This morning, the MSL operations team was very happy to see that drilling into Buckskin was successful! The weekend plan therefore has more arm activities, including transferring the sample to the scoop for inspection.
This morning, the MSL operations team was very happy to see that drilling into Buckskin was successful! The weekend plan therefore has more arm activities, including transferring the sample to the scoop for inspection. But first, the ChemCam RMI will take pictures of the new drill hole and Mastcam will image a potential location for eventually dumping the sample. The sample will be sieved and a portion of the fine-grained material dropped into CheMin for mineralogical analysis overnight on Sols 1061-1062.
In parallel, the
APXS will analyze the potential sample dump location for comparison with
future measurements of the dump pile. During the afternoon of Sol
1062, the arm will be moved out of the way so that Mastcam and ChemCam
can observe the drill hole and tailings, as well as new targets "Diamond
Point" and "Summer Hill." Later that day, SAM will perform a standard
(monthly) electrical baseline test. On Sol 1063, the Navcam and
Mastcams will observe the Sun and sky, and Mastcam will acquire a stereo
mosaic of the outcrop to the right of the rover .
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
