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 134abbr=offNaNabbr=off higher than the plains that surround the crater.[3]
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:
Endeavour crater is a 14miles wide crater on Mars, that was explored by the MER-B Rover Opportunity in the 2010s, after landing on the planet in 2004.[10]
Wdowiak Ridge is a section of the Western rim and is a raised section about 500abbr=offNaNabbr=off long and about 40abbr=offNaNabbr=off above surroundings.[11]
On Sol 3894 (Jan. 6, 2015) Opportunity reached the summit of "Cape Tribulation," which is 443abbr=offNaNabbr=off above "Botany Bay" level and the highest point yet reached by the rover on western rim of Endeavour Crater according to NASA.[12]
In 2015 MER-B entered Marathon Valley in Cape Tribulation and would study it until September 2016.[13]
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.[14]
Along Cape Tribulation, at the west end of Marathon Valley is a shallow crater about 110abbr=offNaNabbr=off long and about 80abbr=offNaNabbr=off wide, named "Spirit of St. Louis" after the record-breaking aircraft.[15] Within its center is a rock spire and the regolith in the crater has a darkened hue.[15] The crater is on the outer edge of the Western rom of Endeavour crater.[16] The MER-B rover reached it in April 2015 and took panoramic color photos of the site.[16]
Additional NASA team named features: