Navigating Mars: The Rover’s Plans for Sol 685 and 686 and the Challenges that Come with Them

On Sol 686, the rover’s plans for tomorrow will be limited as it waits for data to come in from its previous drive. Despite this, the team is excited about the potential for contact science and more driving over the weekend. However, it’s important to note that these dates are subject to change due to factors such as the Martian environment, communication relays, and the rover’s overall condition.

On Sol 685, the rover has a packed schedule. Firstly, there will be a pre-drive science block which involves environmental monitoring using ChemCam passive spectroscopy of atmospheric composition and Mastcam measurement of atmospheric dust opacity. The drive itself is expected to cover approximately 60 meters as the rover navigates through loose sand. Once through this area, it will ascend onto the Zabriskie Plateau named after a sandstone formation near Shoshone in California.

The team is constantly monitoring conditions on Mars and making adjustments to their plans accordingly. They must take into account various factors such as communication relays and the rover’s status when planning activities on Sol 685 and beyond. Despite these challenges, they remain optimistic about what lies ahead for both today and tomorrow on Sol 685 and 686 on Mars.