Cape Tribulation (Mars)

Cape Tribulation is a section of the Western rim of Endeavour crater on the planet Mars.[1] The MER-B Opportunity rover spent 30 months exploring Cape Tribulation from 2014 to 2017.[2] The top of Cape Tribulation is about 134 meters (440 feet) higher than the plains that surround the crater.[3]

Looking north at the southern end of Cape Tribulation (MER-B, 2017)
Annotated map with location of Cape Tribulation, on Endeavour crater's western rim

The MER-B Opportunity rover summited Cape Tribulation in January 2015, which was the highest Martian elevation achieved yet on its mission.[4] Then in March 2016 it accomplished the distance of a classic marathon.[5] Also in March 2016 it achieved the steepest slope traverse (32 degree) yet of its mission, surpassing the slope it took on at Burns Cliff in 2004.[6] MER-B was trying to reach a target on Knudsen Ridge, on the south side of Marathon Valley, which meant attempting a steep grade which can cause wheel slippage.[7] Another effect of this angle was that sand and dust that had collected on the rover flowed in streaks over the back of the rover, such was the incline.[7]

Examples of locations:

  • Cape Tribulation Summit
  • Marathon Valley
    • Knudsen ridge[8]
    • Wharton Ridge[9]
  • Spirit of Saint Lois Crater
  • Spirit Mount

Endeavour crater is a 14-mile (22 km) wide crater on Mars, that was explored by the MER-B Rover Opportunity in the 2010s, after landing on the planet in 2004.[10]

Naming

Cape Tribulation is a reference to one of the locations visited by HMS Endeavour captained by James Cook in his first voyage of discovery to Australia and New Zealand in 1769-1771.

— NASA[3]

Wdowiak Ridge

Wdowiak Ridge is a section of the Western rim and is a raised section about 500 feet (150 meters) long and about 40 feet (12 meters) above surroundings.[11]

Wdowiak Ridge on the North-Western rim of Endeavour crater.MER-B recorded this panorama on Sept. 17, 2014 (Sol 3,786)[12]

Summit
Opportunity's view from the top of Cape Tribulation on the rim of Endeavour Crater, January 22, 2015.

On Sol 3894 (Jan. 6, 2015) Opportunity reached the summit of "Cape Tribulation," which is 443 feet (135 meters) above "Botany Bay" level and the highest point yet reached by the rover on western rim of Endeavour Crater according to NASA.[13]

Marathon valley

In 2015 MER-B entered Marathon Valley in Cape Tribulation and would study it until September 2016.[14]

Marathon Valley was targeted for exploration by MER-B because CRISM instrument in orbit on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detected clay minerals at this location.[15]

Marathon Valley as viewed by the Opportunity rover (false color; stereo; March 13, 2015).
Looking up at Knudsen Ridge, which is on the southern side of Marathon Valley (October 2015)
Opportunity's traverse up to February 2015 as it approached Spirit of Saint Louis Crater and Marathon Valley, and came close to traveling the distance of a traditional marathon (about 26 miles or 42 km)
Traverse as of December 2014 from roughly sol 3750 to 3868. To the north Ulysses crater can be seen and to the south, the north wall of Marathon Valley
A detailed-class rover traverse map by the mission, released on September 28, 2016 showing the track of the rover up to Sol 4500 as it heads deeper in Endeavor crater
Annotated version of MER-B traverse to Spirit Mound from Marathon Valley in late 2016
In March 2016, while trying to reach target on the slope of Marathon Valley in Cape Tribulation, the Mars rover attained a slope of 32 degrees, the highest angle yet for the rover since its mission began. This was so steep that dust that had accumulated on its top panels began to flow downward.[16][17]

Spirit of Saint Louis Crater

Along Cape Tribulation, at the west end of Marathon Valley is a shallow crater about 110 feet (34 meters) long and about 80 feet (24 meters) wide, named Spirit of Saint Louis after the record-break aircraft.[18] Within its center is a rock spire and the regolith in the crater has a darkened hue.[18] The crater is on the outer edge of the Western rom of Endeavour crater.[19] The MER-B rover reached it in April 2015 and took panoramic color photos of the site.[19]

Additional NASA team named features:

In May 2015 the rover visited Spirit of St. Louis Crater, a shallow crater about 110 feet (34 meters) long and 80 feet (24 meters) across. In its center is Lindbergh Mound, about 2-3 meters (yards) high. This version of the panorma is annotated and in false color[20]

Context map
Context image of the Western rim including Cape Tribulation
Opportunity's traverse up to March 2015 from its landing site to Endeavour crater. It has traversed south along the Western rim and orbiting spacecraft have help collect data on the rim, which in turn allows the rover to more closely investigate. The rover reached part way through Cape Tribulation at that time
In 2010, while still years away from reaching Endeavour crater, Cape Tribulation was seen from the Western side as MER-B approached

Mineral map
This is a geological map based on MRO's CRISM observations[21]

See also

References
  1. "Catalog Page for PIA21497". photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  2. "Catalog Page for PIA21497". photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  4. "MER-B Opportunity Cape Tribulation Summit Panorama". www.planetary.org. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  5. Northon, Karen (2015-03-25). "Opportunity Mars Rover Finishes Marathon in Just Over 11 Years". NASA. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  6. Greicius, Tony (2016-03-31). "Rover Takes on Steepest Slope Ever Tried on Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  7. mars.nasa.gov. "Rover Takes on Steepest Slope Ever Tried on Mars". Mars planet facts news & images | NASA Mars rover + mission info. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  8. "Steep 'Knudsen Ridge' Along 'Marathon Valley' on Mars (Enhanced Color)". www.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  9. "Mars Rover Opportunity's Panorama of 'Wharton Ridge'". www.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  10. mars.nasa.gov. "Mars Exploration Rover". mars.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  11. Greicius, Tony (2014-10-16). "NASA's Opportunity Rover Gets Panorama Image at 'Wdowiak Ridge'". NASA. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  13. "Mars Exploration Rover Mission: All Opportunity Updates". mars.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  15. "Mars 'Marathon Valley' Overlook - Astrobiology Magazine". Astrobiology Magazine. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  18. Greicius, Tony (2015-04-30). "Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  19. "Catalog Page for PIA19393". photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
  20. Martian Reminder of a Pioneering Flight
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