HR: 08:51h
AN: P31A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Recent Results from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity Mission
AU: * Arvidson, R E
EM: arvidson@wunder.wustl.edu
AF: Raymond E. Arvidson, Earth and Planetary Sciences Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130 United States
AU: Squyres, S W
EM: squyres@astrosun.tn.cornell.edu
AF: Steven W. Squyres, Department of Astronomy Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14583 United States
AB: After egress from Endurance crater on sol 315 the Opportunity rover traversed to the heat shield impact site identified from post-landing Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbital Camera images. An extensive campaign was undertaken at this site to understand how well the heat shield system performed on entry and descent through the atmosphere, focusing on characterizing the charred to preserved cross section through the thermal protection system. A second purpose was to explore the "divot" where the shield made initial contact with the surface to understand the mechanical properties of the shallow subsurface and to make measurements of the materials excavated during the impact. The campaign focused on a set of traverses around the shield site, spiraling inward closer to the main shield and flank piece as the debris was inventoried and traverses could be planned to avoid roving near strewn shield materials. A 25 cm wide rock near the shield impact site was also investigated. Based on the very low spectral emissivity, coupled with high iron and nickel content and the presence of an iron-nickel alloy, it is clear that this "heat shield rock" is a relatively fresh metallic meteorite. Opportunity is traversing south to exposures of etched terrain surfaces to characterize sedimentary rocks in plains outcrops and in crater walls. The primary intent of the new traverse and measurement campaign is to determine if the aqueous environments associated with deposition and alteration of the sedimentary rocks found in Eagle and Endurance craters are characteristic of processes that happened on a regional-scale in the Meridiani Planum area. Understanding the past aqueous environments and implications for habitability of Mars will be the prime legacy of the Opportunity Mission. During traverses south Opportunity will also search for and characterize selected cobbles and boulders strewn on the plains, including additional meteorites, and make measurements that will document the surface and shallow subsurface characteristics of the unique surfaces typical of the plains of Meridiani.
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly