Friday, February 10, 2017

Sol 4639 - Approaching the Crater Rim!

Opportunity has successfully clawed its way to within a few meters of the crater rim after spending the last few months climbing and the last two years inside the crater. There will be a short stop just inside the rim for one more look and then if all goes wel a drive out onto the world of horizontality . THis will commence the adventure oif driving south over the next few months to the mission goal of a water-cut in the crater rim.

This is the 14th year of surface operations on Mars. Odometry is currently at 27 miles (over 44 km).

1. Opportunity as of this sol. Finishing up and IDD actiivity on the local crater wall bedrock. The long slope down into the crater is now behind, the local slopes are less steep, and  the rim lies ahead.

2. The drive along the rim. Notice that the last part of the drive has been eastward and down into the crater.

3.  This shows 1 meter contours. The crater rim is only about 40 meters away. The drive we are planning today should take Opportunity to just below the rim.