MARS: CURIOSITY u krateru GALE

Sol 1358: A Simple Plan

31 May 2016

Our activities over the weekend went well, and after a couple of complicated multi-sol plans we get to do a nice simple one-sol plan today! The Sol 1358 plan starts with ChemCam observations of the targets “Otiiha”, “Otjihase”, “Otjikoto”, and “Otjimbingwe” to assess variations in the bedrock chemistry. Mastcam will document those targets, and then we will dump out our remaining Okoruso sample. APXS then has an overnight observation of the target “Oudam”.
I was on downlink for ChemCam today, so while everyone was putting together the plan for today, I was busy analyzing the tons of great data that we got down over the long weekend!
by Ryan Anderson
-Ryan is a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the ChemCam team on MSL.

Sol 1359: Cleaning CHIMRA

1 June 2016
The remaining Okoruso drill sample was successfully dumped onto the ground on Sol 1358, so MSL is ready for a new drill sample.  In preparation, the Sol 1359 plan includes an arm preload test on "Oudam," the next drill target, and cleaning out CHIMRA with imaging to verify that everything is clean.  Before all the arm activities, ChemCam and Mastcam will observe the Okoruso dump pile and a bedrock target named "Otjosondu."  The Left Mastcam will also acquire a 5x2 mosaic of the "Fraktuur Dorp" area and extend the "Hartmann's Valley" mosaic.  Late in the afternoon, when lighting will be better, MAHLI will acquire images of bedrock target "Onguati" and a full suite of images of the dump pile.  The APXS will then be placed on the dump pile for an overnight integration.  The tactical team did a great job of picking targets and preparing command sequences, so it was an easy day for me as SOWG Chair.

by Ken Herkenhoff

Sol 1360: Preparing to drill

2 June 2016
Arm work continues to go well, so preparation for drilling and sample analysis is the focus of the Sol 1360 plan.  First, CheMin will dump the Lubango and Okoruso drill samples out of their cells.  Then ChemCam and Mastcam will observe a bright vein named "Charlottenfelder" and a bedrock target called "Chameis Bay" before arm activities resume.  MAHLI will take close-up images of the Oudam drill target and a single image of the "footprint" that APXS likely made on the Okoruso dump pile yesterday.  Overnight, CheMin will analyze an empty cell to provide a baseline measurement before receiving the new drill sample.  Early the next morning, before handover to the next plan, observations of the Sun and sky will measure dust in the atmosphere over the rover and search for clouds and dust devils.  The Right Mastcam will take a 10-image mosaic of the "Otjizonjati" outcrop northwest of the rover when it is well-illuminated by the morning sun.  Finally, the RMI will acquire a 5-image mosaic of part of Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp) toward the south. 

by Ken Herkenhoff

Kroz to područje se namjerava proći, prilikom uspinjanja na jedan dio Mt Sharp.
Orbitalne fotografije su snimljene u različitim vremenima. 
Kao što se vidi na dva mjesta došlo je do urušavanja gornjega sloja. Barem ja tako to vidim. Teško je reći što je bio razlog, predpostavljam da nagomilavanje pijeska  s gornjega  nivoa. Ovakve stvari su dodatno upozorenje drajverima...Na Marsu uvijek vreba opsanost.

PS: Možda je ispod bio led? Isparavanje?

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Sols 1361-1363: Drilling Oudam

3 June 2016
The MSL Rover Planners have all the data they need to drill (no "mini-drill" required), so the plan for this weekend focuses on drilling into the Oudam bedrock target.  The full drill is scheduled for Sol 1361, followed by MAHLI and Mastcam images of the new hole.  The rover will then rest until Sol 1362, when the drill sample will be transferred to the scoop for Mastcam imaging and sieved.  A fine-grained (<0.15 mm) portion of the sample then will be dropped into CheMin for an overnight mineralogical analysis.  After the CheMin data are read out of the instrument on Sol 1363, Mastcam will take a multispectral set of images of the drill tailings and a Right Mastcam mosaic of an outcrop southeast of the rover.  In addition, ChemCam and Mastcam will observe a vein target named "Onganja" and a bedrock target dubbed "Ongeama," and Navcam will search for dust devils.  Another busy weekend for MSL!

by Ken Herkenhoff

Sols 1364-1365: Analyzing drill sample

6 June 2016
The Oudam drill campaign continues to go well, with sample acquired and ready for analysis.  Planning is now restricted, so we are planning 2 sols today.  On Sol 1364, ChemCam will acquire passive spectra of the drill tailings and a LIBS raster of the wall of the drill hole.  Later that afternoon, the unsieved portion of the drill sample will be dumped on the ground and imaged by MAHLI from 25 cm to support future planning.  After dark, MAHLI will take pictures of the inside of the drill hole, the tailings, and the CheMin inlet using its LEDs for illumination.  The APXS will then be placed on the drill tailings for an overnight integration. 

Early on Sol 1365, the Right Mastcam will extend the mosaic of Hartmann's Valley, adding 22 images.  That afternoon, the APXS will be retracted and vibrated to clean it, then the arm will be moved out of the way for ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the drill tailings.  Navcam will search for clouds both near the horizon and at zenith.  Finally, CheMin will analyze the drill sample overnight.

by Ken Herkenhoff

Sezonski sedimenti...nešto kao godovi kod stabla. Povijest.