? It could have been lava or impact ejecta or fluvial sediments, perhaps altered and indurated by groundwater. The mounds could be due to how it was deposited like hummocky impact ejecta or how it was indurated. In other words, we haven't solved the mystery!"
EDITED: Phil, your answer arrived while I was writing, yes you are right, it is better to show the whole picture...
http://tes.asu.edu/~phil/gusev_vis_final.png
The area I've cropped is located south of Thira.
Posted by: tty Oct 7 2008, 06:39 PM
The "splat-like" features look like they might be melt-sheets from under old craters that have been eroded away.
Posted by: ngunn Oct 7 2008, 09:28 PM
Aah - your bigger image shows that your two splat features have a much bigger cousin to the north, not far below the south rim of Thira. I would agree that something has caused the impact craters of a certain age in this region to have floors that are cemented in some way and thus erosion resistant. I wouldn't like to guess whether the cementing process is melting per se or something else.
Posted by: ustrax Oct 7 2008, 10:20 PM
There seems to be some related information at http://themis.asu.edu/feature_gusev:
"Lobes of a smooth material appear to have flowed, perhaps as water-rich sediments or molten lava, across an older, knobby landscape. The older surface is spotted by its pits, knobs, buttes, and mesas. The knobs may have been eroded by winds into fluted shapes called yardangs that trend northwest-southeast."
"The material (south of the Columbia Hills) partly resembles the rough, knobby terrain located on the southeast floor of Gusev. If it has the same origin, then here THEMIS may be looking through a "window" opened by erosion that gives a view down to the older knobby material that is better exposed to the east."
I presume this knobby material is the one we're talking about?
Posted by: ustrax Oct 8 2008, 09:40 AM
I've tried to had some perspective to the area (nothing that accurate...):
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But it changed my point of view about some features, for instance, the oversized Home Plate (03) seems from this angle to be another mesa-like as others surrounding it, the splat like feature to the left (01) looks like the mentioned cemented crater floor, the one to right (04)...don't what what to think of it, seems to be higher than its surroundings, is this consistent with an old crater floor (EDITED: Now looking better it looks like there's a wall to the right that could be a remnant of a crater...)?
Another feature caught my attention (02), it appears to my eyes as some sort of cone but it is probably just a optical illusion...
EDITED: It wouldn't hurt asking SS if an HiRISE image of this area is planned...
"We currently have all the HiRISE images we need to plan Spirit's operations for the coming martian year."
Why?! Why?!
Huumm..."for the current martian year"?...Huumm...
Posted by: alan Oct 17 2008, 03:15 AM
Spirit imaging has been limited mainly to taking images of the sky recently. Could the http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/blogsPost.php?bID=254 be affecting power levels?
Posted by: briv1016 Oct 20 2008, 03:46 PM
Two new updates:
sol 1690-1694, October 03-08, 2008: Spirit's Memory Is Getting Full
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1690
sol 1695-1701, October 09-15, 2008: Getting Ready to Make the Next Move
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1695
Of note:
Posted by: Tesheiner Oct 20 2008, 04:18 PM
... and also:
Posted by: tedstryk Oct 20 2008, 05:29 PM
YES!!!! Now to get it on the ground
Posted by: Astro0 Oct 23 2008, 06:11 AM
Did anyone notice that Spirit's IDD is now stowed.
It's been off the hook for a long time...now that the Bonestall pan is done, maybe it's time for her to get moving as well!
Any news...anyone?
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Posted by: Tesheiner Oct 23 2008, 08:19 AM
Thanks for the heads-up Glen.
It has been a long time without checking the imaging plan for Spirit. According to it, my guess is that a bump will be executed during sol 1709, followed by a navcam picture to measure the tilt on that same sol, then the usual after-drive hazcam images but in this case taken on sol 1710.
She has still very low power. 
01709::p1807::01::2::0::0::2::0::4::navcam_1x1_RvrAz_4bpp_pri_17
01710::p1213::00::2::0::0::2::0::4::ultimate_front_hazcam_3_bpp_pri15
01710::p1313::02::2::0::0::2::0::4::rear_haz_ultimate_3bpp_pri15
Posted by: briv1016 Oct 24 2008, 07:07 PM
Does anyone know if they've re-activated the survival heaters? According to this update they turned them off on sol 1533 and I don't recall reading about them turning them back on.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1532
Posted by: Tesheiner Oct 25 2008, 08:16 AM
It was a looong time without exercizing those wheels but finally, on sol 1709, she did a small bump just enough to modify the rover's tilt about 4 degrees (from 32ş to 28ş).
Compare a previous image with the latest navcam.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/navcam/2008-02-17/2N256513381EFFAY00P1809L0M1.JPG -> http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/navcam/2008-10-24/2N278080042EFFAY08P1807L0M1.JPG
Edited: Added previous and current fhazcam images too.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/forward_hazcam/2008-02-17/2F256513272EFFAY00P1214R0M1.JPG -> http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/forward_hazcam/2008-10-25/2F278169373EFFAY08P1213R0M1.JPG
Posted by: Geert Oct 25 2008, 10:54 AM
Couldn't resist the temptation: this is a stdev terrain analysis for the homeplate area with exactly the same settings as used for oppy.
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with unprocessed image of same area at same scale:
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Posted by: jamescanvin Oct 25 2008, 11:25 AM
That is GREAT news that Spirit was able to bump UP the slope. Looking good for the short cut across Home Plate. 
Posted by: Enceladus75 Oct 25 2008, 12:43 PM
But will Spirit be actually roving anywhere more than a few metres from its "wintering" spot on Home Plate?
Are there plans to explore the Columbia Hills further or will Spriit stay in and around Home Plate for the rest of its days? It would be nice if Spirit could move to a new location that is some - not necessarily all that far - but some distance away, as it's been a bit frustrating to see it confined to HP for years now.
Posted by: jamescanvin Oct 25 2008, 01:07 PM
Yes, the plan for a long time has been to head over to von Braun after winter. It was expected that Spirit would have to descend off HP from the winter haven, but we heard a while back that they were going to attempt to climb back on top where the terrain is easier to drive on and also a lot shorter to get across to VB. From the first bump it's looking good for the shortcut.
Posted by: Marz Oct 25 2008, 09:30 PM
full quote removed - mod
Whew! It's good to see the wheels are still ready to roll. I can't wait for Spirit to begin spying on dust-devils and checking out new territory soon.
Posted by: CosmicRocker Oct 26 2008, 03:51 AM
Posted by: Stu Oct 26 2008, 06:54 AM
Really love the subtle details visible on this pic... Mars is such a beautiful, beautiful place, isn't it?
