[Dust Delays Mars Crater Entry

07.03.07

A giant dust storm brewing for more than a week on Mars has become worse and is affecting surface operations of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Because the rovers depend on solar energy for survival, and the dust is partially blocking the sun, the storm is being watched closely by the rover scientists and engineers. Opportunity's entry into Victoria Crater is delayed for at least several days.

The storm, the most severe storm yet to hit the rovers, is expected to continue for at least another week. Opportunity is perched near "Duck Bay" as it readies to descend into Victoria Crater, but operations were scaled back on Saturday, June 30, to conserve power.]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/mer-20070703.html

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Whew. In a way, I'm not quite ready to have Opportunity go into Victoria just yet. They'll have to keep her close to the rim and where it's not too steep. More time to think about all this could be good for them. :}