Yesterday, I had the privilege of serving as the GSTL and we were thrilled to drill a new sample on Mars. Our plan for the day was not only focused on our main drilling activities but also included several targeted science blocks. These blocks will aid us in characterizing the drill location and identifying potential drill sites on unaltered Stimson bedrock.
During the first sol, we began with a science block that involved Mastcam multispectral characterization of the drill hole. The color information provided by Mastcam is essential in distinguishing between altered and unaltered bedrock. We also planned to create several Mastcam mosaics to further analyze the drill hole and search for any signs of life or minerals that may be present in the Martian terrain.
Additionally, we scheduled ChemCam targets to assess the block we were drilling and potential future sites. We hoped to identify any signs of water or organic molecules that could shed light on past life or geological processes on Mars. We were particularly excited about a fracture that cuts across an impact crater, which we planned to assess using a small mosaic created by our instruments.
As we approached the end of our second sol, we were filled with excitement at what we had discovered so far and eagerly anticipated what lay ahead in our journey towards understanding this fascinating planet.