Sol 588 Update On Curiosity From USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: The Path Ahead

The rover drove about 22 meters on Sol 587, to a location with a better view of the path ahead . So a longer drive (about 45 m) is planned for Sol 588, around the rocky outcrop and then south. But first, a large stereo Mastcam mosaic of the outcrop will be acquired, plus smaller mosaics of targets Point Coulomb , Brooking Gorge , and Castlereagh Hill . After the usual post-drive imaging and DAN active measurement of subsurface hydrogen, ChemCam will zap the ground to the right of the rover and Mastcam will acquire a mosaic of the hill to the west of the expected rover location. This final mosaic will be pointed assuming the drive completes as planned.