Post Block Island Meteor Studies (The Western Route), The 6th Leg in our Zig Zag Journey to Endeavour Crater Options

[Tesheiner]

Let's see if we have any hint of information about the currents in the next official status report.
Meanwhile, just say that I believe Opportunity will stop here for the weekend; there are some MIs planned for tosol so guess the next move may be on saturday or sunday.

[Tesheiner]

From the current status report:

Motor currents in the right-front wheel remain well behaved.
As of Sol 2014 ... Total odometry is 17,717.33 meters (11.01 miles).]

[Tesheiner]

Here's the navcam mosaic taken during sol 2017 and pointing towards SW.

[Bill]

New intersting rock ahead ? After the next drive, we will not be very far. The rock is near the horizon at right on this navcam.

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...23P0733L0M1.JPG

Waiting for pancam.

[CosmicRocker]

Does anyone have any thoughts about the curious Microscopic Imager images that came down from sol 2016? A front Hazcam image from the same sol shows the dusty MI pointed toward what I am guessing is the shoulder elevation actuator of the IDD. I am not sure that is what it is, but it's my best guess after comparing the images to a drawing and a model of the rover.

I wonder what they may be looking for.

[Astro0]

Yes, interesting....????


Problem? Pointing error? Test for Spirit's "Matrix-move"? Hmmm?
Maybe they're thinking about Doug's suggested MI self-portrait.

[jamescanvin]

I few more small mosaics. Drive directions from sols 2013, 2014 & 2015 and Gjøa Crater.

All the thumbs link to the same blog entry.

2013


2014


2015


Gjøa Crater


James

[Stu]

Rubble pile up ahead (is that what you meant Bill?), with another possible BI beyond it..?

[Tesheiner]

Mmm, this rubble pile is exactly on our way. Guess we'll do a little pit stop there. My 2c.

[Ant103]

Gjøa Crater (what a strange name… Scandinavian for sure, no?) on Sol 2015 :


Navcam panorama of Sol 2017 :

[ilbasso]

I wonder what they may be looking for.

The wise guy who put electrical tape over the instrument!

[nprev]

...which of course leads to the question I've been afraid to ask, to wit: What the hell IS that thing? Been assuming that it's part of the descent stage release mechanism or some other such system that's long since fulfilled its purpose.

[Airbag]

It looks to me like the shoulder altitude drive based on:

1) It is covered in tape (so that limits it to Kapton? covered yellow/brown objects)
2) The geometry - I think that is the base of the IDD shoulder support in the background, looking at it from slightly below.

So I think it is the horizontal brown cylinder that is just left of center in:



Airbag

[Bill]

Rubble pile up ahead (is that what you meant Bill?), with another possible BI beyond it..?

Yes this one. Attractive isn't it ? New heaven's gift or classic ejecta from the nearby crater ?
Next stop we will know (if we stop!).

[Patteroast]

Gjøa Crater (what a strange name… Scandinavian for sure, no?)

Gjøa was the name of the ship that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen used to make the first voyage through the fabled Northwest Passage in the Canadian far north. There's still a town named after it up there where he wintered, 'Gjoa Haven'. A few years later he led the first successful expedition to the South Pole. So in short, it's named after a ship of discovery.

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