NASA Mars Exploration Rover Spirit Status 21 April 2006

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Studies New Terrain – sol 812-819, Apr 21, 2006:

Spirit remains healthy and is enjoying the winter sun on Mars. This week, Spirit began acquiring a full-color, high-resolution, 360-degree panorama nicknamed the “McMurdo Pan.” The panorama campaign will take a few weeks because of power and data limitations. In addition, Spirit conducted a scientific study of a soil target called “Mawson” using instruments on the rover’s robotic arm.

All the rock and soil targets in this area are being named after Antarctic research stations and explorers.

Sol-by-sol highlights:

Sol 812 (April 16, 2006): Spirit performed targeted remote sensing with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and acquired microscopic images of undisturbed soil.

Sol 813: Spirit conducted targeted remote sensing with the panoramic camera.

Sol 814: Spirit began acquisition of the “McMurdo Pan.” The rover studied a soil target called “Mawson” with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Sol 815: Spirit conducted targeted remote sensing with the panoramic camera and the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 816: Rather than pause for new instructions, Spirit continued to acquire panoramic camera data following master sequences already transmitted to the rover.

Sols 817 to 819 (April 21-23, 2006): Plans called for Spirit to continue work on the “McMurdo panorama,” complete overnight studies of the soil target called “Mawson” with the Mössbauer spectrometer, and conduct targeted remote sensing.

Odometry:

As of sol 816 (April 20, 2006), Spirit’s total odometry remained at 6,876.18 meters (4.27 miles).