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#1 Re: Unmanned probes » Interesting MOC pictures - Place to post interesting MOC pictures » 2004-09-28 10:21:57

GJG

Cindy,

As part of your MOC research, would be nice to know the exposure time required to build up images like this.  It seems unlikely short enough to capture sharp ripples on water and even less likely that there are standing water waves just waiting to be photographed.

Greg

#2 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-08-10 11:19:52

GJG

Atomoid, please forgive my sloppy terminology (cave) -- You and Rxke figured it out right.  I was specifically refering to the largest (closest to NASA's "Lookout Point) of three, or more, of the dark spots in the coliumbia hills immediately east and southeast of Spirit's location.

I am not a geologist but I had "imagined" these to be "caves" -- possibly puntched by a group of meteorite fragments, at a low impact angle,  long ago and also possibly serving as "springs" sourced by some kind of water seepage from the hills.

Regarding my speculation on the "Styrofoam looking" material in Oppie's latest grinding holes on the other side of Mars, the newly revealed shinney "ball" that I cited above makes it look (to me) like a soft "concrete like" material with a soft but strongly adhesive matrix material and hard small "Aggrigate" balls.  This would explain  the inability to hold the balls for grinding in place (or even cleaning except for the one seen) and the resultant breaking out in chunks bounded by weak areas of lower "Aggrigate" density.  Once I saw one well defined ball, I saw (or imagined) them everywhere (same size) embeded in the remaining matrix.  The pulverized grindings outside the holes also appear to reveal the same balls, in the powder, but still thinly coated with the matrix material. Remember also that in one of the earlier shallow grindings, the matrix was able to hold one of the larger "Hematite" spherules for grinding near the surface.

You asked:  "Could I push my finger in it".  Probably not.  It appears to have decent compression strength (supports Opie's weight pretty well) but quite low tensile strength (lots of cracks in situ and the slabs powder where Oppie's wheels spin, slip or roll over the edge of cracks inducing shear and tensile loads.

All of this is, of course, just a lot of uneducated speculation.  Even so, NASA has been very quiet on the subject and I sure would like to hear some educated speculation.  What happened to all of the great NASA news conferences on NASA TV?!!

Greg

#3 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-08-09 16:01:05

GJG

Several good shots of the Columbia Hills available on exploratorium now - still no look down to the cave - the NASA team is incredably patient.

This shot makes it look like driving across the saddle into the Hills may be an option or even driving down toward the cave may??? be possible?:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit … ...0M1.JPG

All may have to wait until Spring to get good sun orientation and avoid early/late shaddowing.

Greg

#4 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-08-09 15:39:46

GJG

Looks like Oppie has turned downhill from a traverse and is now again headed deeper.  Last in most recent foward Hazcam images:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...0M1.JPG

Greg

#5 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-08-09 15:30:43

GJG

After weeks of boring in "Styrofoam" it looks like Oppie may have uncovered a clue as to its composition.  Three views of the same uncrusted mini-spherule:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...2M1.JPG

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...2M1.JPG

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...2M1.JPG

Seeing this in context makes all of the stuff around it look like "cemented" mini-spherules -- pretty tough bond if this is the only one cleaned -- larger one cut in place earlier!?  Hematite locked in Salts??

Greg

#6 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-08-01 09:07:40

GJG

Strange material -- looks like a polishing exercise on styrofoam:?:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...2M1.JPG

Any geologist's opinions?

Greg

#7 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-08-01 08:42:04

GJG

Ever wonder what the "Monument" (Rock Pile) on the top of West Spur looks like?  Spirit is now so close that she could spit on it!

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit … ...0M1.JPG

I still wanta see over the top -- see the "Cave" area and vista.

#8 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-07-31 10:26:37

GJG

First glimpse over the top by Spirit:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit … ...0M1.JPG

This shot is part of a nice series -- would be nice to see them joined.  Also, lots of neat outcrops -- perhaps Spirit will get her share of center stage time.

