Sols 4511-4512: Low energy after a big weekend

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 22 April 2025 10:02

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Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 22, 2025

Earth planning date: Monday, April 14, 2025: We all know the feeling-it's Monday morning after a packed weekend, and you wish for just a bit more time to rest. Curiosity is likely feeling the same today. Over the weekend, the rover completed a full slate of activities, including contact science, a MAHLI stereo imaging test, simultaneous ChemCam passive spectral data collection and orbiter

Sols 4511-4512: Low energy after a big weekend
by Lauren Edgar | Planetary Geologist - USGS Astrogeology
Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 22, 2025

Earth planning date: Monday, April 14, 2025: We all know the feeling-it's Monday morning after a packed weekend, and you wish for just a bit more time to rest. Curiosity is likely feeling the same today.

Over the weekend, the rover completed a full slate of activities, including contact science, a MAHLI stereo imaging test, simultaneous ChemCam passive spectral data collection and orbiter data transmission, calibration target observations for both APXS and MAHLI, and a substantial 57-meter drive. The team was thrilled with the productivity and drive progress, but today's planning is constrained by tight power availability.

As Long Term Planner, I worked with the team to carefully prioritize science within our energy limits, while ensuring we're well positioned for the rest of the week. Despite the constraints, the 2-sol plan is still full.

Curiosity will capture Mastcam mosaics to examine local stratigraphy and diagenetic features, and image sandy troughs between bedrock blocks to monitor surface activity. A Navcam mosaic will assess atmospheric dust levels. The science block includes a ChemCam LIBS analysis of the bedrock target "Santa Margarita" and a long-distance RMI mosaic of "Ghost Mountain" to search for possible boxwork structures.

In the workspace, Curiosity will deploy the DRT, APXS, and MAHLI instruments on finely-laminated bedrock at a target named "The Grotto." The team will also collect APXS and MAHLI data from a large nodule called "Torrey Pines"-coincidentally, the same name as a location near Earth-based team members who experienced some strong Southern California earthquakes today. All is well, though it certainly added some excitement just before the SOWG meeting. The second sol will focus on driving south and capturing post-drive imaging to support planning on Wednesday.

Phew! Good job, Curiosity-you made it through Monday.

+ Sols 4509-4510: A weekend of long drives

by Abigail Fraeman | Planetary Geologist - JPL

Earth planning date: Friday, April 11, 2025: Curiosity is making steady progress toward the potential boxwork structures. The rover drove more than 50 meters on Wednesday, and with excellent visibility ahead, we planned another 50-meter-plus drive for the weekend. We've caught distant glimpses of the boxwork features for several weeks, and it's exciting to be closing in. What we'll discover when we reach them remains an open question.

Power was top of mind as we assembled this weekend's plan. Although the science team had many great ideas for observations at our current spot, we had to be strategic to ensure the rover's battery wasn't left too low for Monday's activities. Mars winters always keep us alert. Ultimately, we created a robust plan that includes coordinated MAHLI, APXS, and ChemCam observations of a flat rock dubbed "Iron Mountain."

MAHLI will also experiment with different imaging angles to determine which setups yield the best data for generating 3D surface models. If rocks could feel, I'd imagine Iron Mountain would enjoy its moment in the spotlight-like a celebrity on the red carpet.

Mastcam will support the plan by capturing context images and working with ChemCam's RMI to image "Ghost Mountain," while also photographing targets "Redondo Flat," "Silverwood Sanctuary," and the frequently imaged "Gould Mesa." Rounding out the weekend's work, Navcam, REMS, and DAN will collect environmental data. One additional hybrid science-engineering observation will occur as ChemCam gathers passive spectral data from its calibration target during a comm pass-a test that, if successful, could enhance our power efficiency in future planning.

This weekend also marks a soliday, meaning we're working with a 2-sol plan instead of the usual 3 as Earth and Mars time zones realign. I'm eager to see how far Curiosity travels next week.