Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity acquired this image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on the turret at the end of the rover’s robotic arm, on July 16, 2015, Sol 1046 of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has completed a wheel inspection, producing some striking images of growing damage on one of its wheels.

A Sol 1046 campaign of wheel imaging completed nominally, and the rover is a little over one-meter from its previous location.

Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) inspection of wheel wear on Curiosity rover, taken on July 16, 2015, Sol 1046.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

According to Ken Herkenhoff of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Sol 1048 plan includes ChemCam and Mastcam observations of “Pinto,” “Palomino,” and “Burnt Point” plus a Navcam search for clouds toward the north.

Upcoming is use of Curiosity’s arm, deployed for drill testing in preparation for the next drill activity.

Science teams are interested in sampling bright rocks east of the rover, but the Elk and Lamoose targets are not suitable for drilling.

Herkenhoff explains that on Sol 1049 the plan is to drive toward a nearby bright outcrop of what looks like the same material.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

“We’re hoping that we will be able to sample that material with the drill,” Herkenhoff adds.

Sol 1050 planning involves use of the rover’s Mastcam, Navcam, and ChemCam to observe the Sun and sky to measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere, search for clouds, and look for changes in atmospheric chemistry.

Curiosity landed on Mars in early August of 2012.