NASA Mars Rover Opportunity Update April 18-25, 2012

Studies of ‘Amboy’ Rock Continue as Solar Energy Improves – sols 2927-2934

Opportunity is positioned on the north end of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater with an approximate 15-degree northerly tilt for favorable solar energy production.

The solar insolation is improving and the rover has benefitted from some small, dust cleaning events. Radio Doppler tracking passes for the geo-dynamic investigation were performed on Sols 2927, 2931 and 2933 (April 18, 22 and 24, 2012).

The project is also continuing the regular campaign of Microscopic Imager mosaics of the extended region of the rock target “Amboy,” followed by Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer measurements of the imaged area. These measurements were performed on Sols 2929, 2931 and 2933 (April 20, 22 and 24, 2012). More dust cleaning events have occurred, improving the solar array dust factor by small amounts.

As of Sol 2934 (April 25, 2012), solar array energy production was 366 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.521 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.546.

Total odometry is unchanged at 21.35 miles (34,361.37 meters).