Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Navcam Right B image from Curiosity of the south side of Ireson Hill, acquired on Sol 1596, February 1, 2017.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Now in Sol 1600 on Mars, the Curiosity rover has reached an exciting point in the traverse as the robot approaches the next segment of the Bagnold Dunes.

That’s the word from Lauren Edgar, a research geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Ireson Hill imagery documents the bedding geometry and cap rock. Curisoity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1598, February 3, 2017.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSS

“Curiosity’s weekend plan includes more contact science and driving as we continue to investigate the Murray formation and prepare for observations at the active sand dunes,” Edgar notes.

Bedding geometry

Today, Saturday, is a soliday (a day without planning to allow Earth and Mars schedules to sync back up), Edgar explains, “so we’ll transition from a late slide sol today to early slide sols next week.”

NASA’s Curiosity rover has taken additional and stunning imagery of “Ireson Hill” to document the bedding geometry and cap rock from a different viewing position.

Curisoity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1598, February 3, 2017.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSS

On the science schedule is taking a “Mastcam tau.” That’s a way to measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere by imaging the Sun.

Also on tap is making a Navcam dust devil movie, and a Mastcam image to monitor the rover deck.

Stratification and chemistry

Then Curiosity is slated to acquire Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) images of two targets: “Whiskey” and “Rye.” with a short Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) integration on “Whiskey” and a longer overnight integration on “Rye.”

“Both targets were selected to study the stratification and chemistry of the Murray formation here,” Edgar adds.

Curisoity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1598, February 3, 2017.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSS

Drill diagnostics

On Sol 1601, Curiosity is slated to carry out some drill diagnostics, followed by a drive and post-drive imaging.

“We’ll also take a Mastcam 360-degree mosaic, which should be very scenic from this site – looking out over the dunes and capturing features like “Ireson Hill,” Edgar explains.

Curisoity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1598, February 3, 2017.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSS

Lastly, Curiosity will wake up early on Sol 1602 for a suite of environmental monitoring observations.

Edgar concludes: “Stay tuned for the second investigation of the Bagnold Dunes next week!”