By 
July 3rd, 2016
Curiosity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1387, July 1, 2016
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is slated to implement a three Sol plan taking it through the holiday weekend.
At this writing, the Mars machinery is busy at work on Sol 1389.
Contact science
Sol 1389 activities on tap were to perform contact science with the rover’s Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) on the target “Outjo.”
Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite is to begin an analysis of some of the “Mojave2” sample that was collected a while ago, explains Ryan Anderson, a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Curiosity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1387, July 1, 2016
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Mosaics
The Sol 1390 plan is to start off with a long science block. Mastcam starts the block off with a multispectral observation of the brushed target “Outjo.” Then the Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) has a long distance RMI observation of Mt. Sharp, plus analyses of the targets “Outjo” and “Luanda.”
After ChemCam, Anderson adds, Mastcam turns back on and takes mosaics of “Bukalo” and “Bailundo” which are blocky deposits, “Keetmanshoop,” an outcrop of the Murray formation, and “Quimavongo,” a small crater.
SAM will also continue its sample analysis.
Wheeling onward
Anderson explains that on Sol 1391, the plan calls for wheeling the robot about 196 feet (60 meters) and then collect post-drive imaging.
Curiosity Mastcam Right image taken on Sol 1387, July 1, 2016
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
In the early morning on Sol 1392, Navcam and Mastcam have a series of atmospheric observations.
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.
As of Sol 1387, Curiosity has driven 8.22 miles (13.23 kilometers).
Posted in Space News
