[X] My Assistant

[RNeuhaus]

Squyres last comments on Athenas on October 4, ...Right at the dog-leg there's a pretty steep step, which we're not certain we can get down. So we're going to descend the upper portion of the ridge, right to where the step is, and assess the situation. ...

On May 6 (Sol 136), when the Oppy was on the rim of Endurance Crater:
I have cut and past a phrase from the Oppy's experience before doing down into the Endurance crater.

Brian Cooper, leader of JPL's squad of rover drivers for Spirit and Opportunity, said the initial view of the crater doesn't settle accessibility questions yet. "The slope right in front of us averages 18 to 20 degrees. Getting into the crater is no problem, but we have a lot more work to do to assess whether we could get back out. That depends on soil properties and slippage, as well as slope." The planned circuit around the rim will also require careful navigation. "If you don't go close enough to the lip, you can't look in, but if you go too far, you could fall in," he said. "We're going to have a very interesting few weeks."

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all...4P1214L0M1.HTML

From the above picture, ones can see the bottom of crater. However it is very hard to estimate the inclination of slope from the above perspective since the rovers' camera remains on the same horizon surface view.

How do the rovers controllers calculate the slope inclination degree on the way toward to Haskin Ridge? Does the MER have any balancing instrument: Gyroscopy?

Rodolfo