Tag Archives: MER

Opportunity: Making tracks for the rim

Posted on February 9, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4637, February 8, 2017. After a 13-meter (40-foot) uphill drive on Sol 4636, Opportunity is nearly at the head of the shallow valley that leads to the crest of the Cape Tribulation rim segment. The Navcam view above shows … Continue reading →

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Opportunity field report, February 6, 2017

Posted on February 7, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4633, February 6, 2017; Rover Field Report by Larry Crumpler, MER Science Team & New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science: Several sols ago Opportunity made it up and past the steepest section of its climb out of … Continue reading →

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Opportunity report, Sol 4630, by A.J.S. Rayl, The Planetary Society

Posted on February 6, 2017 by rburnham

February 5, 2017: Opportunity Celebrates the Big 1-3, Begins 14th Year of Ops!: As people all around Earth partied and watched fireworks signal the launch of 2017, some 45 million miles away the New Year got off to a start … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Fort Thompson

Posted on January 31, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4629, January 31, 2017. With Opportunity parked on the rim facing south, mission scientists positioned the instrument arm so as to examine a target — Fort Thompson — lying on the ground directly in front of the rover. Above, … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Southwestward the course

Posted on January 30, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4627, January 29, 2017. Rover pilots use the Pancam’s narrower field of view — one-third that of the Navcam — to scout farther ahead in the direction they plan to drive. Here the Pancam made a three-frame composite of … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Gazing at Mt. Jefferson

Posted on January 27, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4625, January 27, 2017. Opportunity has reached the approximate crest of the Cape Tribulation segment of Endeavour Crater’s rim. Following a 19-meter (61-foot) drive southward, the rover’s Navcam shot a three-frame composite of Mt. Jefferson. This large knob dotted … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Approaching the rim crest

Posted on January 24, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4622, January 24, 2017. As Opportunity reaches the upper part of the rim slope, the vista forward begins to open. Above is the wider Navcam composite view, while the Pancam, used here in “scouting mode,” shows a smaller portion … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Route to the rim

Posted on January 18, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4616, January 18, 2017. With the soft soil now behind the rover, Opportunity’s Navcam shows a route to the rim crest that promises good driving (1.9 MB). At right, the Hazcam view. Click either image to enlarge it. Opportunity … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Soft soil, then firmer ground

Posted on January 16, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4614, January 16, 2017. Above, a wide-angle Navcam composite (3.7 MB) from the rover up to the rim crest. At right: Opportunity’s wheels hit soft ground again, before the continued driving reached a place with better trafficability. Click either … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Rolling a little higher

Posted on January 13, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4611, January 12, 2017. Opportunity rolled about a meter (yard) higher on Sol 4610, then shot a composite with the Navcam. Today’s composite is incomplete on the left, but it clearly shows the profile of Beacon Rock in the … Continue reading →

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