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Localization and physical properties experiments conducted by Spirit at Gusev crater

January 1, 2004

The precise location and relative elevation of Spirit during its traverses from the Columbia Memorial station to Bonneville crater were determined with bundle-adjusted retrievals from rover wheel turns, suspension and tilt angles, and overlapping images. Physical properties experiments show a decrease of 0.2% per Mars solar day in solar cell output resulting from deposition of airborne dust, cohesive soil-like deposits in plains and hollows, bright and dark rock coatings, and relatively weak volcanic rocks of basaltic composition. Volcanic, impact, aeolian, and water-related processes produced the encountered landforms and materials.

Publication Year 2004
Title Localization and physical properties experiments conducted by Spirit at Gusev crater
DOI 10.1126/science.1099922
Authors R. E. Arvidson, R. C. Anderson, P. Bartlett, J.F. Bell, D. Blaney, P. R. Christensen, P. Chu, L. Crumpler, K. Davis, B.L. Ehlmann, R. Fergason, M.P. Golombek, S. Gorevan, J. A. Grant, R. Greeley, E.A. Guinness, A. F. C. Haldemann, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. Johnson, G. Landis, R. Li, R. Lindemann, H. McSween, D. W. Ming, T. Myrick, L. Richter, F.P. Seelos, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, A. Wang, Jim Wilson
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70026743
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Astrogeology Science Center