Sol 3971 (March 26, 2015) Rover Field Report by Larry Crumpler, MER Science Team & New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science: Since my last post Opportunity has successfully driven from the summit of Cape Tribulation (the name we gave the highest point on the rim). The goal has been to arrive at a deep notch or valley (“Marathon Valley”) in the crater rim by about March 15. Remote sensing from the orbiting Mars Reconnaissance Obiter (MRO) has shown that some spectacular exposures of weathered and altered minerals should be exposed there. [...]
Driving 42 km and lasting 11 years, which seemed impossible 10 years ago, prompted many people to ask, “What is next for Opportunity, 100 km? Ha!” So I prepared the following “strategic plan”…. [More at link]