Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Front Hazard Avoidance Camera Right B photo acquired on Sol 4105, February 22, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The NASA Curiosity Mars rover at Gale crater is now performing Sol 4107 tasks.

In a report by Natalie Moore, a mission operations specialist at Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, California, a recent drive by Curiosity was successful.

“It was quickly determined our wheels were stable enough to unstow the arm and put weight on it (like for drilling), and since this is the nicest Gale crater terrain has been in a while the team quickly pivoted from driving away to staying here and trying to drill,” Moore notes. “This plan became our first of the ‘Mineral King’ drill campaign.”

Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) photo produced on February 23, on Sol 4106.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) photo produced on February 23, on Sol 4106.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS