Sol 9
SOWG Documentarian Notes
Science Summary:
Preliminary analysis showed
that the rover ended the traverse on sol 8 a few meters from Kaibab, very
close to where the rover was commanded to stop. Science analysis from the
Mineralogy STG conducted during Sol 9 showed that the Oatland soil target
measured by APXS, IPS, and MiniTES on Sol 7 was high in silica (quartz) and
aluminum (feldspar) with very little to no carbon. Stoney Point seems to be
a mixture of quartz and phylosilicates but is distinct from Oatland; it
contains much more clay and is more likely a diamagnetic smectite.
MiniTES and IPS of Woodstock
show it is consistent with a desert varnish and is most likely basalt since
there is no sign of a quartz signature. Rock morphology and a thick desert
varnish suggests basalt. The Mini-TES detected no carbonate in the "white"
outcrop at Stoney Point.
Other science discussion can
be found in the sol 10 summary, which contains the end of sol science
debrief.
Tactical Operations:
The ongoing issue with mast
stow has been solved. The mast successfully stowed at the start of Sol 8
and that sequence executed normally. For sol 9, the rover was healthy and
cleared for all operations. The poor MB and APXS data acquired on sol 7
have been attributed to a transmission problem, and the data will be
retransmitted on Sol 9 and reevaluated.
For sol 9 operations, the
general consensus was to approach Kaibab since Pancam shows it has
crossbedding due to either fluvial or aeolian processes (see Science Debrief
notes for Sol 8). This approach will take advantage of the opportunity to
visit Plainfield and perform a touch and go, which is a small rock at the
limit of the allowed approach to Kaibab. (Closer approach to Kaibab on this
sol was precluded since we had only front hazcam data available.) However,
Plainfield was not within the IDD workspace at the end of the movement, so
the suggested touch and go on sol 10 will not be done in order to continue
toward to primary goal of approaching Kaibab.
In addition to the approach
on Kaibab, sol 9 also contained a variety of remote sensing observations
designed to provide further information on the area surrounding Kaibab.
These observation included:
·
IPS observations (with
supporting Navcam and Pancam images) of Plainfield, Paramour, the soil in
front rover, and Platy 1
·
a monochrome Pancam wedge of
the rover tracks to the rear of the rover for the Soil STG to derive soil
physical properties
·
IDD deployment for the Soil STG
of the CMI to a target of opportunity near Dumbell Lake called armtest4.
·
sky observations with the IPS,
MiniTES, and Pancam were commanded for the at Atmospheric STG to derive
water vapor and dust characteristics. However, the IPS was inadvertently
pointed at the ground rather than the sky during these observations.
·
a color Pancam panorama 2 tiers
high and 12 wedges wide centered on Paramour. This pancam was acquired
after the approach to Kaibab in order to provide better resolution for the
panorama. The panorama was meant to cover the upper portion of Kaibab to
obtain further information on its stratigraphy.
·
Post approach remote sensing
including front and rear hazcams and a 360deg Navcam to document the
rover’s location as well as
The corrupted MB and APXS
spectra from sol 7 were commanded for retransmit; the MB data looks good but
the APXS data still looks poor. The MB also performed an internal
calibration, which indicated the instrument is healthy.
Some SOWG observations were removed or edited before
uplink occurred due to a shortage of FIDO time. This shortage was caused by
the large pancam panorama acquired after approach. The array pattern of
some IPS measurements were reduced, the IPS support Pancam of Paramour was
deleted since it will be covered in the end-of-approach pancam mosaic, and
the Pancam wedges of the sky at 30deg and 80deg elevations were removed.
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