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Posted by: djellison Oct 26 2008, 11:26 AM
Yes it is. I always thought of it as smaller than that though. (cough ahem)
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Posted by: Ant103 Oct 26 2008, 12:10 PM
I've made a remapped version to compensate tilt of the rover
http://www.db-prods.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/sol1681-sands-remapped.jpg
Posted by: jamescanvin Oct 26 2008, 03:25 PM
And here is our 'Spirit pancam image of the week' in context of the rest of the Bonestell pan that has been downlinked so far. (hugely reduced in size at this time)
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James
Posted by: alan Oct 27 2008, 04:50 PM
Spirit has finished sending the top row
01681 13:22:12 p2293.09. 1 0 0 13 13 13 13 pancam_bonestell_col27_pt1_L234567Rall
Posted by: alan Oct 28 2008, 02:40 AM
Bonestell panorama update with complete top row
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edit: another bump tosol?
01713 p1213.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 ultimate_front_hazcam_3_bpp_pri15
01713 p1290.08 0 0 0 0 0 0 front_haz_lefteye_half_bpp_pri29
01713 p1312.09 0 0 0 0 0 0 ultimate_rear_hazcam_2_bpp_pri15
01713 p1807.02 0 0 0 0 0 0 navcam_1x1_RvrAz_4bpp_pri_17
Posted by: peter59 Oct 29 2008, 09:43 AM
Sol 1713 - next tilt change (about 2 or 3 degrees)
before:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/rear_hazcam/2008-10-25/2R278169314EFFAY08P1313R0M1.JPG
after:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/rear_hazcam/2008-10-29/2R278435977EFFAY15P1312R0M1.JPG
Posted by: PhilCo126 Oct 29 2008, 05:37 PM
Single sol drive distances:
While Oppy drove a record distance of 220 meters on its sol 410, its sister Spirit only set a record of 124 meters during its sol 125.
Other references of single sol drives for Spirit?
Posted by: Tesheiner Oct 30 2008, 01:58 PM
Another bump was planned for today (sol 1715). Still waiting for data downlink...
Posted by: jamescanvin Oct 30 2008, 02:13 PM
Some data has hit the database - if the numbers can be believed then it was a <1cm drive. Quite a contrast to Oppy!
Still heading up the slope
Posted by: BrianL Oct 30 2008, 04:47 PM
Slippage?
Posted by: djellison Oct 30 2008, 04:59 PM
No - they're intentionally just doing tiny steps - to keep the best angle for the sun.
Doug
Posted by: peter59 Oct 30 2008, 08:30 PM
Today's bump probably revealed a potential problem. Spirit on the left side moved a few centimeters, but on the right side shifted slightly down and rover turned a few degrees. This does not look too good.
Posted by: Floyd Oct 30 2008, 09:01 PM
The right front wheel is dead. As long as the rover can pivot on that wheel and get the other 5 all on the top of Home Plate, all is good.
Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 30 2008, 09:19 PM
Spirit only has to move downhill and to the east a few meters and it's back where it climbed up on the top of the Plate on sol 768. If it can't go uphill it hasn't really lost anything, as long as the sun angle is good enough for the time being.
Posted by: Tesheiner Oct 30 2008, 09:20 PM
Here's an animated gif of today's bump. Originals here: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/forward_hazcam/2008-10-30/
Posted by: djellison Oct 30 2008, 11:59 PM
Phil makes a good point. For some reason - I've seen (and held) the assumption that we head west, down the west side of HP, toward VB and G. We don't need to - we can still cross home-plate if we just go East a bit to where we last got on to it with 5 wheel drive.
Doug
Posted by: jamescanvin Oct 31 2008, 09:07 AM
Looks like another drive is happening tosol (1716).
I wonder if we'll see them turn the wheels to try and control the yaw caused by the dud wheel - the turn does look a little worrying from the drives so far.
Good point about the nearby point where we know Spirit can climb HP I had been lead down the same line of thinking as Doug before now.
James
Posted by: peter59 Oct 31 2008, 02:13 PM
After today's bump right wheel is dangerously close to the edge.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/forward_hazcam/2008-10-31/2F278704194EFFAY27P1213R0M1.JPG
Posted by: mhoward Oct 31 2008, 04:39 PM
I don't know about "dangerously". "Worryingly," certainly
Here a little http://mmb.unmannedspaceflight.com/MERASol1707-1716.mov based on the tracking data. I don't know how exact this is, but it seems to more or less match what we seem in the hazcam images.
Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 31 2008, 08:11 PM
Check out the new Planetary Society rover update on this topic... I like the bit about the "pioneering racketeers Werner von Braun and Robert Goddard". I don't know if they would really approve of that!
Phil
Posted by: fredk Nov 1 2008, 06:20 PM
\begin{annoying I-said-that-a-long-time-ago mode}
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=4883&view=findpost&p=109759
\end{annoying I-said-that-a-long-time-ago mode}
We know we can get up onto HP with five wheels at the sol 1306 ongress point. But there certainly may be other spots between WH3 and the 1306 point that are also doable with five wheels. I've always been puzzled by the talk of taking the West Valley route.
Posted by: Shaka Nov 1 2008, 08:03 PM
The West Valley route holds the possibility that we will see deeper exposed strata in the HP structure than hitherto. Since the valley is mostly sandy, we should be able to plow through it with the stuck wheel dragging behind. I think it is worth seeing, more so than another transit of the top of HP.
Posted by: djellison Nov 1 2008, 08:11 PM
Just like the Tyrone area, which was mostly sandy.....errr....hmm.
Posted by: Shaka Nov 1 2008, 08:14 PM
There's sand, and then there's sand. 
Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 4 2008, 04:01 PM
I agree that West Valley offers a good look at the stratigraphy of HP, but the likely exit path off HP - which would be down the slope of Low Ridge at the SW corner of the Plate - would give us a look at that end of the exposure. I expect Spirit would stop at the bottom of Low Ridge and look at the edge of the Plate.
Phil
Posted by: CosmicRocker Nov 5 2008, 05:35 AM
The west and SW sides of HP clearly seem to display the greatest vertical relief of the entire escarpment, so I also agree that the west side is likely to contain the largest stratigraphic section. It seems to be the most eroded side. We know that there are traversable exit ramps from HP on the NW and NE sides that have been used in the past, but it is not obvious to me that either of those would necessarily be used for the next exit. Scanning previous route maps, it appears that Spirit can traverse similar distances per sol both on top of HP and around it's perimeter (if Tyrones and Tartari can be avoided). I'd like to suggest that a convenient exit ramp to a direct route to VB exists on the southern end of HP, near the sol 1346-1347 locations.
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=4553&view=findpost&p=102435, as some of the best 3D imagery came together. Some of my favorite 3D anaglyph views of the southern end of HP to VB are in that thread. I had hoped to figure out how to repost them as thumbnails in this message, but that isn't going to happen. I think I can post links to the images, though...
