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Update -- July 12 9:30am EDT (1330 UT): Rover controllers last night were able to move Sojourner off Yogi, despite a minor glitch which reset Pathfinder's computer. Mission controllers are planning another attempt to move back in and put the rover's spectrometer on Yogi. Update -- July 11 4:00pm EDT (2000 UT): At today's Pathfinder press conference, officials said a timing problem with the Deep Space Network resulted in sending signals to Pathfinder when the spacecraft's receiver was shut down, therefore, neither the lander nor the rover received the instructions to back the rover away from the rock Yogi. Those instructions will be retransmitted today, along with plans to finally get spectral data from the rock using the rover's spectrometer. Engineers also reported that an analysis of data collected during entry, descent, and landing showed Pathfinder landed within about 1 km of the targeted site.
Update -- July 10 4:30pm EDT (2030 UT): At today's press conference Pathfinder officials said an attempt to put Sojourner's spectrometer on the rock "Yogi" failed when the rover overshot and tried to climb the rock. The rover is safe and controllers will try again tonight. Scientists also reported the lower Martian atmosphere is as warm as it was during the Viking landings, but that the upper atmosphere (above 60 km) is significantly colder than in 1976. Initial results from an experiment studying the magnetic properties of Martian dust particles appear to indicate that all dust may be magnetic, and contain the mineral maghemite. |
Update -- July 11 2:30pm EDT (1830 UT):
Attempts to move one of Sojourner's wheels off the rock
"Yogi" failed last night when the rover apparently did not
receive the command to back up. Mission controllers will try
again later today. More information should be available at
a press conference later this afternoon.