Mars Global Surveyor Status Report 25 Jul 2001

Wednesday, July 25, 2001 (DOY 199/19:00:00 to DOY 206/19:00:00 UTC)

Launch / Days since Launch = Nov. 7, 1996 / 1722 days

Start of Mapping / Days since Start of Mapping = April 1, 1999 / 846 days

Total Mapping Orbits = 10,642

Total Orbits = 12,325

Recent Events:

Background Sequences – The spacecraft is operating nominally in performing
daily recording and transmission of science data. The mm151 sequence has
performed well since it started on 01-200 (7/19/01). It terminates on 01-227
(8/15/01).

Other – Dust storms spreading across the planet are making narrow angle
photographic imaging of Mars impracticable. Therefore, ROTO operations
remain suspended until the global dust storms subside. MGS has completed 155
ROTOs to date.

A second in-flight MOLA diagnostic test (MZ116) was performed on 01-206
(7/25/01) to gain more insight into the MOLA anomaly. Detailed analyses will
be performed after the recorded data is transmitted to Earth on 01-207
(7/26/01).

Spacecraft Health:

All subsystems report good health and status except for the MOLA payload
instrument that malfunctioned on 01-181 (6/30/01). The MOLA instrument team
is still investigating the anomaly.

Uplinks:

There have been 6 uplinks to the spacecraft during the past week, including
instrument command loads and the MZ116 MOLA diagnostic test. 5,506 command
files have been radiated to the spacecraft since launch.

Upcoming Events:

A Bistatic Radar experiment is planned for 01-217 (8/5/01). The first of
several Delta-DOR experiments will take place on 01-236 (8/24/01).