The MSL project concluded that the bright object on the ground is harmless, allowing the team to proceed with their first sample manipulation activities. These activities are complex and require careful planning, resulting in the exclusion of any “opportunistic science” in the Sol 64 plan. Instead, the science team focused on preparing for future sols.
As part of my role on the project, I collaborated with the long-term planning team to determine the best time to schedule a ChemCam decontamination (heating) activity. While Sol 66 appears to be the most suitable time for this task, plans are subject to change in the future.
Overall, the MSL project continues to work diligently to gather valuable data from Mars and make informed decisions about their next steps.