yellow brick road to the south, The first leg in our journey Options

[Zeke4ther]

It seems that we have started down the 'yellow brick road'. This fits nicely with the first leg that Rui and other have spoken about in the Drive analysis thread.
Hi ho, southward we go, looking for cobbles and other interesting sights.

[Tesheiner]

Let's see how our friend handles this terrain.
Today is planned to be yet another driving sol:

01697::p0713::03::6::0::0::6::0::12::navcam_3x1_az_198_3_bpp
01697::p1211::03::2::0::0::2::0::4::ultimate_front_haz_1_bpp_pri_15
01697::p1311::07::2::0::0::2::0::4::rear_haz_ultimate_1_bpp_crit15
01697::p2376::19::12::4::0::8::2::26::pancam_drive_direction_4cx1r_L2R12

[BrianL]

Would our resident route prognosticator (ping ustrax) like to hazard a guess as to the planned route based on Steve's latest comments? I was a bit shocked by his comment that the total driving distance would now be around 18 km.

Also, do we have the complete HiRISE picture yet?

[ustrax]

Tesheiner, no idea about the distance to cover?

BrianL (let me put my prognosticator gown...), the path I've presented as a possible route for Oppy covers about, in my miserable maths, +-22kms.
Not far from SS's comment, so it does not shock me, it leaves very pleased instead...
My major doubt here is if Oppy will turn east in a different area then the one I have made mention to.

[fredk]

I was a bit shocked by his comment that the total driving distance would now be around 18 km.

Endeavour is something like 22 km across, so it makes a big difference to our total odometry whether we aim for the closest part of the rim or somewhere else that the science team decides is more interesting. I haven't heard anything detailed yet about what part of Endeavour we're aiming for...

Also there's the crow-flies/actual drive distance ratio to consider. Maybe 18 km is conservative in that respect?

[djellison]

It's a route-driven-vs-crow-flies issue.

[climber]

Will you say this is ordered trajectory or autonomous?

[djellison]

I'm fairly sure that's auto.

[Tesheiner]

That's the last part of sol 1691 drive, so autonav.

[climber]

I would have said the same intuitively. I don't know if it was the best choice but we can see she had to choose. I wish I'd be a driver to appreciate how good she did.

[ustrax]

We've got an SS update...
Man...I wish I could plant this man a Xmas tree in his backyard for the days to come...

According to our Mars' master and commander the fact of making reference to an 18 kms to Endeavour's route doesn't mean that a whole route has been already established.

Regarding my previsized (just made the word now) route and and it's possible resemblances and connections points with Oppy's actual path, SS answered that the team will see about it and that this "doesn't look like a bad route".

Regarding HiRISE images...Another question...is there an idea about when will the images covering the missing ground between Victoria and Endeavour will be made available to the public? Squyres tells us that, he doesn't know, but he advances that "they've been acquired and we're using them, so I don't think it will be long."

And...to wrap this up...just a personal treasure, I've made reference to the fact of what a fantastic feeling it is to see (man! I descend from a navigator!) a reference to Cabo das Agulhas as the departing point from Victoria.
In the e-mail I've sent to our estimeed Commander I've made reference to the fact that my emotions leaded me towards the fact of this naming being able of establishing the perfect image for witnessing Oppy's passage from one ocean to the other...
SS's answer:
"Yes... that's why we chose that name."

All is perfect in wonderland! All is perfect! Let us just follow the road and encourage our brave sailors to find the best of paths!


Of course I couldn't have passed without asking about "my" Spirit which has always been my dearest...what can we expect until Xmas? What's there for our problem child until the three kings arrival?

SS's answer:

"Bumps to change the tilt until there's enough power to drive, and then southward to von Braun and Goddard."

Aiming at 3000 sols each rover that's my wish for this Xmas...

EDITED: Which? Wich wish?

[Fran Ontanaya]

Li Ching-Yuen secrets for a long life, just in case they can help them to reach 3000 sols:

* Keep a quiet heart
* Sit like a tortoise
* Walk sprightly like a pigeon
* Sleep like a dog

[Marz]

Li Ching-Yuen secrets for a long life, just in case they can help them to reach 3000 sols:

Seems like Spirit has taken these secrets to heart! Nice work, ustrax, getting exclusive news from The Steve. I wonder how many Watt-hrs are needed to get Spirit rolling? 400? Hitting 3000 sols is quite a dream, and I'll be wishing Santa Claus delivers a strong, deck-cleaning wind.

[glennwsmith]

Wow, to see the photo that Climber posted of Oppy crawling through the Meridiani dunes again! This is Mars exactly as we science fiction aficionados (sp?) might have imagined it 50 years ago (I am 60!), to see where the godforsaken Martian winds have clawed the crests of the dunes -- and Oppy for real wending its way among them! Perhaps not unlike the endless waves of the Pacific as Magellan drove across them in, what, 1519?

[Tesheiner]

Ooops, the road is blocked by a "purgatoid" right in front of us.


BTW, last drive (sol 1697) was "only" 75m.