Opportunity has benefited from a small (about 10 percent) dust cleaning event on her solar arrays on or about Sol 2246 (May 19, 2010). This improves the available energy for the rover. With the passing of the winter solstice, temperatures should be improving, as well.
On Sol 2247 (May 20, 2010), Opportunity completed another successful checkout of the autonomous exploration for gathering increased science (AEGIS) software. On Sol 2250 (May 23, 2010), an old problem reappeared with the miniature thermal emission spectrometer (Mini-TES).
Short interferograms (incomplete instrument science data) are being produced by the instrument. The instrument otherwise shows no anomalies (with the exception of the known dust contamination on the external elevation mirror).
The short interferogram problem was last seen several winters ago. The project is investigating.
On Sol 2252 (May 25, 2010), the rover was able to drive over 56 meters (184 feet) to the east/southeast as she makes her way toward Endeavour Crater.
With the improved energy production, more driving is being planned for the period ahead. As of Sol 2253 (May 26, 2010), solar array energy production increased to 275 watt-hours, atmospheric opacity (Tau) was 0.317 and the solar panel dust factor improved to 0.530.
Total odometry is 20,810.90 meters (20.81 kilometers, or 12.93 miles).
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