All of the activities planned for last weekend completed successfully, including the full MAHLI wheel imaging and associated rover motion of just over 1 meter.  The science team decided to return to the Lubango outcrop based on ChemCam results that show unusually high silica there.  Therefore, the Sol 1316 plan includes a drive back toward Lubango to find good targets for drilling.  Before the drive, ChemCam and Mastcam will observe bedrock targets “Outapi” and “Okongo,” the RMI will acquire a 5×1 mosaic of “Piambo,” Mastcam will take images of the Lubango area, and Navcam will search for dust devils.  Active DAN measurements are planned both before and after the drive, and CheMin will perform some calibration activities overnight.  I’m MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead again today, and had only the usual MARDI twilight image to 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.