NASA Mars Rover Opportunity Update: April 16-24, 2014

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE:  Rover Switches to Driving Backwards Due to Elevated Wheel Currents  – sols 3636-3644, April 16, 2014-April 24, 2014:

Opportunity is exploring south of “Solander Point” on the west rim of Endeavour Crater.

The rover is headed to a region of clay minerals seen from orbit. Opportunity drove six times on Sols 3637, 3639, 3641, 3642, 3643 and 3644 (April 17, 19, 21, 22, 23 and April 24, 2014), totaling just over 656 feet (200 meters). Elevated motor currents have been seen in the right-front wheel. So in addition to extra actuator heating, the rover has switched to driving backwards again. The project is continuing to investigate mitigation strategies for the elevated wheel current.

On Sol 3639 (April 19, 2014), Opportunity passed another milestone of 24 miles (39 kilometers) of total odometry.

As of Sol 3643 (April 23, 2014), the solar array energy production was 658 watt-hours with an un-calibrated atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.273 and a solar array dust factor of 0.817.

Total odometry is 24.32 miles (39.14 kilometers).

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