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=12332
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=12350
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=12353
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=12363
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=12381
It appears that there may be comfortable drives down on either side of the feature we previously described as the "anvil." Spirit could investigate a fairly tall stratigraphic section of HP at a road cut near the base of that ramp. Here comes the sun.
Posted by: djellison Nov 5 2008, 08:09 AM
Why would you imagine a northern side exit?
Posted by: CosmicRocker Nov 6 2008, 06:47 AM
I don't imagine that an exit on the north side would be a good idea unless the routing decisions were being driven by factors other than efficiency. For instance, if potential science targets on the east or west sides of HP were given higher priority than a quick route to the south, or if Spirit could not climb to the top at the current location, a northern exit might be chosen.
Some here have suggested exit routes. We already know that there are several places on the northern side where Spirit has roved onto HP, off of it, or both. I was simply trying to expand that discussion by suggesting an untested exit at the south side of HP which could offer important, early science returns, as well as an efficient path to VB. I don't know which factors will be important to those planning this fascinating drive. I'm simply guessing without insider information, which is what many of us here really enjoy doing.
Posted by: BrianL Nov 6 2008, 01:24 PM
Yes, it's a shame people like Paolo have to come in here and give us facts. 
Posted by: Astro0 Nov 9 2008, 10:53 AM
While Opportunity rolls, Spirit rocks!
I can't recall seeing the RF wheel changing direction in a long time.
I wonder if Paolo can let us in on some of the action?
|
Animation (FHZ and RHZ views)
Posted by: Tesheiner Nov 9 2008, 11:14 AM
Mmm, might it be that they want to pivot the rover around the FR wheel?
Posted by: RoverDriver Nov 9 2008, 07:20 PM
I can't recall seeing the RF wheel changing direction in a long time.
I wonder if Paolo can let us in on some of the action?
Since we reached the current tilt levels MER-A right front wheel has stopped making uphill progress. We have been trying different techniques but so far there has not been much progress. Since the terrain might be slightly smoother on the right side of the rover we are trying to see if we can make better progress by crabbing slightly to the right.
We have other more radical maneuvers we might try but that will have to wait after conjunction to avoid the risk of getting the rover to an unfavorable position. The current position should allow survival of the rover past conjunction.
Paolo
Posted by: dot.dk Nov 9 2008, 08:02 PM
My idea would be to try a drive with just the right rear and middle wheels. Maybe that would get the right side pushed forward?
Posted by: CosmicRocker Nov 10 2008, 06:58 AM
My guess would be that they turned the wheel to minimize the friction of the wheel treads. It makes sense to turn the treads parallel to the push direction, if that is the corner of the rover they wish to advance. I too, would have expected a pivot around the RF wheel, but perhaps that would have resulted in an unfavorable tilt angle
Posted by: djellison Nov 10 2008, 08:25 AM
The latest FHAZ images from 1724 have me worried. Forget the driving challenges, we've got bright skies and not-very -dark shadows again. Dust storm like conditions. Maybe I'm over reacting, but it looks murky all of a sudden.
Comapre
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/2/f/1723/2F279326259EFFAZ13P1213L0M1.JPG
with
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/forward_hazcam/2008-11-09/2F279415145EFFAZ18P1213L0M1.JPG
Doug
Posted by: Tesheiner Nov 10 2008, 08:54 AM
That's not good.
Any info on the tau or Wh?
Posted by: tedstryk Nov 10 2008, 02:53 PM
It isn't dust storm season yet. This summer is when we will start having to watch out for that.
Posted by: djellison Nov 10 2008, 03:08 PM
Seasonal or not - that's a big tau jump we're seing there.
Doug
Posted by: Deimos Nov 10 2008, 03:39 PM
We're past the Ls of the first tau>1 dust storms from the first Mars year, and past the point where tau jumps from winter levels to perihelion levels for all 3 mars years (thats 0.2 to 0.6 for Spirit). But Doug has a good eye--that's the earliest season tau~2 dust storm for either rover. It is not really unseasonal, it is likely just the rover is closer to the center of one of the local/regional dust storms that pop up from time to time. In this season, it is reasonable to hope that the peak is brief. But Spirit desperately needs a cleaning event prior to any long storm.
Posted by: fredk Nov 10 2008, 03:42 PM
I agree that this looks like a big jump in tau. There have been recent increases - from http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1709
Unfortunately it may be that the "distant" storm activity has gotten a lot closer. We can hope that this is just a small, local storm that will pass soon. I agree that this isn't global dust storm season, so we shouldn't be seeing a repeat of last summer's big storm. But then of course available power and temperatures are a lot worse than during last summer's storm...
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 10 2008, 04:15 PM
Ever the optimist.....wasn't it the case that both rovers experienced cleaning events immediately prior to the big storm last year?
Posted by: djellison Nov 10 2008, 05:01 PM
Yup - just before the 'big storm' - Spirit was up to, if I remember, 750 Whrs.
Sol 1104 - 310 Whrs
Sol 1219 - 600 Whrs
Sol 1240 - 750 Whrs
Then the storm hit....
Sol 1245 - 490 Whrs
Sol 1265 she was down to 261 whrs
Infact the mission updates recorded an increase in Tau AND an increase in Whrs at the start of what became that storm - an 8% cleaning event ( hitting that 750 figure ) - kept Spirit just ahead of the weather for a few days. Dust storms and cleaning events sort of go hand in hand at Gusev meteorologically I guess. I'm wondering now, what was the tau like during that first round of cleaning events up near Larry's Lookout.
Posted by: Deimos Nov 10 2008, 08:00 PM
The Larry's Lookout major cleaning was around tau~1, near the peak of a tau~1.3 dust storm, the 3rd or 4th such storm Spirit had seen. The biggest cleaning events have tended to be a bit later in the year, but that may be overgeneralizing. Even 261 Whr looks really good compared to what has likely been happening.
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 11 2008, 10:06 AM
89WHrs!! 
http://jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-206
Posted by: tedstryk Nov 11 2008, 10:54 AM
Wow, hasn't this been a lousy week on Mars!
Posted by: Ant103 Nov 11 2008, 11:14 AM
Verrry looow, and verrry worrying
Posted by: MahFL Nov 11 2008, 02:31 PM
Shoot.
Posted by: djellison Nov 11 2008, 03:09 PM
I was thinking 180whrs bad - not 90. That's shocking. That's 30 less than Opportunties record low in the '07 storm.
Doug
Posted by: dvandorn Nov 11 2008, 03:34 PM
I am in awe of the rover handlers. The MERs were designed in such a way that continued power levels at 300 whrs or below was considered death. And yet, here we are with power levels less than a third the level that was designed as the absolute minimum to sustain a MER at even base survival levels, and we're still thinking "Hey, just a few more days, old girl, and there will be more sunlight. We can get through this."
Absolutely incredible.
-the other Doug
Posted by: fredk Nov 11 2008, 04:43 PM
Hang in there, Spirit.
