MSL did well last weekend, but the Sol 1124 MAHLI images of the unsieved part of the drill sample showed that the APXS was not perfectly centered on the dump pile.
MSL did well last weekend, but the Sol 1124 MAHLI images of the unsieved part of the drill sample showed that the APXS was not perfectly centered on the dump pile. Therefore, the Sol 1126 plan includes new MAHLI images and APXS
measurements, better centered on the dump pile. Before the arm
activities, ChemCam will acquire passive spectra of part of Mt. Sharp, a
5×1 LIBS raster on “Canadian Creek,” and an RMI image of the ChemCam
calibration target. Then MAHLI will be used to take another
self-portrait of the rover, and the APXS will be placed on the dump pile
for an overnight integration. Later in the afternoon, Mastcam will
acquire some mosaics and an image of Canadian Creek to provide context
for the ChemCam observations. In parallel with the overnight APXS
measurements, CheMin will analyze the material from the latest drill hole .
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
