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Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 15, 2011 Opportunity continues to be in the period of solar conjunction. Solar conjunction is the period when communications between Earth and Mars are disrupted because the Sun is directly in between the two planets. The last communication with the rover was on Sol 2499 (Feb. 3, 2011), and all appears to be healthy. Opportunity has a complete set of sequences on board to carry her through the conjunction period. Daily, multi-hour spectra will be collected by the moessbauer (MB) spectrometer which is positioned on the surface target Luis de Torres. A single alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) atmospheric argon measurement will be performed on Sol 2504 (Feb. 8, 2011). Just before the conjunction blackout, Opportunity collected a set of 13-filter panoramic camera (Pancam) images of surrounding targets. As of Sol 2499 (Feb. 3, 2011), solar array energy production was 585 watt-hours with an unknown atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 1.07 and an estimated solar array dust factor of 0.678. The increase in solar array energy from the last reporting period seems to suggest a solar array cleaning event. Total odometry is 26,658.64 meters (26.66 kilometers, or 16.56 miles).
Spirit Remains Silent at Troy However, the solar conjunction communication moratorium has now begun and will extend until approximately Feb. 12, The period of maximum solar insolation (energy production) for Spirit occurs around mid-March 2011. Total odometry is unchanged at 7,730.50 meters (4.80 miles).
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Rover Staying Busy While Mars Is Behind The SunPasadena CA (JPL) Feb 04, 2011 Opportunity has entered the solar conjunction period. Solar conjunction is the period when communications between Earth and Mars are disrupted because the Sun is directly in between the two planets. The last communication with the rover was on Sol 2496 (Jan. 31, 2011). The next communication is not expected until around Feb. 7, 2011. Opportunity has a complete set of sequences on boa ... read more |
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