Does anyone know how many Whrs they can save each sol by shutting down the minites heater and other heaters? I guess it depends on how much of the sol they've been running the heaters recently?
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 11 2008, 04:57 PM
I'm going to use this as an example to my girls when they leave their curling irons plugged in. "You know there are starving rovers on Mars that would love to have those watt-hours you throw away every day."
Sorry, just trying to lighten up the mood here.
Posted by: mars loon Nov 11 2008, 05:16 PM
lets pray for a quick clearing. losing 2 landers in 1 week is unbearable though sadly not impossible
the last paragraph in the JPL press release gives some hope, though a double edged sword.
"Mars weather forecasts suggest the dust storm may be clearing now or in the next few days. However, the dust falling from the sky onto Spirit's solar array panels also could leave a lingering reduction in the amount of electricity the rover can produce"
ken
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 11 2008, 05:21 PM
Any MRO images of the storm?
Posted by: Stu Nov 11 2008, 05:23 PM
Sorry, just trying to lighten up the mood here.
Well, it worked for me!
That's a great image. I don't rate your chances of success very highly tho. If I tried to get my other half to turn off her curling tongs they'd be stuck somewhere not even an endoscope could boldly go...
Posted by: Oersted Nov 11 2008, 05:30 PM
This is beginning to feel like the Apollo 13 Command Module...
Crossing fingers for a happy outcome. Anybody know a wind-dance?
Posted by: climber Nov 11 2008, 05:38 PM
This may help: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=hkbdP7sq0w8
Posted by: Ant103 Nov 11 2008, 05:42 PM
Not MRO but Themis Odyssey :
http://themis.asu.edu/dustmaps/
And nothing really noticeable, except a bit dust coverage in Isidis. But it was taken from Oct 25 to Nov 4. And FHC image shown by Doug is more recent. Maybe the dust "storm" take a way southward?
Posted by: dvandorn Nov 11 2008, 05:51 PM
No... but perhaps, some night this week, everyone can co-ordinate to point their faces at Mars, take a *really* deep breath, and blow as hard as we can...
-the other Doug
Posted by: imipak Nov 11 2008, 07:35 PM
I've been very good at staying off UMSF until I get home from work, but I think Thursday might have to be a WFH day. http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=2195&view=findpost&p=119388, James listed the miniTES heater as 55 Whr and the battery heater at 29 Whr (==84.) As the mini-TES heater's off, I wonder whether any of the "140 Whr - everything else" figure includes individual heaters that might remain on, or if it's just the battery heater and whatever minimal current is needed to keep the clock and "wake up" circuitry powered up that are running?
Posted by: PaulM Nov 11 2008, 09:06 PM
Does anyone know if the entire Bonestell panorama is down yet? The most recent image that I could find on exploratorium was the following:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/pancam/2008-11-10/2P276129198EFFAY00P2263L4M3.JPG
It looked to me as if this image is from the sandy area immediately downslope from Spirit's current location. Hopefully the panorama is complete.
I can not bring myself to think the unthinkable thought that this could be Spirit's last image.
I know that the conventional wisdom is that the probability of cleaning events is the same wherever you go in Gusev crater. However when I look at dust devil movies taken in the direction of the plain I can not help thinking that Spirit's chances would be better if it drove out onto the plain until it received a cleaning event.
Posted by: fredk Nov 11 2008, 09:34 PM
Thanks for reminding me of those figures. The weather has warmed a bit since then, so switching off the heaters would probably save us less energy now. One big question is what was the state of charge in the battery when the storm hit.
The scary thing about this recent event is that it happened so fast. They had plenty of time to prepare for the winter solstice, gradually using less power, and that made it easier to keep the battery charged.
From http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1716
And from http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1709
Gosh, I hope she pulls through.
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 11 2008, 10:11 PM
No it's not all down. Here is a small version my working copy:
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There are 13 camera pointings still missing from this; they still have to be downlinked. One is partially down (7 out of 13 filters) so I make it 162 individual images to go (plus the odd data dropout in a few others). The one that is partially down would complete the top two rows.
James
Posted by: brellis Nov 12 2008, 05:36 AM
Spirit was hit by a bad dust storm - http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j1ExT948JtSH7ZaYSH6OG-hP1hUQD94D3TAG0
The solar-powered Spirit produced only 89 watt-hours of energy last weekend, half the normal amount it needs to function. The culprit was a dust storm that moved over Spirit's site near the Martian equatorial plains, blocking sunshine from reaching its solar panels.
To prevent Spirit from depleting its batteries, ground controllers commanded the rover to turn off heaters that warm various instruments. Engineers also instructed the spacecraft to cease communications with Earth until Thursday.
"This is a very dangerous time," said project scientist Bruce Banerdt of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the mission. "If we don't hear from it on Thursday, we'll be extremely concerned."
The Spirit news came a day after NASA declared an end to another Mars mission, the Phoenix lander, which lasted five months. Phoenix was parked in the arctic plains and not expected to survive the Martian winter, but a dust storm there hastened its demise.
Scientists said there was reason to hope that Spirit could pull through. The latest Martian forecast suggests the dust storm over Spirit appears to have abated. Spirit's twin, Opportunity, which is exploring on the opposite end of the equator, was not affected by the storm.
Even if the storm passes, there could be damage to Spirit's instruments or a delay in getting the rover moving again if its solar panels remain dusty, Banerdt said.
Hang in there, Spirit!
Posted by: climber Nov 12 2008, 06:47 AM
I must be very concerned by Spirit's situation. I had a dream last night.
I was in Greenland with my wife but inside a building were JPL was both testing the MER backup but the real Spirit & Oppy were there.
They were side by side on a trailer. I realized I had to call JPL to tell them what was "realy" going on and it happened that I had the phone number with me. Now it was no longer my wife that was dictating the phone number to me but a collegue. I finaly get in touch with someone in Pasadena but I was very nervous since I realized they were operating the Rovers in a bad way and I was not able to recognize which one was Spirit and which one was Oppy and I knew Spirit only was in trouble. Then, the first one roved on the ground from the half a meter remorque without damage but my wife (she was back) and I try to help the other one to ease her smoothly on the ground. The rover was realy moving on, taking pictures, moving the IDD, cameras. Things went bad when she put the IDD underground I didn't know what to do, what to say. I thought to put my face in front of the cameras so they could tell me which one was Spirit but I thought it could take hours before a pictures was taken. I realy felt useless and very nervous. Then I woke up.
I must be very concerned.
Posted by: ustrax Nov 12 2008, 07:35 AM
You are...and you're surely not the only one...
Spirit, I know you can listen to us...:
Remember the "pilgrim shadow" little one!
Posted by: HughFromAlice Nov 12 2008, 09:08 AM
According to New Scientist article on Spirit posted today....
