27 August 2015

Sols 1087-1088: Bright features

Posted by Ryan Anderson

The complex, nearly 39-meter Sol 1085 drive completed successfully, leaving the rover in another target-rich area.  Again, I helped pick targets for ChemCam observations–our favorites were on the brighter parts of the outcrop just south of the rover.

The targets for ChemCam and Mastcam observations were named “Fitzpatrick,” “Keith,” and “Fred and George Creek.”  Mastcam will also acquire 2 mosaics before the rover drives away on Sol 1087.  Planning is still restricted, so we also planned Sol 1088, which starts with early-morning Mastcam and Navcam images of the sun and sky.  Similar observations are planned around noon that sol, to measure daily variations in atmospheric dust and clouds.  Finally, CheMin‘s inlet funnel will be vibrated in an attempt to remove a particle from the screen over the funnel.

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.