MARS: CURIOSITY u krateru GALE Vol II.

JUNO je poslala prvu fografiju Jupitera u boji. Snimljena je prilikom prilaza Jupiteru, s udaljenosti 4,3 mio kilometara. 
Fotografije velike rezolucije će poslati tek tijekom nekoliko nedjelja.

Pomoću antenskog sistema DSN se s 3 područja na Zemlji prate letjelice, koje se nalaze duboko u Svemiru.
Upravo sada se pomoću antene #43 u Canberra-i izmjenjuju podaci s CURIOSITY ...

Sol 1398: Back in action

Mon, 11 Jul 2016

After standing down from science operations for a few sols to resolve the safe mode anomaly, it’s great to be on the move again today.  The Sol 1398 plan begins with a short science block, which includes ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the target “Luanda” to assess the chemistry of the local bedrock.  We’ll also acquire several Mastcam mosaics to characterize some blocky deposits and stratification within the Murray formation.  Then Curiosity will drive for ~76 m and acquire post-drive imaging for targeting.  In the afternoon there is another short science block, which includes Navcam and Mastcam observations to monitor the atmosphere.  Overnight, Curiosity will do the final CheMin analysis of the Oudam drill sample.  The plan also includes some additional flight software diagnostics, but it’s great to be back on the road and stretching our legs (rover wheels?) again.  For more information on the anomaly and return to operations, check out this recent press release.
By Lauren Edgar
--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Sol 1399: On the road again

Tue, 12 Jul 2016

We’re back in our familiar drive pattern, with a short science block followed by a drive.  In today’s pre-drive science block, ChemCam and Mastcam will be used to study the target “Arandis” to document the chemistry of the local bedrock.  Then we’ll acquire several Mastcam mosaics to study some blocky deposits and document laminations in the Murray formation.  A drive of ~45 m is planned, followed by post-drive imaging for targeting.  Curiosity will wake up early the next morning for some environmental monitoring and searching for dust devils.  We were pretty tight on data volume today so we had to trim down the plan a little bit, but that’s why we prioritize our activities so carefully.
By Lauren Edgar
--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Ovo područje je konačni CILJ misije.  (Za one koji slučajno zađu na ovu temu! )




10.02.2015
Mount Sharp Comes In Sharply


This composite image looking toward the higher regions of Mount Sharp was taken on September 9, 2015, by NASA's Curiosity rover. In the foreground -- about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the rover -- is a long ridge teeming with hematite, an iron oxide. Just beyond is an undulating plain rich in clay minerals. And just beyond that are a multitude of rounded buttes, all high in sulfate minerals. The changing mineralogy in these layers of Mount Sharp suggests a changing environment in early Mars, though all involve exposure to water billions of years ago. The Curiosity team hopes to be able to explore these diverse areas in the months and years ahead. Further back in the image are striking, light-toned cliffs in rock that may have formed in drier times and now is heavily eroded by winds.

The colors are adjusted so that rocks look approximately as they would if they were on Earth, to help geologists interpret the rocks. This "white balancing" to adjust for the lighting on Mars overly compensates for the absence of blue on Mars, making the sky appear light blue and sometimes giving dark, black rocks a blue cast.

sol 1400

Sol 1401: Analysis of blocky deposits

14 July 2016

The drive on Sol 1400 went well, and Curiosity drove ~13 m along the edge of the blocky deposit “Bimbe.”  Today’s plan involves a number of ChemCam and Mastcam observations to assess the composition and textural properties of three large blocks in the deposit.  We’ll also acquire a Mastcam mosaic to document the eastern edge of the deposit, and a Navcam observation to search for dust devils.  Then Curiosity will continue driving to the southwest, followed by standard post-drive imaging.  I’ll be on duty as GSTL tomorrow so I’m looking forward to the weekend plan!
By Lauren Edgar
--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Sols 1402-1404: A juicy weekend plan

15 July 2016


It was a slow morning as we anxiously awaited our downlink at 11am this morning… and then we put together a hefty weekend plan.  We’re in late slide sols this week, so planning has been starting later to wait for critical images to come down.  I’m on duty as GSTL today, and we knew it would be a big plan going in to the weekend.  Once we confirmed that the ~26 m drive went well on Sol 1401, our first task was to evaluate the local bedrock and select a target for contact science.  We selected a target named “Uku” for ChemCam, Mastcam, MAHLI and APXS activities to assess the texture and composition of the Murray formation.  We also planned a ChemCam observation on the target “Songo,” a disturbed block which looks more red than some of the surrounding rocks.  The plan also includes some Mastcam mosaics of the “Bimbe” blocky deposit to see if we want to pursue some additional observations there next week.  Then we had to see if these activities would fit with an already full weekend plan.  On the first and third sols we’re planning to do some environmental monitoring observations coordinated with observations from the MAVEN spacecraft.  This will give us a great dataset from the ground looking up, and from orbit looking down.  As if the plan wasn’t busy enough, we’re also planning some MAHLI imaging of the CheMin inlet, and a SAM geochronology experiment.  Not surprisingly, this is a very power-hungry plan, so we had to trim down some activities during the SOWG meeting.  But we managed to get almost everything into the plan, and have set ourselves up for the possibility of more contact science on Monday.  Should be a fun weekend in Gale crater!
By Lauren Edgar
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.
--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.