'........Spirit may emerge unscathed. "We are cautiously optimistic that we can get through this dust storm without a catastrophe," says rover project scientist Bruce Banerdt of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.'
Let's hope that the optimistic bit is stronger than the caution!
Posted by: HughFromAlice Nov 12 2008, 09:17 AM
On the other hand in the science section of the LA TImes today ....
"John Callas, the rover project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cańada Flintridge, said the rover's survival might be in jeopardy because the dust-covered arrays were producing only a third as much power as they were capable of, even before the latest dust storms hit. The storms of the last few days have reduced the output even more, to 26.5%,....... Callas said he believed the low power levels probably tripped a built-in fault-protection system"
Let's hope not.
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 12 2008, 09:40 AM
Meanwhile twittering over at http://twitter.com/marsroverdriver Scott is looking on the *possible* bright side:
I'll take survival at this point - don't want to get my hopes up too much.
Posted by: djellison Nov 12 2008, 09:54 AM
Even if she hits a low power fault, the environment Spirit is in ( Spring, equatorial ) and the design (off the ground, well insulated) - means, I think, that she will probably not 'break' quickly.
http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/handle/2014/38695
and
http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/handle/2014/39897
are you home-work reading for today.
Posted by: Tman Nov 12 2008, 12:20 PM
It's odd with the two rovers. The fact it could be once all over has become such a distant prospect, that you disavow it greatly now.
There're now thousand of terrestrials who desire nothing else but a good wind gust to clean up sufficiently. May the "juice" be with us...
Posted by: Oersted Nov 12 2008, 03:33 PM
May Zephyr, the God of Westerly Winds, blow hard on our little Venus! - And may she avoid being covered in a mantle of dust...
Admin: It's best not to link to a large image on a really slow server. Link removed and image attached.
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Posted by: Enceladus75 Nov 12 2008, 05:24 PM
I doubt at this stage Spirit will do much more roving on Mars. I hope they can get all the data from the Bonestell panorama down to Earth from Spirit.
Spirit is crying out for a cleaning event. Please, hang on Spirit and please come, dust devil to clean her solar panels! 
Posted by: djellison Nov 12 2008, 05:58 PM
We're one cleaning event from a couple of hundreds metres of driving.
Posted by: Fran Ontanaya Nov 12 2008, 06:27 PM
Clinging like a lizard to a sun-warmed rock from a primitive world, trying to survive extinction by dust winter...
I hope it turns out to be just another epic page in her epic journey.
Posted by: brellis Nov 12 2008, 07:33 PM
I realize that at some point in my mind I dismissed the possibility that these wonderful rovers would ever expire!
Posted by: imipak Nov 12 2008, 09:16 PM
Anyone know what time tomorrow (Thursday) the comms session's planned? Is it an Odyssey pass or DTE? Come to that, this data must be online somewhere..? (Embarrassing to be asking such an obvious question after five years, I know )
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 12 2008, 10:10 PM
The tracking site has one image transmitted on sol 1728. Is this good/bad or just an error?
1. What new EDRs from ANY sol were received on sol 1728?
Number of EDRs received by sol, sequence number, and image type:
Sol Seq.Ver ETH ESF EDN EFF ERP Tot Description
----- -------- --- --- --- --- --- ---- -----------
01688 p2265.10 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_bonestell_col26_pt2_L234567Rall
Total 0 0 0 1 0 1
Posted by: mhoward Nov 12 2008, 11:07 PM
Well if it's accurate, it would be very good news. I choose to see it as a hopeful sign until somebody tells me otherwise...
Posted by: mhoward Nov 12 2008, 11:11 PM
http://nasa.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/pancam/2008-11-12/. I hope I am not getting ahead of myself in imagining cheers at Mission Control.
Posted by: fredk Nov 13 2008, 03:13 AM
A http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20081112a.html Still no word from Spirit (so that image must've come from a backlog somewhere else), which could be a good sign (if she received the commands to not communicate until Thursday) or bad (if she didn't but is completely out of power).
Posted by: mhoward Nov 13 2008, 03:29 AM
Strange. Back to the waiting, then
Edit: Come to think of it, there is currently a strange thing going on with new versions of the same images showing up in the system. That image might be one that already came down earlier. Wish I'd remembered that before I got my hopes up.
Posted by: elakdawalla Nov 13 2008, 04:16 AM
I checked with Jim Bell, and that's not a newly transmitted image. He said we shouldn't hear from Spirit for about 8 hours from half an hour ago.
--Emily
Posted by: CosmicRocker Nov 13 2008, 06:32 AM
I'd feel better if Jim had told you when we should expect to hear from Spirit. I guess he means the earliest we can expect communication will be shortly before I wake up tomorrow. Apparently, I'll be reading UMSF over breakfast.
There're now thousand of terrestrials who desire nothing else but a good wind gust to clean up sufficiently. May the "juice" be with us...
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 13 2008, 04:04 PM
When will we know?
Posted by: djellison Nov 13 2008, 04:29 PM
When we know. Come on, after 5 years we're wiser than expecting specific news on specific things at specific times.
Posted by: Sunspot Nov 13 2008, 04:46 PM
About 6 hours ago.
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 13 2008, 04:51 PM
We have been fortunate to participate in real time in many of the programmed accomplishments of the space program, but we cannot expect to have the same access to un-programmed, problematical events. In these cases we have to be more patient, wait for the puzzle pieces to be collected and arranged. Those involved need to concentrate on that task, not public relations.
P.S. I secretly harbor feelings of impatience myself. ... but understand the delay.
Posted by: imipak Nov 13 2008, 07:23 PM
Doug and centsworth - you're right, of course, but it's not unreasonable to wonder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_analysis news might be expected, in different scenarios, and to compare events with predictions. (Had the Phoenix signal dropped out during EDL, it would not have meant disaster had struck; but the fact of it's presence meant we didn't have to worry that the heat shield had failed, for instance.) Anyway, I'll keep my completely uninformed guesses to myself.
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 13 2008, 07:44 PM
The example you give is just what I talked about: We had the expected planned event times and could follow along. If the Phoenix signal had dropped out we would have been in the same position we are now. Waiting while those involved gather information, run simulations, and discuss it among themselves.
It would be nice to know expected times of contact with Spirit, if contact was made, and possible meanings if there is no contact, but it might be understandable if the team does not want to try and micro-manage public information releases concerning an ongoing crisis. In reality, any pressure to do so comes from a very small fragment of the public.
Posted by: Deimos Nov 13 2008, 08:09 PM
Hard to say when there would be news. The team has 4 sols of data to wade through from the pass about an hour ago. The skies seem to be clearing, but probably not to pre-storm levels.
Posted by: dvandorn Nov 13 2008, 08:13 PM
That's all we really wanted to hear -- that we had a successful comm pass and that Spirit is still communicating with Odyssey. The details can wait -- what we wanted to know is the girl hasn't died!
-the other Doug
Posted by: mhoward Nov 13 2008, 08:16 PM
Yeah - trying not to jump to conclusions again, here. Does that mean that contact with Spirit was established? That in itself would be most welcome news. To put it mildly.
Adding: although I totally understand it's probably not enough to put in a press release, by itself.
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 13 2008, 08:36 PM
This itself is big news to all us nail biters.
Posted by: djellison Nov 13 2008, 08:53 PM
What I've heard is approx 140whrs, and has not tripped a low power fault.
The Doug analysis - in the ICU, but not on the critical list.
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 13 2008, 09:05 PM
Who could have imagined only a couple weeks ago that this would be GREAT news!
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 13 2008, 10:43 PM
Phew! I can breath again.
So great to see the new tau images.
Posted by: fredk Nov 13 2008, 11:13 PM
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-212 The baby's crying!
Posted by: mhoward Nov 13 2008, 11:25 PM
I doubt this is over, but still, what a relief. Hang in there, Spirit.
Posted by: Tom Tamlyn Nov 14 2008, 12:03 AM
Whew!! And special kudos to the rover team for maintaining communication with the public under circumstances when even the most impatient fan would forgive them for being too preoccupied to speak.
In this as in so many things, the mission is setting standards that will be hard to match.
TTT
Posted by: HughFromAlice Nov 14 2008, 06:07 AM
['Tom Tamlyn' .......special kudos to the rover team ]
I'll second that!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: CosmicRocker Nov 14 2008, 06:39 AM
Ditto to the special kudos. It seems that we can find reasons to high-five the team virtually every single day. I have come to realize that this is what they do.
It seems that the news is even better. Communications were not only successful, but 4 sols-worth of data were transferred, requiring significant analysis by the team. So it wasn't a tenuous communication session. Significant data was relayed.
How many of the increased Whrs are due to improved tau versus potentially cleaner panels?
...ever the optimist...
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 14 2008, 08:00 AM
Most may be due to turned off heaters.
Posted by: djellison Nov 14 2008, 08:56 AM
No. Whrs = power generated. Heaters are one of a number of ways of consuming that power. What you do with the power doesn't change how much of it you actually get in the first place. Whrs are how many pennys get put in the jar. Heaters are one of a number of ways of taking them out again.
And scrap 140whrs....she was on 161.
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 14 2008, 09:14 AM
Which sol was that on? 1726?
Posted by: djellison Nov 14 2008, 09:20 AM
That I don't know. I'm guessing 1729.
1730 has a sequenced Tau in it which is good news.
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 14 2008, 09:28 AM
And scrap 140whrs....she was on 161.
Oops!
Could the doubling of power in a few days be solely the result of tau reduction? That's impressive.
Posted by: Pertinax Nov 14 2008, 01:00 PM
A bit behind in getting the news this morning, but still: HURRAY!!!!!
I didn't expect to be cheering about power generation in the 150 w/hr range, but weak is better than dead here!
Here's praying for even a bit of cleaning.
-- Pertinax
Posted by: Deimos Nov 14 2008, 01:29 PM
It looked like, of the 4 sols, energy in was up a bunch the first two (tau down to 2 and then 1.2) and started leveling (tau~1). The arrays don't seem any cleaner, maybe a bit worse. The heater off and other commands went in halfway, so it looks like net energy got positive again despite the low Whrs (face it 160 wouldn't have looked good Saturday). So yes, it seems doubling from 1725 to 1729, the energy came from the reduction of tau by >1.
Posted by: BrianL Nov 14 2008, 01:34 PM
Does anyone recall the last location where Spirit had a cleaning event, and how far away that was? I worry that we shall not see a mighty wind in the current area.
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 14 2008, 02:49 PM
What I'm concerned about now is the settling out of dust which happened at the end of the major storms last year. As I recall when the skies cleared and tau dropped whrs began to plummet too from the accumulation of dust. Let's hope that doesn't occur here, even on a small scale.
Posted by: climber Nov 14 2008, 03:17 PM
I will risk to speak my opinion: the best place to get a cleaning event will be between HP and VB where we could get some Venturi's effect (acceleration of air flow beteween 2 highest points). i must said that it's more a "hope" than anything else.
Posted by: marsophile Nov 14 2008, 04:37 PM
It's a good thing the rover is currently tilted, so it presents a smaller "catch" area to vertically falling dust. My recollection is that the cleaning events all took place on Husband Hill. It makes sense that hilly areas would catch more wind. Perhaps when the rover gets on top of home plate, it might help.
Maybe the vibration trick that Opportunity is currently trying to clean the MTES might tend to shake dust off Spirit's solar panels while it is on an incline? Of course it doesn't have the energy to try anything like that now, but maybe later in the Spring or Summer? Kind of like a dog drying itself after a dip in the water!
Posted by: FIN Mars Nov 14 2008, 05:21 PM
If the worst option comes true and Spirit dies, this will be black week
Where are you, saving dust devil...
Posted by: climber Nov 14 2008, 05:39 PM
In case you missed these TPS news: http://planetary.org/news/2008/1113_Mars_Exploration_Rovers_Update_Spirit.html
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 14 2008, 05:45 PM
Just when things are looking up, why you gotta go and bring us down?
I wonder what the "new" absolute minimum power production requirement level is to keep Spirit alive until increased sunlight or a cleaning event come her way? 80 whrs was too low. Is 150 whrs enough for a long term siege? 120?
Posted by: djellison Nov 14 2008, 09:26 PM
The Eastern side of home plate. All of 20m away.
Doug
Posted by: dot.dk Nov 14 2008, 10:23 PM
FULL INLINE QUOTE REMOVED - Admin
When was that? Can't remember 
Posted by: djellison Nov 14 2008, 11:12 PM
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=5282&view=findpost&p=130510
Sol 1104 - 310 Whrs
Sol 1219 - 600 Whrs
Sol 1240 - 750 Whrs
Posted by: brellis Nov 15 2008, 03:36 AM
A cleaning event just prior to the big dust storm -- one might suspect the increasing winds were part of the approaching storm system. That wind cuts both ways!
If only we could pray for rain!
Posted by: alan Nov 15 2008, 04:44 AM
Top two rows of the Bonestell panorama are now complete
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Posted by: fredk Nov 15 2008, 06:53 PM
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20081114a.html
A ten percent drop in transparency. Could've been worse. Let's hope there's not too much more dust still to settle.
Posted by: Vultur Nov 15 2008, 07:40 PM
Hoping for some cleansing s.
Still, I'm glad the immediate crisis is over.
I don't think conjunction is that far away ... I hope she can hold on through it!
Posted by: djellison Nov 17 2008, 08:50 AM
The word is, the last three sols (1730-1732) were all 160-170Whrs power, with actual useage being >20Whrs LESS than that - so entirely power positive.
