HR: 15:45h
AN: P24A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Atmospheric Profiles from Spirit and Opportunity
AU: * Withers, P
EM: withers@bu.edu
AF: Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215 United States
AB: Spirit and Opportunity each carried two 3-axis accelerometers and two 3-axis gyroscopes to trigger events, such as parachute deployment, during atmospheric entry. These instruments were designed and operated for engineering and operational purposes; they were not science instruments. However, their measurements can be used to derive vertical profiles of atmospheric density, pressure, and temperature. These are the first entry profiles obtained simultaneously with remote sensing measurements, from MGS TES in this case, of the same atmospheric properties, which enables independent testing of the accuracy of this measurement technique. I will discuss the positive and negative features of these instruments, the quality and availability of their datasets, preliminary atmospheric results, and the prospects for wider use of these results.
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
DE: 5409 Atmospheres--structure and dynamics
DE: 5494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly