14 April 2017

Sols 1664-1665: Keep on driving

Posted by larryohanlon

The Curiosity rover drove about 24 meters on Sol 1662, and another drive is planned for Sol 1664.  Before the drive, lots of targeted remote sensing is planned:  ChemCam and Right Mastcam will observe a bright rock named “Peaks Island,” an exposure of bedding dubbed “Great Wass Island,” a sand ripple called “Baldpate Mountain,” and an interesting rock that was selected by AEGIS after the Sol 1662 drive, now named “Chebeague Island.”  Mastcam will also acquire a stereo mosaic of outcrops toward the south, in the direction of the planned drive. 

Planning is restricted this week, so two sols were planned today.  Untargeted remote sensing planned for Sol 1665 includes passive (no laser) ChemCam sky observations and two ground LIBS targets selected using the AEGIS software.  Navcam will then search for dust devils and clouds before the rover rests in preparation for Wednesday’s plan.

by Ken Herkenhoff

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.