Mars Opportunity Update: August 02-07, 2012 (with photos)

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: With Curiosity on the Surface Opportunity Will Resume Driving Soon – August 02-07, 2012 – sols 3030-3035.

Activity has been constrained for the period around the arrival of Curiosity. The project pre-planned 9 sols of activity so as not to require Deep Space Network tracking coverage during the Mars Science Laboratory’s Entry, Descent and Landing.

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: With Curiosity on the Surface Opportunity Will Resume Driving Soon – August 02-07, 2012 – sols 3030-3035.

Activity has been constrained for the period around the arrival of Curiosity. The project pre-planned 9 sols of activity so as not to require Deep Space Network tracking coverage during the Mars Science Laboratory’s Entry, Descent and Landing. Opportunity performed Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer overnight integrations on Sols 3030, 3031, 3033 and 3034 (Aug. 2, Aug. 3, Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, 2012) on the surface target “Rushall1.” Multi-filter Panoramic Camera images were collected of “Whim Creek” on Sols 3031 and 3032 (Aug. 3, and Aug. 4, 2012). Daily atmospheric opacity measurements were also performed. With Curiosity safely on the surface, the plan ahead for Opportunity is to resume driving.

As of Sol 3035 (Aug. 7, 2012), the solar array energy production was 531 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.715 and a solar array dust factor of 0.707.

Total odometry is 21.52 (34,639.45 meters).