MISSION UPDATES | April 2, 2014

Sol 589 Update On Curiosity From USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Soil Observations

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

Another successful drive on Sol 588, so another drive is planned for Sol 589 after Mastcam and ChemCam observations of a soil target named Chirup . If the ~30-meter drive goes well, we should be in position to acquire lots of images of The Kimberley , the waypoint selected for thorough analysis using all of the instruments. Therefore, post-drive images are planned that will allow a big set of images to be accurately targeted.

Contributors

Elena Amador-French

Science Operations Coordinator; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Ryan Anderson

Planetary Geologist; USGS; Flagstaff, AZ
Mariah Baker

Planetary Geologist; Center for Earth & Planetary Studies, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum; Washington, DC
Michael Battalio

Planetary Climatologist; Yale University; New Haven, CT
Keri Bean

Rover Planner Deputy Team Lead; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Kristen Bennett

Planetary Geologist; USGS; Flagstaff, AZ
Fred Calef

Planetary Geologist; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Brittney Cooper

Atmospheric Scientist; York University; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sean Czarnecki

Planetary Geologist; Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ
Lauren Edgar

Planetary Geologist; USGS; Flagstaff, AZ
Christopher Edwards

Planetary Geologist; Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, AZ
Abigail Fraeman

Planetary Geologist; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Scott Guzewich

Atmospheric Scientist; NASA/GSFC; Greenbelt, MD
Samantha Gwizd

Planetary Geologist; University of Tennessee; Knoxville, TN
Ken Herkenhoff

Planetary Geologist; USGS; Flagstaff, AZ
Evan Hilgemann

Rover Planner; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Alex Innanen

Atmospheric Scientist; York University; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rachel Kronyak

Planetary Geologist; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Michelle Minitti

Planetary Geologist; Framework; Silver Spring, MD
Natalie Moore

Mission Operations Specialist, Malin Space Science Systems; San Diego, CA
Claire Newman

Atmospheric Scientist, Aeolis Research; Pasadena, CA
Catherine O'Connell-Cooper

Planetary Geologist; University of New Brunswick; Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Melissa Rice

Planetary Geologist; Western Washington University; Bellingham, WA
Mark Salvatore

Planetary Geologist; Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, AZ
Susanne Schwenzer

Planetary Geologist; The Open University; Milton Keynes, U.K.
Ashley Stroupe

Mission Operations Engineer; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Dawn Sumner

Planetary Geologist; University of California Davis; Davis, CA
Vivian Sun

Planetary Geologist; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Lucy Thompson

Planetary Geologist; University of New Brunswick; Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Scott VanBommel

Planetary Scientist; Washington University; St. Louis, MO
Ashwin Vasavada

MSL Project Scientist; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Roger Wiens

Geochemist; LANL; Los Alamos, NM
Sharon Wilson

Planetary Geologist; Center for Earth & Planetary Studies, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum; Washington, DC
Alivia Eng

Graduate Student; Georgia Tech; Atlanta, GA
Remington Free

Operations Systems Engineer; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Emma Harris

Graduate Student; Natural History Museum; London, UK
Conor Hayes

Graduate Student; York University; Toronto, ON, Canada
Abigail Knight

Graduate Student; Washington University; St. Louis, MO
Deborah Padgett

OPGS Task Lead; NASA/JPL; Pasadena, CA
Amelie Roberts

Planetary Geologist; Imperial College; London, UK