Opportunity is continuing the in-situ (contact) investigation of rocks around the rim of Endeavour crater. On Sol 2697 (Aug. 25, 2011), the rover bumped a mere 0.15 meters (about 6 inches) to reposition at the large ejecta block, named "Tinsdale 2." This allowed Opportunity to reach targets on the top of the blocky rock.

On Sol 2699 (Aug. 28, 2011), the rover used the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD, robotic arm) to collect a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic of a new target, called "Shaw 1," then place the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the same target for an overnight integration.

On Sol 2700 (Aug. 29, 2011), another set of diagnostic tests were performed on the miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES) instrument.

Preliminary test results continue to show no performance from the instrument. On Sol 2701 (Aug. 30, 2011), Opportunity again collect MI mosaics and performed an Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) placement on target "Shaw 2."

With in-situ work completing at "Tinsdale 2" the plan ahead is for Opportunity to drive away and head to the northeast where the iron magnesium smectite clays are seen from orbit.

As of Sol 2702 (Aug. 31, 2011), solar array energy production was 352 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.07 and a solar array dust factor of 0.540.

Total odometry is 20.83 miles (33,525.68 meters, or 33.53 kilometers).

Related Links
Mars Rovers at JPL
Mars Rovers at Cornell
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more

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