Curiosity rover latitude/longitude coordinates at spectra data collection sites,

[ba75]

Hello, Greetings!

 

We would like to know the local latitude/longitude coordinates of the Mars Curiosity rover at the time its ChemCam instrument collected the LIBS spectra and its APXS instrument collected APXS spectra data; how can we find this information? 

 

 

Thank you!

 

[Jennifer Ward]

The rover localization data set has not been released. We are working with the MSL mission to develop and release the data set. There is not an estimated release data at this time.

[ba75]

Hi Jennifer, thank you for your reply regarding the MSL mission !

 

Where can I find the official rover localization data sets for the two rovers of the MER mission: Opportunity and Spirit? We are looking for the latitude and longitude coordinates of the two rovers' (Spirit/Opportunity) traverses?

 

Thank you for help in advance !

[Jennifer Ward]

Opportunity Rover Motion Counter Dataset- http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/mer/mer1-m-eng-6-rmc-ops-v1/

Spirit Rover Motion Counter Dataset- http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/mer/mer2-m-eng-6-rmc-ops-v1/

 

Also helpful may be the traverse data here:

http://an.rsl.wustl.edu/mer/merbrowser/browserFr.aspx?tab=res&m=MERB

[Jennifer Ward]

Here is some updated MSL traverse information from MSL Deputy Project Scientist Joy Crisp:

 

(1) Approximate location maps are posted here - these will be updated more frequently, now that the rover has started its trek to Mount Sharp http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/whereistherovernow/

 

(2) The validated SPICE data archived in the Planetary Data System provides the rover location information based on telemetry (archived in 90-sol batches ~ 6 months after receipt of data on the Earth). These data are included in the MSL SPICE archive available in the NAIF node holdings:

http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/data_archived.html

 

To figure out how to use these data, you would have to copy the whole or a subset of the archive to your computer and study the archive documentation and the general information (tutorials, lessons) on the NAIF web site http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov

 

(3) Unvalidated operations SPICE data files, providing up to the current Sol information, can be found here:

http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/MSL/kernels/

 

Note however that the data in (2) and (3) can be off by a few meters or even few tens of meters from the actual position, which can be determined by careful manual examination of images from the rover and comparison to orbital images.