Atmospheric Profiles from Spirit and Opportunity
Paul Withers

Spirit and Opportunity each carried two 3-axis accelerometers and two 3-axis gyroscopes to trigger events, such as parachute deployment, during atmospheric entry. These instruments were designed and operated for engineering and operational purposes; they were not science instruments. However, their measurements can be used to derive vertical profiles of atmospheric density, pressure, and temperature. These are the first entry profiles obtained simultaneously with remote sensing measurements, from MGS TES in this case, of the same atmospheric properties, which enables independent testing of the accuracy of this measurement technique. I will discuss the positive and negative features of these instruments, the quality and availability of their datasets, preliminary atmospheric results, and the prospects for wider use of these results.