NASA Mars Exploration Rover Status 23 September 2005

SPIRIT UPDATE: Looking over Tennessee Valley – sol 606-613, Sept 23, 2005:

Spirit completed a campaign of using the tools on its robotic arm to examine the feature “Cliffhanger.” Spirit scuffed the soil using its wheels in the area around Cliffhanger, and then observed both the scuffed and undisturbed soil. In addition, Spirit imaged the moons Phobos and Deimos at night. Spirit also acquired part one of a stereo panorama.

Sol-by-sol summaries:

Sol 606 (Sept. 16, 2005): Spirit performed untargeted remote sensing and took images overnight of Phobos and Deimos.

Sol 607: Spirit performed remote sensing and used the microscopic imager, alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, and M?ssbauer spectrometer on the scuff feature of Cliffhanger.

Sol 608: Spirit began a long Mossbauer spectrometer campaign on the exterior of Cliffhanger.

Sol 609: Spirit continued the Mossbauer spectrometer campaign.

Sol 610: Spirit once again continued the Mossbauer spectrometer campaign. The rover also proceeded with a panorama of Tennessee Valley.

Sol 611: Spirit used the M?ssbauer spectrometer in the interior of Cliffhanger. Spirit then used the microscopic imager and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer on the exterior of Cliffhanger. Spirit also took overnight images of the moons.

Sols 612 and 613: Spirit is on a two-sol plan, consisting of microscopic imager work and a 2.5-hour drive toward “Hillary” to obtain a better look over Tennessee Valley. This new drive position will set up Spirit for the second position to create the stereo panorama. Plans for sol 613 call for Spirit to perform untargeted remote sensing.

As of the end of sol 613, (Sept. 23, 2005), Spirit has driven 4,949 meters (3.08 miles).