NASA Mars Rover Opportunity Update: Dec 27, 2012 – Jan 3, 2013

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Dust Cleaning At ‘Vermillion’ Targets – sols 3174-3180, Dec. 27, 2012-Jan. 3, 2013:

Opportunity is on the inboard edge of “Cape York” on the rim of Endeavour crater. The rover has been conducting in-situ (contact) science investigations with the robotic arm instruments at a location called “Copper Cliff.”

On Sol 2174 (Dec. 27, 2012), the robotic arm was used to reposition the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on a target called “Vermilion Lake 1” for a multi-sol integration. On Sol 3177 (Dec. 31, 2012), the Microscopic Imager (MI) was used to collect images of a new target, “Vermilion Lake 2.” This was followed by a placement of the APXS for another integration. On Sol 3179 (Jan. 2, 2013), the rover’s robotic arm repositioned the APXS on yet another target, “Vermilion Cliffs 2,” for further integration measurements.

A small dust cleaning event occurred on Sol 3175 (Dec. 29, 2012), improving the energy production by about 40 watt-hours per sol. As of Sol 3180 (Jan. 3, 2013), the solar array energy production was 542 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.961 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.633.

Total odometry remains at 22.02 miles (35438.37 meters).