title: Localization and physical property experiments conducted by Opportunity at Meridiani Planum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. arvidson@wunder.wustl.edu
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Arvidson
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Ehlmann
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Golombek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gorevan
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Guinness
authors.forename: A F C
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Haldemann
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Herkenhoff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myrick
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Seelos
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Soderblom
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Squyres
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D018535:Mars; D018531:Spacecraft; D014919:Wind