Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

This image was taken by Navcam: Left B onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on September 3, 2015, Sol 1093.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is back on the road.

Earlier this week, successful “contact science” on the Stimson unit in the Williams area on Mars was done.

The robot is continuing on its drive towards Bridger Basin and eventually the Bagnold Dunes, reports Lauren Edgar, a research geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona and a member of Mars Science Laboratory’s science team.

Dusting off Ledger

A set of observations using Curiosity’s Mastcam and ChemCam instruments were planned that were focused on “Interlake,” “Ledger,” and “Mackay Dome” targets.

This image of Williams area was taken by Front Hazcam: Left B onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on September 2, 2015, Sol 1092.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

“Since ‘Ledger’ is a nice flat ledge,” Edgar notes, “it’s also a good target for the DRT [Dust Removal Tool], so we can brush away the dust to expose a fresh surface.”Mastcam was also to look at the Sun to measure the atmospheric opacity on Mars, Edgar adds.

Curiosity’s Navcam: Left B on September 3, Sol 1093.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

“It’s exciting to be driving again, and I’m sure we’ll encounter some beautiful views as we continue to drive through this interesting terrain,” Edgar reports.