I took a break over the weekend to visit my family.
I took a break over the weekend to visit my family. While I was away, MSL successfully acquired its first scoop of Martian soil, from the wind ripple we have been working at for several sols . "Mars time" (the local time at MSL's location) and PDT are nearly the same again, so that the planning team is working overnight in Pasadena, while the rover is "sleeping." First shift begins around 5 PM PDT, and the second shift is working the graveyard shift. I'll be working first shift this week, so I need to get used to working late again!
Written by Ken Herkenhoff, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center
