They selected an alternate rock exposure, dubbed "Newell," when engineers determined that the original drive route would tilt the rover 25 degrees, somewhat higher than desired. The estimated tilt along the new route is a much gentler 20 degrees but the drive is somewhat more complex and required two days of planning.

During the past week, Opportunity completed scientific investigation of the second band of rocks, known as "Smith," with an analysis of elemental chemistry and iron-bearing minerals beneath the surface of a rock exposure labeled "Smith2." To do this, the rover collected data with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer Moessbauer spectrometer, respectively.

If next week's planned drive goes as anticipated and closer inspection of Newell deems it to be an acceptable target, Opportunity is likely to stay at the new location for several weeks collecting data. Scientists plan to have the rover conduct a complete campaign of studies with the alpha-particle X-ray and Moessbauer spectrometers, microscopic imager, rock abrasion tool, and on-board cameras.

During the planned drive, Opportunity will complete a "Get Quick Fine Attitude," a procedure for determining the rover's position relative to the changing position of the Sun. This activity recalibrates the inertial measurement unit and eliminates tiny errors that accumulate over time in pointing the antenna.

Opportunity is healthy and all subsystems are operating as expected. The latest available power readings, taken on Martian day, or sol, 1379 (Dec. 10, 2007), show solar energy levels at a robust 601 watt-hours, enough to light a 100-watt bulb for 6 hours.

Sol-by-sol summary:

In addition to morning uplinks directly from Earth via the rover's high-gain antenna, evening downlinks to Earth via the Odyssey orbiter at UHF frequencies, and standard measurements of atmospheric opacity caused by dust using the panoramic camera, Opportunity completed the following activities:

Sol 1375 (Dec. 6, 2007): Opportunity placed the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer on Smith2 and, after the overpass of the Odyssey orbiter, collected data with the instrument. The next morning, when the Sun powered the solar arrays, Opportunity scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.

Sol 1376: Opportunity conducted extensive measurements of atmospheric dust and scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.

Sol 1377: Opportunity placed the Moessbauer spectrometer on Smith 2 and collected data with the instrument. Opportunity acquired calibration images and part 1 of a panoramic view of the rover deck that involved 23 pointings with the panoramic camera. The rover surveyed the sky at high sun with the panoramic camera and scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.

Sol 1378: Opportunity re-started the Moessbauer spectrometer and continued data collection from Smith2. The rover acquired part 2 of a panoramic view of the rover deck, completing 24 pointings of the panoramic camera. Opportunity surveyed and took spot images of the sky for calibration purposes using the panoramic camera.

Sol 1379: Opportunity re-started the Moessbauer spectrometer and resumed data collection from Smith2. The rover then acquired part 3 of the panoramic view of the spacecraft deck, a series that entailed 29 pointings of the panoramic camera. In the morning, Opportunity scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera and monitored dust on the rover mast assembly.

Sol 1380: Opportunity scanned the sky for clouds with the navigation camera.

Sol 1381 (Dec. 12, 2007): Opportunity surveyed the sky at low sun with the panoramic camera and measured argon gas in the Martian atmosphere with the alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer. The rover searched for clouds in the morning sky with the navigation camera.

Odometry:

As of sol 1379 (Dec. 5, 2007), Opportunity's total odometry remained at 11,584.32 meters (7.2 miles), where the rover has been stationed since the last drive on Sol 1329 (Oct. 20, 2007).

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