On our current mission to Mars, we were ecstatic to finally leave our previous location and move forward with our plans. However, a fault that occurred during one of our arm activities has forced us to remain on the planet for another sol. This setback has disrupted our schedule, causing us to lose precious time and put a halt to our science campaign in the Vera Rubin Ridge.
Today, we are back in recovery mode, working hard to make up for lost time. Our team is focusing on completing some of the tasks that we had planned before the fault occurred. We will be using ChemCam and Mastcam targets to study nearby bedrock formations with names such as “Sherwood Forest,” “Tableland,” and “Troll Valley.” We will also be taking a Mastcam image of a target called “Elf Woods,” originally intended for the weekend plan but removed due to power considerations.
Once these science activities are completed, Curiosity will move approximately 10 meters closer to our third designated stop on Vera Rubin Ridge. Despite the unforeseen challenges we’ve faced so far, our team remains determined to continue exploring Mars and making discoveries that will help us understand this fascinating planet better.