Posted by
Far_view on Friday, October 13, 2006 5:44:03 PM
Mars is going to be passing behind the Sun within the next couple of
weeks and during that time we will have limited communications with
Spirit and Opportunity. Spirit is still sitting at its "Low Ridge"
winter-over site. Actually we are emerging from the Martian winter so
solar energy available to the rovers is increasing. After conjunction
I think the plan is for Spirit to make a very short drive (a "bump") so
that we can get some different material in the robotic arm's work
volume. Opportunity is still sitting on the "Cape Verde" promontory (a
visualization of the rover sitting on that promontory can be viewed
here). Over the period of conjunction (during which we will have very
limited communication with the rovers) Opportunity will be collecting a
great panorama of Victoria Crater. So it will be a slow period for the
rovers. It will give us a chance to catch our collective breath since
after conjunction the pace of activity will pick up again.