You are browsing the archive for MER Archives - Martian Chronicles.
24 September 2019
Sols 2536-2537: SAM Wet Chemistry Experiment
Searching for organic molecules in rocks on Mars is no easy task. Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument is designed to analyze the chemical composition of gases, which it creates by slowly heating rock samples in an oven.
20 September 2019
Sols 2533-2535: SAM’s Starring Role!
Planning for this past week has centered on analyzing the high potassium drill sample, Glen Etive 2, using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument.
23 August 2019
Sols 2506-2508: Until we meet again
Today was the final opportunity to actively command Curiosity before the Sun comes between us and Mars. Most of the instruments are safely stored for the solar conjunction break, but intrepid Navcam was available for some last-minute science observations.
22 August 2019
Sols 2504-2505: Packing up for our journey behind the Sun
The days leading up to a big trip can be hectic. There are preparations to be made, belongings to be packed, extra work to do in anticipation of being away from the computer. And it’s no different for a robot on the surface of Mars.
20 August 2019
Sol 2502-2503: Science to Exhaustion
Mars is about to be hidden behind the Sun, so Curiosity is rushing to get science done before communications are temporarily lost.
16 August 2019
Sol 2499-2501: More SAMple analysis
Conjunction is the few-week period when Mars goes behind the sun and we stop communicating with our spacecraft that are there. Our last planning day before conjunction will be next Friday, and thinking about that fast approaching day feels very similar to thinking about getting ready to leave for vacation.
13 August 2019
Sols 2495-2496: A slight change of plans
It’s the end of another week on Mars, and today we put together a 3 sol weekend plan for Curiosity. Given the RSM-related issues that we incurred this past week, we are still being cautious, but the diagnostic testing that ran in the last plan was successful.
12 August 2019
Sols 2492-2494: Just Another Week on Mars…
It’s the end of another week on Mars, and today we put together a 3 sol weekend plan for Curiosity. Given the RSM-related issues that we incurred this past week, we are still being cautious, but the diagnostic testing that ran in the last plan was successful.
8 August 2019
Sols 2489-2491: A Change in the Weather (Observations)
Over the weekend, Curiosity successfully dropped off a portion of the Glen Etive drill sample. But for some reason, the sequence was interrupted, so no images of the portion were acquired.
5 August 2019
Sol 2488: Success on the 22nd Drill Hole; Happy Landing Day-On to Year 8!
On Sunday morning the team received the message that Curiosity’s latest drill hole was successful at ‘Glen Etive.’ This is the 22nd full-depth drill hole on Mars, and we can celebrate its success on this final day of Earth-year 7 of the mission.
