Cape Tribulation (Mars)

Cape Tribulation is a section of the Western rim of Endeavour crater on the planet Mars. The MER-B Opportunity rover spent 30 months exploring Cape Tribulation from 2014 to 2017. The top of Cape Tribulation is about 134 m higher than the plains that surround the crater.

The MER-B Opportunity rover summited Cape Tribulation in January 2015, which was the highest Martian elevation achieved yet on its mission. Then in March 2016 it accomplished the distance of a classic marathon. 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. 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. 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.

Examples of locations:
 * Cape Tribulation Summit
 * Marathon Valley
 * Knudsen ridge
 * Wharton Ridge
 * Spirit of Saint Lois Crater
 * Spirit Mount

Endeavour crater is a 14 mi wide crater on Mars, that was explored by the MER-B Rover Opportunity in the 2010s, after landing on the planet in 2004.

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."

Wdowiak Ridge
Wdowiak Ridge is a section of the Western rim and is a raised section about 500 ft long and about 40 ft above surroundings.

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

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

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.











Spirit of St. Louis Crater
Along Cape Tribulation, at the west end of Marathon Valley is a shallow crater about 110 ft long and about 80 ft wide, named "Spirit of St. Louis" after the record-breaking aircraft. Within its center is a rock spire and the regolith in the crater has a darkened hue. The crater is on the outer edge of the Western rom of Endeavour crater. The MER-B rover reached it in April 2015 and took panoramic color photos of the site.

Additional NASA team named features:
 * Marathon Monument
 * Donald A Hall
 * Lindbergh Mound
 * Roosevelt Field
 * Lambert Field
 * Harry H Knight
 * Harold M Bixby

Context map