Going To Homeplate... Options

[Shaka]

Shaka:

The north face is located on the north face of the McCool Hill. I have draw the delimited blue line of that:

About the route, there are many and the future PANCAM pictures will show the best way to advance toward. Maybe, Spirit will stay on HP because by that there would be tons of worth science that there is no time to leave on time. If it so, Spirit will start to visit all round the circle and finally stay somewhat tilt north face on any hill by close of HP.

Rodolfo

Ahh! That's much better! Dam', there's really a hill there. Thanx.
As to trying to overwinter in the Ballpark, I've seen people broaching the idea, and I won't presume on the decision of our gallant PIs, but it seems like a very tricky dance to perform, and one laden with peril. How feasible is it to dash from sunny patch of slope to sunny slope while working and photographing along the way? I just don't think it's a good bet. Maybe with real time control, but not the way the programmers have to work. Only on McCool Hill can you just go about your moving and working, without worrying about whether you're getting enough rays to charge the batteries. I think we must retreat there in time, and, if scientifically justified, return to the ballpark in spring.

[SigurRosFan]

Here's a new special effects view (with poorly rover tracks) of Doug's really great Sol 743 pan. Where is Spirit?

Is the rover size okay?

Approaching Homeplate (540 KB):

[RNeuhaus]

I think we must retreat there in time, and, if scientifically justified, return to the ballpark in spring.

Next spring would be next February 2007 that is the end of Winter term. Almost twice longer than Earth.

I don't think that Spirit will come back to HP and I would expect that Spirit will be wandering from the McCool Hill (hope) to a someplace with a more novel interest to visit.

Rodolfo

[Guest_Myran_*]

Spirit might not return to this location for several reasons, including that possibility the rover might not survive the winter. I hope they make the best of exploring Homeplate now, it might be the last chance we get.
But lets enjoy the present and upcoming investigation, looking at the images at exploratorium yesterday I got the hunch that the we'll see a press conference in the near future.

[Shaka]

Next spring would be next February 2007 that is the end of Winter term. Almost twice longer than Earth.

I don't think that Spirit will come back to HP and I would expect that Spirit will be wandering from the McCool Hill (hope) to a someplace with a more novel interest to visit.

Rodolfo

I would hope so also, if we can locate such a place. Possibly the story which Home Plate has to tell will be fundamentally simple (a period of volcanism or lacustrine conditions) which can be worked out in its essentials within a few weeks of study. If it is more complicated and exciting than that, the PIs will have a tough decision to make: To stay on at HP and hope Spirit can cope, or to sacrifice the full story and hope for new discoveries beyond. I wouldn't envy them such a decision.

[alan]

Can you put a mark on that map where you make the "north slope of McCool" to be?
And similarly mark Alan's latest color pan of inner basin? Thanx.  Without topo lines, I can't see the hill to save my life.

North slope of McCool Hill



Same area in the orbital view

[Shaka]

North slope of McCool Hill



Same area in the orbital view

Ah, at last. You're a gentleman and a scholar, Alan! Your own vista is about what my eyes told me, but after certain incidents of confusion which shall go unmentioned, I was beginning to doubt them.
The orbital view implies that it's a pretty direct eastward run to the start of the safe zone, which might be achieved in a week or so, if there were no lengthy stops along the way. Do you concur? This is comforting. It's also obvious that there are heaps of outcrops in that zone to spend a long Martian winter studying, although to what extent they would repeat or complement the Husband Hill story I couldn't guess. Any thoughts?

[SteveM]

...Only on McCool Hill can you just go about  your moving and working, without worrying about whether you're getting enough rays to charge the batteries.  I think we must retreat there in time, and, if scientifically justified, return to the ballpark in spring.

I'm less certain about the necessity of running to McCool Hill. Rereading the JPL statement of 22 Dec., they were planning that "After investigating Home Plate, mission planners will possibly direct Spirit to the sunny, north-facing slopes of McCool Hill, placing the rover in view of the sun as it sinks lower toward the northern horizon." (my emphasis).

On 15 Dec. Steve Squyres was a bit more positive about McCool Hill
"We need to keep moving quickly if we're going to get to McCool Hill and its sunny north-facing slopes by winter."

However, since there is a north-facing slope on the scientifically rich sides of Home Plate, one possible change of plans suggests itself.

Steve

[Shaka]

Spirit might not return to this location for several reasons, including that possibility the rover might not survive the winter. I hope they make the best of exploring Homeplate now, it might be the last chance we get.
But lets enjoy the present and upcoming investigation, looking at the images at exploratorium yesterday I got the hunch that the we'll see a press conference in the near future.

How right you are! We've been living on 'borrowed time' for so long, we take it as our constitutionally-guaranteed right !
A "press conference" , what's that? ...Wait, it's coming back now...we see our beloved PIs lined up in the flesh! And they move and talk and Steve beams and sparkles and Matt giggles helplessly.
God, that would be Grrrrreat!!

[djellison]

If you're parked at HP when the winter sets in, you can just sit there - that's it. You can't move on because you'd get to some flat slopes or south slopes taht could give you critically low power

Get over to a big slope like the hill, and you can actually drive around with a northerly tilt getting some sun whilst still making some progress to a new area.

Doug

[Ames]

Ok there are some places where Spirit could park and bask in the sun between drives, BUT all it would take is one aborted drive which put Spirit in a less than good angle and the game is up - stuck until spring or worse... the "d" word!

Doug is right we have a limited time here - no matter how interesting it is.

Nick

[SteveM]

Ok there are some places where Spirit could park and bask in the sun between drives, BUT all it would take is one aborted drive which put Spirit in a less than good angle and the game is up - stuck until spring or worse... the "d" word!

Doug is right we have a limited time here - no matter how interesting it is.

Nick

OK, you guys have convinced me; I keep forgetting how long the winter is on Mars.

Steve

[Guest_Oersted_*]

I seem to have read somewhere that just a proper-facing slope on HP isn't enough, because Spirit will also need to climb up from the valley, to get sunlight for long enough each day. So it is not just the angle but also the duration that precludes overwintering at HP. Could somebody confirm that, or do I remember wrong?

[Shaka]

OK, you guys have convinced me; I keep forgetting how long the winter is on Mars.

Steve

Fer shurr, guy! But the real clincher is the basic law of bureaucratic survival. Having made the statements you quoted above, if the PIs then reversed themselves, stayed at HP and Spirit died of energy starvations (Spirit can not hibernate through winter), our beloved PIs would be hung...out...to...dry!
No possibility.
Unless O.K. ...unless that shale or whatever it is contains Fo... no... I won't say the F-word in mixed company.

[Jeff7]

If you're parked at HP when the winter sets in, you can just sit there - that's it. You can't move on because you'd get to some flat slopes or south slopes taht could give you critically low power

Get over to a big slope like the hill, and you can actually drive around with a northerly tilt getting some sun whilst still making some progress to a new area.

Doug

Other benefit of the hill - you can get in a nice windy place to clean the panels. Being in a valley just doesn't sound like a good place to be, concerning dust deposition.

Just can't get over how crazy this is - Spirit's second Martian winter.