4.04.2018

On Sol 5027 (March 15, 2018), the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) was used to grind into the target approximately 2 millimeters.

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Opportunity is continuing the exploration of "Perseverance Valley" on the west rim of Endeavour Crater.

The rover is positioned about half way down the approximately 656 feet (200-meter) valley.

Opportunity is engaged in an extensive in-situ (contact) science campaign on the surface target called "Aguas Calientes," an exposed rock outcrop.

After previously brushing the surface, on Sol 5026 (March 14, 2018), the rover used the robotic arm (IDD) to collect a Microscopic Imager (MI) mosaic of the freshly brushed target and then placed the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the target for a multi-hour integration.

A Navigation Camera (Navcam) panorama was also collected. Then, on Sol 5027 (March 15, 2018), the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) was used to grind into the target approximately 2 millimeters.

This was followed by brushing to remove the grind tailings. On Sol 5028 (March 16, 2018), another MI mosaic was collected of the ground target and the APXS was placed for another multi-hour integration.

Over the next three sols, both Panoramic Camera (Pancam) and Navcam imagery were collected while the APXS integrated on the ground surface target.

On Sol 5032 (March 20, 2018), "Aguas Calientes" was ground even deeper by the RAT, penetrating another 2 millimeters into the rock outcrop.

Again, the target was brushed clean after the grind. The plan ahead is more imaging of the deeper grind and another APXS placement into the deeper hole.

As of Sol 5032 (March 20, 2018), the solar array energy production was 664 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.520 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.842.

Total odometry is 28.04 miles (45.12 kilometers).

Quelle: SD