Mars Rover Mission Update: Driving Towards Another Planet with Forward Progress and Science Observations

Our one-sol drive plans continue to be straightforward, as we make progress towards driving a giant robot on another planet. Yesterday, our team covered a little over 60 meters and we are gearing up for another drive in the upcoming sol 1385 plan.

Before the drive, we have a brief science block scheduled. This includes a ChemCam observation of the target “Epembe” and a Mastcam mosaic of “Baynes Mountain” to complete a gap in the 360 mosaic from the previous day. Following these observations, we will embark on a drive spanning about 70 meters, capturing post-drive images along the way.

In addition to these activities, we will also be utilizing AEGIS to conduct a ChemCam observation after the drive and utilizing MAHLI to examine the ground beneath the rover’s wheels. Ryan Anderson, a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the ChemCam team on MSL, provides updates on these planned rover activities. Please note that these dates are subject to change based on various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and rover status.