Mars Global Surveyor Status Report 27 Mar 2002

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 (DOY 079/19:00:00 to DOY 086/19:00:00 UTC)

Launch / Days since Launch = Nov. 7, 1996 / 1967 days

Start of Mapping / Days since Start of Mapping = April 1, 1999 / 1091 days

Total Mapping Orbits = 13,637

Total Orbits = 15,320

Recent

Events:

Background Sequences – The spacecraft is operating nominally in performing
daily recording and transmission of science data. The mm162 sequence
executed successfully from 02-080 (3/21/02) through 02-082 (3/23/02). The
mm163 sequence has performed well since it started on 02-083 (3/24/02). It
terminates on 02-086 (3/27/02). The mm164 sequence, successfully uplinked on
02-085 (3/26/02), begins executing on 02-087 (3/28/02).

Other – The Spacecraft team is continuing its intensive analyses of the data
leading up to the latest C-mode entry. We know that the root cause of the
C-mode entry was that the star processing software (STAREX ) misidentified a
star during the initialization cycle following a scale factor update.
However, attitude knowledge is being corrupted quicker and to a greater
degree than we would expect with a misidentified star. We are continuing our
efforts to recreate the C-mode entry in the spacecraft test lab.

Roll Only Targeting Opportunity (ROTO) imaging scans were briefly suspended
during the transition to beta-supplement. They will resume on 02-088
(03/29/02) with the mz167 mini-sequence. MGS has completed 234 ROTOs to
date.

Spacecraft Health:

All spacecraft subsystems report good health and status.

Uplinks:

There have been 18 uplinks to the spacecraft during the past week, including
new star catalogs and ephemeris files, instrument command loads, and the
mm163 and mm164 background sequences. 6,524 command files have been radiated
to the spacecraft since launch.

Upcoming Events:

The mm165 background sequence will be uplinked on 02-088 (3/29/02). ROTO
mini-sequence mz167 will execute on 02-088 (03/29/02).