By 
July 25th, 2023
Curiosity’s location on Sol 3897. Distance driven to date: 18.89 miles/30.41 kilometers.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover at Gale Crater is now performing Sol 3898 duties.
Curiosity’s road trip involves wheeling through the Jau crater cluster.
“Like any road trip, we’re taking frequent stops to take in the sights, and at this spot Curiosity gets to stretch its arm with a touch and go,” reports Alex Innanen, an atmospheric scientist at York University; Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “It reminds me of being on family road trips with my geologist father – we were always pulling over to look at cool rocks!”
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 3897, July 24, 2023.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Bumpy, ridged surface
The robot’s Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) are both investigating the bumpy, ridged surface on the side nearest the rover, a target named “Mamore,” backed up with Mastcam images.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 3897, July 24, 2023.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Innanen adds that the rover’s Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) is also looking at this surface, particularly one of the ridges called “Jacunda.” Slightly further afield, Mastcam is also looking at two of the craters in the cluster and a distant rock “Triunfo.”
Curiosity Right B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 3897, July 24, 2023.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
ChemCam is slated to take a long-distance mosaic of the Gediz Vallis ridge.
Exciting sights ahead
The environmental Mars team is also taking the chance to have a look around.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 3897, July 24, 2023.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
“We’re looking back over our metaphorical shoulder at a sand sheet for dust devils, and up towards the sun to see how much dust is in the atmosphere,” Innanen explains. “After our brief and productive stop it’s time for us to hit the road again, knowing that there are always more exciting sights ahead.”
Dates of planned rover activities are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera photo taken on Sol 3897, July 24, 2023.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Posted in Space News
