Sols 1046-1047: Wheel imaging

The 8.5-meter Sol 1044 drive completed as planned, leaving the rover in a relatively flat and smooth area
that is suitable for imaging of the wheels. Wheel imaging is done
periodically to assess wear, and it's time to acquire new data, so
the Sol 1046 includes 5 sets of MAHLI, Mastcam, and MARDI images
separated by short rover bumps to allow the entire
surfaces of the wheels to be viewed.

Today I helped pick
targets on a nearby outcrop for ChemCam observations. The team selected
a target dubbed "Mustang" near the left side of this image
for a 10-spot LIBS raster (plus a Right Mastcam color image), to be
acquired before the wheel imaging on Sol 1046. After the wheel
imaging is complete, the usual post-drive images will be acquired, along
with additional Navcam stereo images of the outcrop
and a Mastcam observation of the Sun.

On Sol 1047, Mastcam
will acquire a mosaic of the outcrop to the right of the rover, and
ChemCam will make some calibration measurements. The Left Navcam will
then search for dust devils and, during evening
twilight, MARDI will take an image of the ground near the left front
wheel.

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