I'm having anothervery busy day as SOWG Chair, as we are planning lots of activities tokeep the rover busy this weekend.
I’m having another
very busy day as SOWG Chair, as we are planning lots of activities to
keep the rover busy this weekend. The vehicle is on a local high spot
that gives us a spectacular view of the terrain
ahead .
But there aren’t many targets in front of the rover that are suitable for contact science,
so we selected only one (called “Ravalli”) to investigate using MAHLI
and APXS. We had time for another contact science target, but decided
that it would not be worthwhile to study the smaller rocks that are
within arm’s reach.
On Sol 1082, ChemCam
and Mastcam will observe Ravalli and a brighter rock dubbed “Sawtooth”
before Mastcam acquires a 23×6 mosaic of the nice outcrops ahead.
Mastcam and Navcam will look up at the sky at about
the same time that the Mars Odyssey orbiter will be passing over, to
compare results of observations from above and the surface. Then the
arm will be deployed for contact science and the APXS placed on Ravalli
for overnight integration.
ChemCam and Mastcam will observe a couple more
bright blocks on Sol 1083, named “Stonewall” and “Wolsey,” before the
rover drives toward the south. We’ll then acquire the usual post-drive
images and DAN active data. On the last sol (1084),
ChemCam will take some calibration data and SAM will clean its scrubber
in preparation for future measurement.
by Ken Herkenhoff
Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.
Written by Ken Herkenhoff, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center
