On Sol 2658, the mission on Mars was a success. New bedrock exposures were discovered for exploration purposes, providing valuable data for the team to gather. The primary objective for the day is to collect high-quality chemical and remote sensing data in this area before moving uphill to the south.
In order to achieve this, a plan has been developed for a “touch-and-go” sol. The first step is to conduct a brief APXS integration on a bedrock slab known as “Marchmont.” This will be followed by MAHLI capturing images of Marchmont and the arm being repositioned for ChemCam observations of Marchmont and “Inverness Shire,” a darker block on the bedrock surface. Additional images will also be taken by the Right Mastcam of ChemCam targets and “Whitelaw Moss,” another section of bedrock. Finally, Mastcam will create a 13×3 stereo mosaic of the west side of Tower Butte in order to examine its sedimentary structures.
Once an autonomous 23-meter drive is completed, ChemCam will utilize AEGIS to select a new bedrock target at the new location. To end the day, MARDI will capture an image during twilight. The tactical planning team executed the plan flawlessly, resulting in a successful day for SOWG Chair.