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Science 3 December 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5702, pp. 1730 - 1733
DOI: 10.1126/science.1104211
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Reports

Localization and Physical Property Experiments Conducted by Opportunity at Meridiani Planum

R. E. Arvidson,1* R. C. Anderson,2 P. Bartlett,3 J. F. Bell, III,4 P. R. Christensen,5 P. Chu,3 K. Davis,3 B. L. Ehlmann,1 M. P. Golombek,2 S. Gorevan,3 E. A. Guinness,1 A. F. C. Haldemann,2 K. E. Herkenhoff,6 G. Landis,7 R. Li,8 R. Lindemann,2 D. W. Ming,9 T. Myrick,3 T. Parker,2 L. Richter,10 F. P. Seelos, IV,1 L. A. Soderblom,6 S. W. Squyres,4 R. J. Sullivan,4 J. Wilson3

The location of the Opportunity landing site was determined to better than 10-m absolute accuracy from analyses of radio tracking data. We determined Rover locations during traverses with an error as small as several centimeters using engineering telemetry and overlapping images. Topographic profiles generated from rover data show that the plains are very smooth from meter- to centimeter-length scales, consistent with analyses of orbital observations. Solar cell output decreased because of the deposition of airborne dust on the panels. The lack of dust-covered surfaces on Meridiani Planum indicates that high velocity winds must remove this material on a continuing basis. The low mechanical strength of the evaporitic rocks as determined from grinding experiments, and the abundance of coarse-grained surface particles argue for differential erosion of Meridiani Planum.

1 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
3 Honeybee Robotics, 204 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012, USA.
4 Department of Astronomy, Space Sciences Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
5 Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
6 U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
7 NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135, USA.
8 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
9 NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA.
10 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt, Institut für Raumsimulation, Linder Höhe, Köln, D-51170, Germany.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: arvidson{at}wunder.wustl.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Sulfate-Rich Eolian and Wet Interdune Deposits, Erebus Crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars.
J. M. Metz, J. P. Grotzinger, D. M. Rubin, K. W. Lewis, S. W. Squyres, and J. F. Bell III (2009)
Journal of Sedimentary Research 79, 247-264
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Survival of Spacecraft-Associated Microorganisms under Simulated Martian UV Irradiation.
D. A. Newcombe, A. C. Schuerger, J. N. Benardini, D. Dickinson, R. Tanner, and K. Venkateswaran (2005)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 71, 8147-8156
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Spectral Reflectance and Morphologic Correlations in Eastern Terra Meridiani, Mars.
R. E. Arvidson, F. Poulet, J.-P. Bibring, M. Wolff, A. Gendrin, R. V. Morris, J. J. Freeman, Y. Langevin, N. Mangold, and G. Bellucci (2005)
Science 307, 1591-1594
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The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars.
S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, J. Bruckner, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, M. H. Carr, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, L. Crumpler, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1698-1703
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Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Opportunity Rover at Meridiani Planum.
J. F. Bell III, S. W. Squyres, R. E. Arvidson, H. M. Arneson, D. Bass, W. Calvin, W. H. Farrand, W. Goetz, M. Golombek, R. Greeley, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1703-1709
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In Situ Evidence for an Ancient Aqueous Environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars.
S. W. Squyres, J. P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J. A. Crisp, W. H. Farrand, K. E. Herkenhoff, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1709-1714
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Soils of Eagle Crater and Meridiani Planum at the Opportunity Rover Landing Site.
L. A. Soderblom, R. C. Anderson, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, T. Economou, B. L. Ehlmann, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1723-1726
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Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum.
K. E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D. S. Bass, J. F. Bell III, P. Bertelsen, B. L. Ehlmann, W. Farrand, L. Gaddis, R. Greeley, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1727-1730
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover.
P. R. Christensen, M. B. Wyatt, T. D. Glotch, A. D. Rogers, S. Anwar, R. E. Arvidson, J. L. Bandfield, D. L. Blaney, C. Budney, W. M. Calvin, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1733-1739
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Atmospheric Imaging Results from the Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity.
M. T. Lemmon, M. J. Wolff, M. D. Smith, R. T. Clancy, D. Banfield, G. A. Landis, A. Ghosh, P. H. Smith, N. Spanovich, B. Whitney, et al. (2004)
Science 306, 1753-1756
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