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Sol 843-852: Brushing

The Sol 842 commandsequences were successfully received by Curiosity, and all the dataneeded for planning were returned to Earth, including MAHLI images of the rightfront wheel.

The Sol 842 command
sequences were successfully received by Curiosity, and all the data
needed for planning were returned to Earth, including MAHLI images of the right
front wheel. These and other data were thoroughly analyzed, and the slip risk
assessment team concluded that it is safe to brush the target “Santa
Ana.” So after multiple remote sensing ChemCam and Mastcam observations
on Sol 843 and 844, the Dust Removal Tool will be
used late in the afternoon on Sol 844.

To give the MSL tactical team a break next week, we
are planning 10 (!) sols today. Essentially, it’s a normal 3-sol weekend
plan, with only REMS and associated background activities for the rest
of the plan. Because we don’t want to risk
leaving the MAHLI dust cover open in the unlikely event of an arm
fault, no MAHLI activities are included in the plan. So it was an easy
day for me as MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead; I simply suggested Mastcam 100 mm
imaging of the brushed spot in lieu of the usual
MAHLI documentation images. After the Mastcam image is acquired, the
APXS will be placed on Santa Ana for an overnight integration. A full
multispectral Mastcam observation (all filters, both eyes) of the
brushed spot is planned just after noon on Sol 845,
when the illumination will be better for measuring subtle spectral features. 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

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Last Updated
Oct 30, 2024

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