Latest News (Sols 4297-4299) from Mars
Efforts to explore the red planet have been yielding great results; this is the latest information from the MSL project:
- Record-Breaking Drive: Curiosity completed a remarkable 60-meter drive (about 197 feet) across the channel floor within Gediz Vallis.
- New Target in Sight: The rover is now positioned near a shallow linear depression, with its next destination, an intriguing dark, textured rock named “Tungsten Hills,” just 20 meters (66 feet) away.
- Weekend Plans: The team has scheduled a drive towards Tungsten Hills over the weekend, with contact science planned for Monday.
Scientific Activities in the Current Workspace
In this three-sol period, there are many scientific activities that have been planned by Curiosity team
Contact Science:
- MAHLI and APXS will characterize a gray rock with targets named “Big Baldy” and “Big Bird Lake.”
- ChemCam will use its LIBS instrument on “Purple Creek” (a rock with a reddish coating) and “Garlic Meadow” (a light-toned rock).
Imaging:
ChemCam will capture a long-distance RMI image of the yardang unit capping Mount Sharp. Among them is an dusk workspace mosaic and Tungsten Hills stereo images.
Autonomous Operations:
ChemCam will do an AEGIS activity after driving for autonomous target selection.
Looking Ahead
Curiosity’s team is eagerly awaiting data from the weekend’s activities, as they anticipate Monday’s planning session. Roaming through Gediz Vallis, the rover continues to divulge Mars’ geological enigma thereby bringing us closer to understanding its intricate past.