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January 27th, 2020
Curiosity Front Hazard Avoidance Camera Left B image acquired on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now carrying out Sol 2658 tasks.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
“Curiosity continues to function normally on Mars. We are at a very interesting point with potential changes in rock chemistry,” reports Susanne Schwenzer, a planetary geologist at The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
“That always gets the geochemists like me to sit up and pay extra attention. But we don’t always get it our way, because other investigations are just as important,” Schwenzer adds.
Engineering judgements
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
A recent two-sol plan with the third day being a soliday, did not make it any easier as scientists awaited Curiosity engineering judgements on the rover’s overall power – and the power available was not enough to get it all done.
“In a case like this, careful considerations are required regarding what observations are specific to the location or the time, and which ones could wait for the next plan,” Schwenzer explains.
For one, the environmental group gave up an observation to make it all fit, but retains the crater rim extinction and the full tau observation.
Bedrock: two different types
“From a geochemist’s perspective the most interesting part of the story at the current location is that we see two different types of bedrock. One is characterized in the images by a smoother appearance and veins in it. This type is the primary focus on the plan. But there is nodular bedrock, too,” Schwenzer explains.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The robot’s Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) has the smoother bedrock in reach and will measure the target “Rannoch Moore” as an evening investigation and “Sauchiehall” as an overnight, long duration target after use of the Dust Removal Tool (DRT).
In the plan, Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) was to document both targets.
Chemistry and Camera ( ChemCam) will investigate “Rannoch Moore” in conjunction with APXS, and has the targets “Janetstown,” also on smoother bedrock, and “Glenalmond” on the nodular version, Schwenzer points out.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Excellent view
“At our current location, we have an excellent view of several buttes and the Geenheugh pediment. This is reflected in a very busy plan for Mastcam. The Greenheugh pediment and Tower Butte are images together in a 19×4 mosaic, but there are two more observations with mosaics on Western Butte and the trough feature in front of us,” Schwenzer says. “This will allow for detailed analysis of the sediments, but also aid the upcoming drives. Exciting times at a very interesting location!”
Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager photo produced on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Regarding the rover’s environmental sensor activity, a sunset tau, and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI), Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) and Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) measurements as well as post-drive imaging complete this very busy plan.
In addition to all the observations, Schwenzer notes that Curiosity is set to drive 164 feet (50 meters)…uphill! “I am sure Curiosity is happy and ready for a recharging soliday after this plan!”
Curiosity Right B Navigation Camera image taken on Sol 2657, January 27, 2020.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Posted in Space News
