Endeavour Drive - Drivability analysis Options

[Tesheiner]

Do we have DEM data of this area?
Doug, what about a fly-by movie of the journey from VC to Endeavour?

[SFJCody]

The hematite signature is weak at the centre of Endeavour. Now this could be due to dark basaltic drift deposits... or it could be due to an exposure of the (phyllosilicate bearing) material underlying the sulphate/hematite plains!



Edit: Looking at this pre MER landing image of the hematite signal strength it seems one of the two images (either this one or the one from the MSL Landing site workshop) is misaligned. If the older image is correct the low hematite signal is in the eastern rim of Endeavour.

Edit 2: I'm convinced the older map is the correct one, and that the map attached to this post from the MSL Landing site workshop is incorrectly georeferenced (areoreferenced?)

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[ustrax]

The hematite signature is weak at the centre of Endeavour. Now this could be due to dark basaltic drift deposits... or it could be due to an exposure of the (phyllosilicate bearing) material underlying the sulphate/hematite plains!

Of course you're not thinking we'll make THAT far?...
Regarding the signature, it seems to correspond, roughly, to the lower part of the terrasses we can see in this image.
Click this one for the full context.
If Miyamoto was almost out of MSL landing site race now it is done for good...Oppy will make it there!...

Astro0...damn you for coming up with stuff like this...beautiful!

[marsbug]

Thats what I'm talkin' about! Go oppy! Mars is along way off so: GO OPPY!

[mhoward]

That image is just perfect, Astro0.

[djellison]

"within the next week",

I hadn't heard that bit before I had to set off to Muenster for EPSC. But I have now

Do we have DEM data of this area?

We only have a DEM of Victoria.

Doug

[fredk]

Having finally listened to the interview, my favourite line is definitely

we've exhausted the easy places, so it's time to do something hard

One thing to add is I think Endeavour is 12km as the Martian crow flies, so it would be a fair bit farther for a realistic zig-zaggy route. And of course it depends on what part of Endeavour they choose as the first target. The far (SE) rim looks maybe most interesting, then the west rim, and then the north rim. Or would they be more interested in driving into the interior?

My guess is still that the north rim would be easiest to get to, by heading NE and then following the flat "tarmac" east. But who knows - maybe with hirise they think they could make their way fast through dunes. Also Squyres said they're interested in science on the way southeast - that has to be an important consideration when the final target is maybe two years away!

Whatever route they choose, I can't wait to get on board as a back seat driver!

[Phil Stooke]

My impression from the available HiRISE images is that the terrain to the south is more favorable. Due south off the Victoria ejecta, south through the drifts until they shrink to more manageable proportions, then east or southeast, passing a nice mid-size impact crater about half way to Endeavour.

Phil

[mars loon]

just catching up

This is just FANTASTIC news. absolutly the best decision to explore new terrotory

A goal truely worthy and befitting our beloved Opportunity

maybe she'll see more of the interior of Victoria along the way

ken

[Marz]

My impression from the available HiRISE images is that the terrain to the south is more favorable. Due south off the Victoria ejecta, south through the drifts until they shrink to more manageable proportions, then east or southeast, passing a nice mid-size impact crater about half way to Endeavour.

Phil

Zis is zuper nuts! The distance from Victoria to Ithaca is shorter than the diameter of Ithaca itself! Poor Oppy will need to drive an additional 10km if she is to reach the floor of the crater. The size of Ithaca is so huge that exploring it will require traversing further distances than it took to get there!

So, has a pool started for Oppy's arrival date? I'll put in an overly optimistic guess of Sol 1812 (just so I can play the overture with some fireworks when the day comes).

C'mon Oppy, put dat hammer down an git-a-goin!

[centsworth_II]

So, has a pool started for Oppy's arrival date?

At least if we see any beacons, there won't be a debate over "near rim" or "far rim".

[ElkGroveDan]

So, has a pool started for Oppy's arrival date?

I believe Doug has said we've had enough of pools.

No. 100,000,000 times no.

A disucssion, a debate, great. But not a 'pool' again. Please.

[pac56]

The HRSCview site lets you explore the (big crater) Endeavour from all directions...neat! This image is looking south.
(1st post )

[ustrax]

Speaking of beacons, I foresee with great expectation the growing, sol after sol, of Endeavour's peaks in the rover's horizon...
Will it be possible to image the sun setting behind those hills?...
So many things to see yet...so many things to marvel us yet...


A bit off topic, or not, weird days this ones...weird but so pleasant ones...
Yesterday excitement brought by the perspective of a whole new quest for our beloved Oppy, today I've received a friend at home who I didn't saw for quite a while and he had a late birthday gift for me...guess what it was...a collection of Official Mars Exploration Rover Mission JFK Colorized Half Dollars...

This babies are sooo part of our lifes but they can still provide moments of true joy and unexpected surprises...if all relations were like this...

[Phil Stooke]

"Will it be possible to image the sun setting behind those hills?..."

Maybe later! Right now, it would be rising behind them.

Phil