NASA Mars Rover Opportunity Update – August 15-22, 2012
Opportunity Drives And Images Rock Outcrop – sols 3043-3050, August 15-22, 2012:
Opportunity is moving south along the inboard edge of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater.
On Sol 3044 (Aug. 16, 2012), the rover drove just over 131 feet (40 meters) staying close to the outcrop terrain along Cape York. As Opportunity drives she has been heavily documenting the exposed outcrop with both Navigation Camera and Panoramic Camera color imagery.
On Sol 3046 (Aug. 18, 2012), the rover completed a drive of over 328 feet (100 meters), again collecting outcrop imagery along the way. Sol 3049 (Aug. 21, 2012), saw another 131 feet (40 meter) drive, assembling an extensive image set of the outcrop.
It is in this region of Cape York where orbital data indicate the presence of phyllosilicate clay minerals. Opportunity is documenting this area in order to allow the science team to select the best region for an extensive in-situ (contact) investigation for these clay minerals.
As of Sol 3050 (Aug. 22, 2012), the solar array energy production was 530 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.696 and a solar array dust factor of 0.683.
Total odometry is 21.65 miles (34,846.61 meters).