Greg

#9 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-07-31 09:55:10

GJG

What is this?  New texture in Endurance:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...0M1.JPG

Looks very fine, shinny and firm -- a little like the "Mud" around the lander.  This new surface texture can also be seen in the latest Forward Hazcam images.

Greg

#10 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-07-30 11:37:23

GJG

Spirit is almost on top of the hill--Look down:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit … ...0M1.JPG

Nice view?  Wait til we see the other side!

Greg

#11 Re: Unmanned probes » Cassini-Huygens - Cassini-Huygens Discussion » 2004-06-29 14:08:41

GJG

BBC has a report http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/natu … 846195.stm
(without details or impact) that there was a msg processing error on the Cassini breaking burn instruction.  Anyone have further information?

Greg

#12 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-06-14 09:30:29

GJG

Are my untrained eyes failing me??  What, from a distance, in the hills appeared to be solid layer outcropings; now, upclose, appear more to be cobbled layers of ejecta. 

Greg

#13 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *7* - ...continuing... » 2004-06-14 09:05:42

GJG

Cindy,

If you haven't tried it, download NASA's Time on Mars Tool:

http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/] … ls/mars24/

This gives a nice display and you can move around Mars and change references as you like.

Greg

#15 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *6* - continue on from thread "5" » 2004-06-12 11:21:18

GJG

Thanks Cindi.  I think I answered my own question about links.  I had been unsuccessfuly trying to use the iB Code Buttons to post a simple hyperlink -- didn't work and no way to preview.  In the msg you responded to, I simply cut/pasted the link in my text and it worked fine.

Greg

#16 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *6* - continue on from thread "5" » 2004-06-11 10:18:50

GJG

Oppie successfully in and out twice on the 9th.  See 6/9/04 fwd hazcam series at Exploritorium:

1st in looking down: http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...0M1.JPG

last backout looking at tracks:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opport … ...0M1.JPG

still have not figured how to post links.

Greg

#17 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *6* - continue on from thread "5" » 2004-06-09 14:29:03

GJG

YLR.
At the same site, look at their forward Hazcam images for today.  They show the trip in and the tracks on retreat.

Greg

#18 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *6* - continue on from thread "5" » 2004-06-08 09:57:30

GJG

I agree they'll probably only do only a "toe in the door" on the first entry if they can get back out.  I think the whole reverse of the crater circumnavigation and quick entry decision was based on the the perceived imperative to get to one of the internal underlying outcrops before the MINI-TES fails due to deep sleep cold.  Then, if they are back out, they will likely resume the origional exploration plan and return to the crater interier after a good look-around outside.

#19 Re: Unmanned probes » Results of Spirit and Opportunity - a quick question for my astronomy paper » 2004-04-29 17:49:54

GJG

Adrian -- my apologies.  I let my emotions get loose on my keyboard.

Greg

#20 Re: Unmanned probes » Results of Spirit and Opportunity - a quick question for my astronomy paper » 2004-04-29 15:22:32

GJG

I am a newbie in this forum (a 60+ y/o "kid") and was a little surprised (rankled) by "Super Administrator" Adrian's sharp response (flame) to a new visitor's query (of whatever age or motivation).  If one doesn't consider a post worthy of a response, why give one?  I was, likewise, encouraged by Luca's and Stuart's pertinent comments.

I have already learned a lot by simply reading the posts here -- RobS, thanks for the link, this was all new info for me.

Greg

#21 Re: Unmanned probes » Results of Spirit and Opportunity - a quick question for my astronomy paper » 2004-04-28 09:21:47

GJG

Luca,  I must have missed something big time; but, I don't remember seeing that Spirit sighted any "blueberries" on her side of Mars -- only water effects in volcanic rock.

Greg

#22 Re: Unmanned probes » Spirit & Opportunity *5* - Let's start with new NASA conference! » 2004-04-20 10:00:52

GJG

Anyone interested in the "shell-like" objects imaged by Spirit Pancam on Sol 104??  [http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 86L2M1.JPG]

These look alot like the "mystery object" seen on the backside of Route66.  How can these thin surfaced hollow objects be formed??

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