1 min read

Sol 46 Update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Perfect Bump


The Sol 45 rover "bump" was executed perfectly, putting the rover in position to deploy the arm instruments to the rock "Jake Matijevic" and shoot it with ChemCam's laser. So the Sol 46 plan includes the long-awaited first use of the arm on a rock target. I look forward to seeing the close-up MAHLI images of this rock.

I feel very luck to be working on the MSL project, and even luckier today that I got to see the space shuttle "Endeavor" fly right over JPL on a 747! It then landed at the LA airport, to be trucked to the California Science Center in Exposition Park where it will be permanently displayed.

Written by Ken Herkenhoff, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center