The Highfield drill site was the final destination for the Curiosity rover last week. As the Surface Properties Scientist (SPS) on shift, I noted that there were no new tasks requiring my analysis. However, the science team was busy filling two science activity blocks with various observations. These included targeted imaging with Mastcam and compositional analysis with the ChemCam instrument, completing any remaining tasks from previous plans.
On the first planned sol, the rover will use the MAHLI instrument to capture high-resolution microscopic images of the Highfield “dump pile.” This is where the rover discards excess sample material. Additionally, the APXS instrument will be placed on the “dump pile” to conduct further analysis. These analyses are crucial in providing insight into the composition of the inner parts of the rock, as opposed to the often weathered exterior.
As part of its strategic planning for future missions in coming months and years, the rover also conducted long-distance imaging to help plan its route up Mt. Sharp. This careful planning will ensure that the rover can navigate challenging terrain safely and efficiently, paving the way for more groundbreaking discoveries in Mars’ future missions.