MISSION UPDATES | February 19, 2014

Sol 548 Update On Curiosity From USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Driving Backwards

Written by Ken Herkenhoff, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center


Testing on Earth has shown that driving backward should reduce wear on the front and middle wheels, so the Sol 547 drive was the first long, 100 meters, backward drive . It went very well, and the terrain ahead looks good , so another long drive is planned for Sol 548, again mostly backward.