. Military Space News .
MARSDAILY
Opportunity Completes In-Situ Work on 'Aguas Calientes'
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 03, 2018

RAT at work

Opportunity is continuing the exploration of "Perseverance Valley" on the west rim of Endeavour Crater.

The rover is positioned about halfway down the approximately 656 feet (200-meter) valley. Opportunity is investigating the surface target called, "Aguas Calientes," an exposed rock outcrop. Although the target had been ground already, the science team wanted to grind "Aguas Calientes" another 2 millimeters deeper.

On Sol 5032 (March 20, 2018), the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) was placed back into the ground hole and ground further. During the grind the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) reported a questionable flag.

However, the IMU was tested again on Sol 5035 (March 24, 2018) and was found to be healthy. After the deeper grind, the Microscopic Imager (MI) collected a mosaic of the grind and then the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) was placed for a multi-sol integration.

The rover also collected a set of 13-filter Panoramic Camera (Pancam) images of selected targets. On Sol 5035 (March 24, 2018), the robotic arm offset the APXS for further integrations, along with the IMU test, and imaged the RAT bit for wear.

No additional bit wear was seen after the grind. By Sol 5038 (March 27, 2018), the in-situ (contact) work on "Aguas Calientes" was finished and the rover bumped away about 7.5 feet (2.3 meters).

As of Sol 5038 (March 27, 2018), the solar array energy production was 670 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.524 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.830.

Total odometry is 28.04 miles (45.12 kilometers).


Related Links
Opportunity Archive at JPL
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


MARSDAILY
Opportunity making extensive study of rock target Aguas Calientes
Washington DC (SPX) Mar 28, 2018
Opportunity is continuing the exploration of "Perseverance Valley" on the west rim of Endeavour Crater. The rover is positioned about half way down the approximately 656 feet (200-meter) valley. Opportunity is engaged in an extensive in-situ (contact) science campaign on the surface target called "Aguas Calientes," an exposed rock outcrop. After previously brushing the surface, on Sol 5026 (March 14, 2018), the rover used the robotic arm (IDD) to collect a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosai ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MARSDAILY
Saudi forces say intercept missile fired by Yemen rebels

Russia slams Poland's 'militarisation' after Patriot missile deal

Poland buys US Patriot anti-missile system for $4.8 bn

Saudi Arabia, Romania to receive Patriot missile systems, support

MARSDAILY
RUAG Aviation wins $25M Sidewinder missile support contract

UN council condemns Yemen missile attacks on Saudi Arabia

Air Force taps Raytheon for AMRAAMs for foreign military sales

Lockheed Martin's Long Range Anti-Ship Missile marks sixth successful flight mission

MARSDAILY
Israeli drone crashes in southern Lebanon

OFFSET "Sprinters" to Pursue State-of-the-art Solutions for Second Swarm Sprint

Insitu tapped to manage ScanEagle UAS in Afghanistan

CPI Antenna receives new contract for UAV comms from Cubic Mission

MARSDAILY
Indian scientists lose contact with satellite

Russian Soyuz launches military satellite

India set to launch S-Band satellite for military communications

Tactical Communications Market worth over $30bn by 2024

MARSDAILY
EU tackles tank transport troubles in face of Russia threat

L-3 to provide mortar fuzes to Afghanistan, Bahrain

General Dynamics awarded $61M contract for Abrams tank support

Lightweight metal foam blocks blastwave, debris from high-explosive rounds

MARSDAILY
74% of French people against weapons sales to Saudi: poll

Mattis wins big with budget victory

US approves $1 billion in Saudi defense contracts

France opens 400 million euro credit line for Lebanon

MARSDAILY
Beijing, Hanoi promise to keep peace in South China Sea

Washington, Beijing flexing muscles in trade dispute

US gives boats to Vietnam amid South China Sea tensions

China-Vatican deal on bishops imminent: Chinese prelate

MARSDAILY
A treasure trove for nanotechnology experts

UCLA researchers develop a new class of two-dimensional materials

Nanostructures made of previously impossible material

Mining hardware helps scientists gain insight into silicon nanoparticles









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.