4th leg in the trek to Endeavour, After science stop @ Kasos Options

[climber]

Wondering if those regular 70m drives have something to do with the RF lubrication issue?

[fredk]

I think the answer is yes. From the latest PS update:

"The currents are still elevated and so we're limiting most drives to 50 meters, which tends to be completed within about an hour." The engineers are also trying out a new strategy of driving shorter distances. "We're trying to do a couple of things here," [Matijevic] said. "We're trying to figure out if we can drive shorter distances and drive more days without elevating the current in the actuators as has been happening on the longer, 100-to-150-meter drives."

[SpaceListener]

However, it is possible to advance two hops of 50 meters each one after a pause of 2-3 hours to cool things?

[Tesheiner]

Probably yes, but in that case the evening communication session would be missed, I'm afraid.

[RoverDriver]

However, it is possible to advance two hops of 50 meters each one after a pause of 2-3 hours to cool things?

2-3 hours won't do much. Over the Memorial Weekend we had a 4 Sols pause and the RF currents came downa bit just to jump right back at the same level. I think we just have to live with it.

Paolo

[Nirgal]

drive shorter distances and drive more days

Yes that seems like a sensible approach that ensures slower but sure & steady progress ... 50 meters at each driveable sol plus keeping the intermediate science stops short (like one week instead of 4+ weeks thus sparing the more complex science tasks and IDD hardware wear for the ultimate loooong science stop at Endeavour

[Tesheiner]

That was kind of short. Giving the motors a rest?

The current status report has some tidbits related to that 30m drive and the current strategy:

On Sols 1900, 1902 and 1904 (May 29, May 31 and June 2, 2009), Opportunity drove 66, 71 and 74 meters, (217, 233 and 243 feet), respectively. On Sol 1905 (June 3, 2009), the rover only accomplished about 30 meters (98 feet) of driving before the time ran out. Activities were very time-constrained on that sol.

Motor currents in the right-front wheel continue to be elevated. Limiting the drive distance and employing regular, short, backward slip checks seems to mitigate further increases in right-front wheel current.

[RoverDriver]

RF wheel currents were beginning to trend upwards again so the drivers on shift decided to start driving backwards again and rest for a while.
There is some challenging terrain about 500m ahead and we will have to sit and think which way to go. This next resting period will come in handy for that.

Paolo

[SFJCody]

There is some challenging terrain about 500m ahead and we will have to sit and think which way to go.

It does look tricky. My favourite route at the moment would be something like this, using patches of bedrock to move east and moving south when in areas where the drift material looks dangerous.

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[RoverDriver]

It does look tricky. My favourite route at the moment would be something like this, using patches of bedrock to move east and moving south when in areas where the drift material looks dangerous.

How about that! We are considering a path similar to that one but most of the drivers prefer a path that goes all around (westward) the area of Purgatoids that is just south of the rover.

Paolo

[BrianL]

To my eye, angling south-west now, then proceeding close to the edges of the HiRISE photo south then east seems to offer the cleanest route to the really nice looking terrain in the eastern third of the shot. Is that the way being favoured?

[RoverDriver]

To my eye, angling south-west now, then proceeding close to the edges of the HiRISE photo south then east seems to offer the cleanest route to the really nice looking terrain in the eastern third of the shot. Is that the way being favoured?

Yes. Still the route has not been decided yet. We will use the next resting period to analyze the HiRISE in detail and come to a conclusion on which route to take.

Paolo

[climber]

Yes. Still the route has not been decided yet. We will use the next resting period to analyze the HiRISE in detail and come to a conclusion on which route to take.
Paolo

So, you don't trust Rui's! Realy?

[Tesheiner]

> the next resting period ...

Is it at that outcrop 200m to the south?

[RoverDriver]

> the next resting period ...

Is it at that outcrop 200m to the south?

No, I think we will stop at the end of the next drive. Wherever that might be.

Paolo