Doug
Posted by: BrianL Nov 17 2008, 01:46 PM
What power levels are needed before they will try driving again?
Posted by: djellison Nov 17 2008, 02:01 PM
Back to 240+ I would have thought. We'll be in this location till after conjunction.
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 17 2008, 04:37 PM
Does that include the Mini-TES heater?
Edit: Also, do they plan to turn on all the heaters for conjunction or do they plan on riding it out with a few of them turned off?
Posted by: alan Nov 17 2008, 06:27 PM
I wonder if they will finish downloading the rest of the Bonestell panorama before then.
Posted by: Pertinax Nov 18 2008, 04:46 PM
Remembering the heady sols of Spirit's youth this morning, I thought I would throw together a quick pan of some the the calibrated horizon rows from the Bonestell Pan using Hugin.
-- Pertinax
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Posted by: fredk Nov 21 2008, 03:14 PM
There's a series of MARCI images of the recent storm http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/spotlight/20081120_Spirit.html
Posted by: climber Nov 21 2008, 09:05 PM
There is some 22 pictures from yesterday & today from Spirit: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/pancam/2008-11-21/
I guess the power situation is improving.
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 23 2008, 08:29 AM
With solar conjunction blocking communications for the next couple of weeks, do any of the imaging gurus want to post there version of the 90% of the Bonestall Pan downlinked thus far?
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 23 2008, 09:50 AM
I was considering posting a scaled down preview.
You've just made up my mind I'll see what I can do.
James
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 23 2008, 12:35 PM
Here your are briv1016, 78 (out of 86) images of the Bonestell panorama at 1/4 of the full resolution.
http://www.nivnac.co.uk/mer/index.php/bonestell-78
James
Posted by: Doc Nov 23 2008, 02:57 PM
Here is a gif animation of the dust storm that hit Gusev.
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Looks as if the storm was erupting from the south before dissipating over gusev.
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 23 2008, 06:10 PM
Posted by: Vultur Nov 23 2008, 10:26 PM
The Bonestell images are amazing... it almost looks like the red deserts of parts of the Southwest. All it needs is a collared lizard scuttling under a rock or a prickly pear in the corner...
Posted by: alan Nov 23 2008, 10:33 PM
I think we still have a week yet:
I'm still hoping they will have the third row downlinked by then.
Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 23 2008, 11:24 PM
Here's a polar view of James's latest version of the big panorama.
Phil
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Posted by: Floyd Nov 24 2008, 02:13 AM
Phil, do you know if they have imaged the deck of Spirit and have enough coverage to link to the bottom of the 3rd row to the deck all the way around? Possibly these images exist on just the 3 filters necessary for the color panorama, but not all 13?
Posted by: jamescanvin Nov 24 2008, 10:52 AM
I think the answer is no, there aren't any more pancam images to fill in the nearfield/deck at this location - you'd have to resort to navcams for that.
James
Posted by: briv1016 Nov 25 2008, 12:33 AM
Oops, I guess I spoke too soon.
Images downlinked on sol 1739
Sol Seq.Ver ETH ESF EDN EFF ERP Tot Description
----- -------- --- --- --- --- --- ---- -----------
01689 p2266.10 0 0 0 1 0 1 pancam_bonestell_col19_pt3_L234567Rall
01690 p2269.10 0 0 0 2 0 2 pancam_bonestell_col25_pt3_L234567Rall
01691 p2270.10 0 0 0 11 0 11 pancam_bonestell_col27_pt3_L234567Rall
01691 p2271.10 0 0 0 5 2 7 pancam_bonestell_col26_pt3_L234567Rall
01737 p2600.12 2 2 0 0 2 6 Unexpected sequence!!!!
01737 p2898.03 2 0 0 0 0 2 Unexpected sequence!!!!
01738 p2595.19 1 1 0 0 1 3 pancam_dust_motion_R2
01738 p2600.12 2 2 0 0 2 6 pancam_tau
01739 p2600.12 2 2 0 0 2 6 Unexpected sequence!!!!
01739 p2898.03 2 0 0 0 0 2 Unexpected sequence!!!!
Total 11 7 0 19 9 46
Posted by: Astro0 Nov 25 2008, 06:33 AM
Apart from the Bonestell images, Spirit has returned some shots of itself that are of some interest.
These two animations *appear* to show some dust removal - perhaps through wind or the vibration technique or the recent moves upslope. Thoughts?
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Appears to show some larger particles being removed. Some darkening of the panels - although the time/lighting differences could account for this.
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Certainly some dust movement here - especially that thin pile near the centre plus other movements across the sundial.
Let's hope for some strong gusts soon!
Astro0
Posted by: djellison Nov 25 2008, 08:29 AM
Things certainly have a hint of being a little darker on the arrays.
Posted by: dot.dk Nov 25 2008, 04:35 PM
Will be interesting to hear about power levels...
This could be good news before conjunction.
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 25 2008, 05:26 PM
Of course we could also later learn that there was a major cleaning event during conjunction and Spirit was generating 900 whrs, and in the absence of any significant power consumption the electronics overheated and were badly damaged.
Or maybe not.
Posted by: Pertinax Nov 26 2008, 01:49 AM
Thank you EGD! I hadn't thought of that cloud about our new silver lining!
-- Pertinax
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 26 2008, 03:29 AM
Or maybe not.
As I was http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=5282&view=findpost&p=130926 earlier in this thread for confusing energy production and energy use, I feel qualified to comment.
It seems to me that electronics can only be overheated by overusing them. Not a problem for the minimally active Spirit. I'm sure there is some automatic means of preventing battery overcharging. Is it to basically open the circuit between the solar arrays and the batteries once they are fully charged?
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 26 2008, 06:53 AM
It was a concern before, after really good cleaning events, IIRC at the summit of Husband Hill. Though I was only joking this time.
Posted by: djellison Nov 26 2008, 08:27 AM
Yeah - they were doing so much stuff on top of Husband HIll they did actually turn it off in the afternoons.
Posted by: Fran Ontanaya Nov 26 2008, 12:03 PM
Does static electricity build up in the panels if the battery is shorted to avoid overcharging? 
(maybe a few cells cleaned and that created a static build up differential that dragged the dust around...)
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 26 2008, 04:52 PM
The battery/solar array circuit could be opened (the opposite of shorting) to stop charging. I don't know if Spirit would be trusted to automatically (during conjunction) increase heater usage, when applicable, to dump excess current.
How crazy is it to be discussing ways of dumping excess energy in Spirit just days after a low-energy near death experience!
Posted by: RoverDriver Nov 26 2008, 05:18 PM
How crazy is it to be discussing ways of dumping excess energy in Spirit just days after a low-energy near death experience!
