Rocky 7 - Mojave Desert Field Experiments May 1997

During May 22 to 30, 1997, the Rocky 7 prototype Mars rover was field tested at Lavic Lake in the Mojave Desert (see Site Selection). Operators guided the rover to targets using only simulated descent and rover images. A variety of science experiments was performed throughout the week-long field test.

The data sets presented on the following pages are being compiled into a Planetary Data System archive that will be peer-reviewed. The user is cautioned that the data have not yet been peer-reviewed, although they represent a complete and accurate record of the field tests, to the best of the experimenters' knowledge.

Science Plan, Results, and Lessons Learned

Full description of May 1997 field experiment.

Experimenter's Notebook for Day 1 (Sunday 5/25/97)

Start of Sunshine Flow traverse.

Experimenter's Notebook for Day 2 (Monday 5/26/97)

Finish Sunshine Flow traverse; Sunshine Flow varnished basalt rock science experiment with NMR, MB and PR measurements.

Experimenter's Notebook for Day 3 (Tuesday 5/27/97)

Start Sunshine Flow Margin and Playa Crater Field traverses; Sunshine Flow aoelian accretion mantle and mud-cracked crater floor science experiments.

Experimenter's Notebook for Day 4 (Wednesday 5/28/97)

Finish Sunshine Flow Margin traverse and Caliche Search.

Experimenter's Notebook for Day 5 (Thursday 5/29/97)

Finish Playa Crater Field and Alluvial Fan traverses; alluvial fan surface science experiment; surface properties test.

Day 6 Operations (Friday 5/30/97)

Remote operation by grade schools. (This link takes you to the Long Range Science Rover Task Web site; use your browser's Back button to return to this page.)

Plan views of Rocky 7 traverses

Simulated descent images with overlaid Rocky 7 traverses.

Timeline for all six days

Download a 275 KB Microsoft Excel file containing a very detailed timeline of events for all six days of the experiment.