Spirit Studying Algonquin

This week Spirit drove to an outcrop area informally named "Algonquin." On sol 685, Spirit successfully drove for 15 meters (49 feet) and prepared for a series of robotic-arm activities planned for sol 687 to 690 at Algonquin. Plans are to proceed downhill to "Comanche" after that.

Sol 680 (Dec. 1, 2005): Spirit drove 30 meters (98 feet) toward a feature between "Miami" and Comanche.

Sol 681: Spirit performed remote sensing during the day and observed the moon Phobos at night.

Sol 682: Spirit took images of Algonquin, "Miami," "Pima," and "Yaqui" with the panoramic camera. Spirit observed Yaqui, Pima, Algonquin, "Meentwioni," and "Myammia" with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer.

Sol 683: A planned drive toward Algonquin was not executed.

Sol 684: Spirit took images of a dust devil, did a near-field survey with the panoramic camera, and used the miniature thermal emission spectrometer during the day and at night.

Sol 685: Spirit successfully drove 16 meters (52 feet) to the Algonquin outcrop.

Sol 686: Spirit performed remote sensing during the day and observed the moon Phobos at night.

Sol 687: Spirit used the microscopic imager and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to study a feature informally called "Iroquet," which is located on the Algonquin outcrop.

Sol 688: Spirit used the rock abrasion tool's brush on Iroquet for 25 minutes, and then continued observations of Iroquet with the microscopic imager and alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

As of the end of sol 686, (Dec. 8, 2005), Spirit had driven 5,510 meters (3.42 miles).

Copyright 2005 by Space Daily, Distributed United Press International