rover_sol66l.jpg

rover_sol66r.jpg

This stereo image pair shows the Sojourner rover in the middle of the afternoon on Sol 66 (September 9). The rover has backed away from the rock "Moe" (to the right of the rover) after measuring its composition with the Alpha Proton X-Ray spectrometer. The next target for Sojourner, the rock "Stimpy," is in front of Moe.

rover_sol68l.jpg

rover_sol68r.jpg

This stereo image pair shows the Sojourner rover's Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) deployed against the rock "Stimpy" on the afternoon of Sol 68 (September 11). The two rocks behind the rover were previously analyzed by the APXS.

MARS PATHFINDER MISSION STATUS
11 September 1997, 7:30 p.m. PDT

We have completed another day of operations at the Carl Sagan Memorial Station. Sunrise occurred about 9:30 PDT and sunset will occur about 9:30 PM this evening.

Last night we received 10 megabits of science and rover data which included meteorological data from the ASI/MET instrument, wind sock instrument readings, some of which showed us a nice breeze this afternoon, and more cubes of the super pan which is still under construction. Also received were lander solar array dust monitor images and end of day stereo images of the rover.

This morning the sojourner rover reposition the APXS, or Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer, squarely on a somewhat dust free corner of the rock called "Stimpy". Stimpy is in the rock garden just to the right of the rock Moe and Half Dome. We received another close up color image of Stimpy taken by the rover rear camera which clearly shows the APXS on the rock Stimpy.

Tomorrow the rover team plans to acquire and send out an APXS spectrum of Stimpy. Tonight the lander will spend the night awake for the first time in several days. We expect to acquire a good deal of over night atmospheric temperature, pressure, and wind data.

For further information on the Mars Pathfinder Mission, please call our Mission Status Report line at 1-800-391-6654.