Whenever the batteries are fully charged, the energy coming from the deck is diverted to shunts, resistors that dissipate the heat to the external environment. I'm not a power engineer but at some time they explained to me that leaving the solar cells open loop is not a good thing.
Paolo
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 26 2008, 05:34 PM
OK so all kidding aside, does anyone have any whr figures since these tantalizing images? Anyone at all? (Paolo what does it say on your dashboard gauge just to the left of the CD player?)
Posted by: RoverDriver Nov 26 2008, 06:40 PM
The last number I heard was 174Wh. And beside my media player I have this
and this 
. Unfortunately they have not been changing for some time...Paolo
Posted by: centsworth_II Nov 26 2008, 07:46 PM
Interesting. It's good to know that we can sleep easy, dreaming of seeing a post-conjunction, clean-swept, Spirit overflowing with power.
Posted by: RoverDriver Nov 26 2008, 08:57 PM
One can always dream (of electric rovers!
). Not to rain on anybody's parade but the solar array appearance did not change the Wh figure that much. 174Wh is still a low figure and things can turn ugly in a hartbeat. Paolo
Posted by: ElkGroveDan Nov 26 2008, 09:06 PM
I prefer to think of it as a "change in the weather" with more breezes to come.
Posted by: fredk Nov 27 2008, 02:53 AM
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_spiritAll.html#sol1730 with some new details, like the minites appeared to be in good shape on sol 1730, and a slight worsening of dust factor to 29%.
Posted by: Oersted Nov 30 2008, 09:04 PM
).Nice Philip K. Dick reference...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F
Posted by: RoverDriver Dec 1 2008, 01:07 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F
I was hoping someone would pick that up
Paolo
Posted by: mhoward Dec 1 2008, 02:59 AM
This is one place where I think you can assume many people got the reference.
Posted by: nprev Dec 1 2008, 04:37 AM
...yeah, I was trying to come up with something about it being a 'Dickensian' reference, but I realized that awareness of PKD's work is not necessarily UBIKquitous...
[trying to outrun rotten tomatoes & the occasional bullet...]
Posted by: Oersted Dec 1 2008, 07:34 PM
Nprev, you are an almost paradisical fountain of sci-fi references..
Posted by: fredk Dec 1 2008, 11:52 PM
From the latest http://www.planetary.org/news/2008/1130_Mars_Exploration_Rovers_Update_Spirit.html this description of the recovery of Spirit's signal after the storm:
Perhaps it was just a matter of a few Whrs that allowed Spirit to survive the storm without going into fault mode...
Posted by: RoverDriver Dec 2 2008, 02:44 AM
Perhaps it was just a matter of a few Whrs that allowed Spirit to survive the storm without going into fault mode...
No, the real reason is because she is a tough
.Paolo
Posted by: Oersted Dec 3 2008, 12:07 AM
I agree with Paolo. It was mainly an extremely robust design, along with a good bit of careful management of the power situation by the rover team, that pulled her through.
I am thinking that with the pervasive sales-driven in-built obsolescence we see in machines all around us, we are simply unaccustomed to the toughness of a machine that was built to last as long as possible, with the very best carefully crafted components. Imagine if the rover team built our cars! We'd still be puttering around in Ford T's...
Posted by: RoverDriver Dec 3 2008, 01:28 AM
Tim Parker still putters around town on his model A ;-)
Paolo
Posted by: Pando Dec 3 2008, 04:58 AM
Probably retrofitted with Rocker-Bogie suspension system though
Posted by: elakdawalla Dec 3 2008, 05:09 AM
Naw, he's no engineer, he's a geologist. Makes me wonder how tough the terrain is that he's subjected it to. Back in the day, Model A's handled some pretty questionable roads. (One hallmark of being a geologist is that you've driven 15-passenger vans over "roads" meant only for cattle. I'm proud to say I have, in fact, done that.)
--Emily
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Posted by: Astro0 Dec 3 2008, 06:13 AM
Model A or T - nowhere a Mars Rover couldn't go!
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Astro0
Posted by: CosmicRocker Dec 3 2008, 06:29 AM
Posted by: Astro0 Dec 11 2008, 03:54 AM
You'll be happy to know that the next scheduled (DTE) tracking pass with Spirit will be through the Madrid DSN complex at:
0930-1130 UTC Wednesday 17th December 2008
I think that'll be an appropriate point to start a new thread as Spirit begins the next phase of its journey to vonBraun and Goddard
Posted by: alan Dec 11 2008, 09:43 PM
It's now sol 1757, two Mars years since Spirit's solar panels were cleaned by a dust devil strong winds on sol 420
Posted by: centsworth_II Dec 11 2008, 10:44 PM
What about the cleaning event described below that occurred just two weeks before the great dust storm of 2008? If that cleaning had not taken place, I don't think Spirit would have made it through the storm.
(Note Steve Squyres' comment: "...our speculation is that we took a direct hit from a dust devil.")
http://www.planetary.org/news/2007/0630_Mars_Exploration_Rovers_Update_Spirit.html
Luck blew in on the Martian wind for Spirit on Sol 1224 (June 13, 2007)....it finally got a much-needed spring-cleaning that increased power from its solar arrays by 120 watt-hours, pushing the rover's energy into a really comfortable zone above 600 watt-hours, and bestowing it with a real "second wind." It had been a long time coming. The last time this rover experienced dust-lifting winds was in 2005.
"This [dust-cleaning event] was interesting, different from cleaning events we've had in the past," Squyres said in an interview in his office at Cornell, two days after it happened. "In the past, we've had cleaning events that took place when we were on a summit or a ridgecrest and in the past they have sometimes occurred at night. The rover will shut down in the afternoon with dirty solar panels and wake up in the morning with clean solar panels and we have no idea exactly when it happened. In this particular instance, the rover was awake and busy and active when the event happened so we can pinpoint the timing of it. It happened at 1:20 pm in the afternoon local solar time. Of course, we are now down on a low spot, not up on a ridgecrest of anything. So our speculation –- this is pure speculation at this point – but our speculation is that we took a direct hit from a dust devil. We don't know that. But we are in place where dust devils happen and it's prime time for dust devil activity, the time of day when dust devils seem to be most active."
"It is plausible," agrees Arvidson. "But really not testable. Since the Mini-TES was opened when it happened, Ruff and his team are still evaluating whether the dust on the mirrors have changed, but we're still getting reasonable spectra." The only way they could tell if we were hit with a dust devil, short of somehow capturing signs of the devil with one of the cameras, he noted, is to look at HiRISE data after the cleaning event, note where the vehicle was, and see whether or not there is a new dust devil track. "Otherwise it would be very difficult to understand whether it was wind gust or actual turbulence due to a dust devil passing by."
Posted by: briv1016 Dec 14 2008, 06:23 AM
Any news on how the post conjunction downlinks have gone?
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