Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Curiosity Navcam Left B image taken on Sol 1998, March 21, 2018.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is at the end of Sol 1999 activities.

“Curiosity is but one sol away from a major mission milestone, but work always comes before celebrations,” reports Scott Guzewich, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Curiosity Mastcam Right image acquired on Sol 1998, March 21, 2018.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Major decision

A recent major decision was whether to have Curiosity perform contact science at the current location and conduct a short drive, or make a longer drive toward stop #12 on the Vera Rubin Ridge campaign, Guzewich explains. The team has decided quickly to choose the latter option.

Curiosity Mastcam Left image taken on Sol 1998, March 21, 2018.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

But prior to the drive, scientists had room for a short science block that included Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) and Mastcam analysis of a bedrock target termed “Mangersta,” measurements of dust in the atmosphere, and a search for dust devils.

Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) photo acquired on Sol 1996, March 18, 2018.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

“Then Curiosity will boogie toward stop #12, and after getting there, conduct a ChemCam AEGIS (Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science) activity,” Guzewich concludes.