Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Travel News .




MARSDAILY
Oppy Encounters A Surprise At Solander Point
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Jan 21, 2014


File image.

Opportunity is up on 'Solander Point' at the rim of Endeavour Crater.

The rover is maintaining favorable northerly tilts for improved energy production. Opportunity is positioned on the edge of an exposed outcrop where orbital observations suggest the possible presence of small amounts of clay minerals.

The rover has been finishing up analysis of the 'Cape Darby' area before moving on toward what the team believes will be her winter location. While preparing to start robotic arm work on the target 'Cape Elizabeth' on Sol 3541 (Jan. 8, 2014), Opportunity encountered a slight surprise -- a rock had appeared in the images that had not been there before.

This target that has been named 'Pinnacle Island' and its origin has been the target of much speculation. It will likely be the target of considerable investigation over the next few days.

Opportunity landed on Mars on Jan. 24, 2004 PST (Jan. 25, 2004 UTC) on what was to be a three-month mission, but instead the rover has lived beyond its prime mission and roved the planet for nearly 10 years. Mission highlights, including a gallery of selected images from both rovers are available here.

As of Sol 3547 (Jan. 15, 2014), the solar array energy production on the rover is 353 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.617 and a solar array dust factor of 0.585.

Total odometry is 24.07 miles (38.73 kilometers).

.


Related Links
Mars Rovers at JPL
Mars Rovers at Cornell
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

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








MARSDAILY
A Decade in the Dust
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Jan 19, 2014
NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, were launched from Earth in 2003. The two rovers were designed as robotic geologists, and were to spend 90 days roaming the surface of the red planet and studying the history of liquid water on Mars. Spirit was the first of the two rovers to launch and land on Mars. Spirit left Earth on June 10, 2003, and touched down in Gusev Cr ... read more


MARSDAILY
Turkish Telecoms Satellite to Launch From Baikonur Feb. 15

Russia's Soyuz Rocket to Get Video Cameras

NASA Commercial Crew Partner SpaceX Tests Dragon Parachute System

NASA's Commercial Crew Partners Aim to Capitalize, Expand on 2013 Successes in 2014

MARSDAILY
Mystery Mars rock reveals unexpected chemical composition

Mysterious stone 'rawled up' to Mars Rover Opportunity

Oppy Encounters A Surprise At Solander Point

Dutch researcher says Earth food plants able to grow on Mars

MARSDAILY
NASA Seeks Partnership Opportunities For Commercial Lunar Landers

Chang'e-3 probe sets out on new missions

China's lunar probe observes stars, explores moon

China's moon rover performs first lunar probe

MARSDAILY
Countdown to Pluto

A Busy Year Begins for New Horizons

The Sounds of New Horizons

On the Path to Pluto, 5 AU and Closing

MARSDAILY
ALMA Discovers a Formation Site of a Giant Planetary System

Herschel Telescope Detects Water on Dwarf Planet

Bright star reveals new exoplanet

'Dwarf planet' in deep space has water

MARSDAILY
China confirms new hypersonic glide vehicle test-flight

Missile defense buster: China tests new hypersonic glide vehicle

Excitement Building As NASA Continues Preparations For RS-25 Engine Testing

China tested hypersonic missile vehicle: US officials

MARSDAILY
Extra Time for Tiangong

Official: China's space policy open to world

China launches communications satellite for Bolivia

China's moon rover continues lunar survey after photographing lander

MARSDAILY
'Sleeping beauty' comet probe awakens from slumber

Rosetta, ESA's 'sleeping beauty' wakes up from deep space hibernation

Rosetta: To Chase a Comet

Rosetta Spacecraft Waking Up for Final Leg of Comet Landing




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal 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. 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. Privacy Statement