The weekend plan includes lots of arm activities and science.
The weekend plan includes lots of arm activities and science. First,
on Sol 1123, ChemCam and Mastcam will observe the drill hole and
tailings, plus targets named "Frontier," "Floweree," "Bozeman," and "Billings."
Then the portion of the sample that has not been sieved will be dumped
on the ground and examined by Mastcam. After dusk, MAHLI will use its
LEDs to look inside of the drill hole and image the drill tailings and
CheMin inlet, then APXS will be placed over the tailings for an
overnight measurement. Late in the afternoon of Sol 1124, MAHLI will
image the pre-sieve dump pile and APXS will be placed over it for another
overnight integration. A SAM atmospheric methane measurement was added early on Sol 1125 because Mars recently went through the path of comet Damocles. Dust ejected from comets is often carbon-rich, and therefore is a possible source of the elevated methane concentration that has occasionally been observed by SAM. After all those activities, the rover will sleep through most of Sol 1125 to recharge its batteries in preparation for Sol 1126.
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
