The drive on Sol 1598 went well, and Curiosity drove ~21 m to the southwest, providing a great view of "Ireson Hill," seen in the above Navcam image. Today’s two-sol plan looks pretty similar to the last. We’ll start with MAHLI and APXS of the target "Digdeguah" to investigate typical local bedrock with some exposed stratification. Then ChemCam will continue its recovery activities with an RMI observation of the titanium calibration target. We’ll use Mastcam to acquire a large mosaic of "Ireson Hill" to characterize the contact and color variations exposed on the south side of this feature. The team also planned a Mastcam mosaic of the "Allsbury" area to document the contact science target and fracture patterns, as well as a Mastcam tau to characterize atmospheric opacity. Then Curiosity will drive further to the southwest, and will take post-drive imaging to prepare for more contact science in the weekend plan. The second sol is devoted to environmental monitoring and a SAM measurement of the atmosphere. By Lauren Edgar --Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

Over the weekend, Curiosity drove an additional ~ 26 meters to the southwest, as we prepare for another investigation of the active sand dunes. We're still a few more drives away from the dunes, but looking forward to the next campaign. I was the GSTL today, and we planned some contact science and Mastcam imaging and another drive. The plan starts with a short APXS integration and MAHLI imaging of "Isleboro" to characterize the composition, grain size, and sedimentary structures exposed in a typical block of the Murray formation. Then we'll use Mastcam to document some color variations and stratification at "Parker Bog," and to assess fracture patterns at "Jim Pond." We'll also take a Mastcam image to monitor the deck and characterize the movement of fines. And ChemCam will continue its recovery activities with a LIBS observation of the titanium calibration target. Then Curiosity will drive further to the southwest, and acquire post-drive imaging for context and targeting, including an upper tier Navcam frame to prepare for more imaging of "Ireson Hill" (seen in the above Mastcam image from Sol 1590). The second sol is devoted to environmental monitoring, with Mastcam and Navcam observations to assess dust in the atmosphere and search for dust devils.

By Lauren Edgar

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

Looks like the team had some fun using the less desirable names for rock targets in today's plan! These are all named after rock formations and geologic features from Bar Harbor, Maine. MSL drove another 8 meters on Sol 1591, and we'll continue to drive in the weekend plan. The three-sol plan starts with a few data management activities for Mastcam and MAHLI, and a recovery sequence to restart ChemCam after it has been marked sick. Then we'll take some Mastcam mosaics of "Dead River" and "Boil Mountain" to investigate laminations within the Murray formation and provide some context imaging of the "Misery" outcrop. Then we'll use MAHLI and APXS to study "Misery" and "Dead River," with an overnight APXS integration on "Misery." On the second sol Curiosity will wake up early for some environmental monitoring observations, including some Navcam movies and Mastcam imaging to assess atmospheric opacity. We'll also take another Mastcam mosaic of "Ireson Hill" to document the stratigraphy with long baseline stereo imaging. The third sol includes additional environmental monitoring, a drive, post-drive imaging for targeting, and preparing for more contact science. Curiosity will also perform a SAM evolved gas experiment to use the residual derivatization vapor in the sample manipulation system. I'll be on duty next week so I'm getting caught up on Curiosity's activities. Let's hope we can leave the "Misery" behind us next week!

By Lauren Edgar

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

The Sol 1589-1590 plan went well, with a successful ~31
meter drive. ChemCam remains "sick" and some diagnostic activities are being
planned for the weekend plan. We are approaching the Bagnold Dunes, so in order
to save time and allow more room for science activities at the dunes, today’s
plan does not include a drive. Instead, we will do a MAHLI check-up of the
wheels. Before checking on the wheels, the Sol 1591 plan starts with APXS and
MAHLI of the bedrock target "Munsungun", followed by Mastcam of "Daniel Island"
and "Chapman". After the MAHLI images of the wheels, we will do a short "bump"
drive to get in position for weekend science.

SAM will do an evolved gas experiment overnight, and then on
Sol 1592 Navcam has a dust devil search and Mastcam has some multispectral
images of Hematite Ridge. Mastcam also has a small stereo mosaic of "Maple
Mountain". by Ryan Anderson -Ryan is a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the ChemCam team on MSL. Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the martian environment, communication relays and rover status

This week most of the Curiosity team is headed out to
California for a team meeting. I’m not at the meeting because I have a new baby
at home, so I’ll be following along remotely!

Even though there’s a team meeting this week, we’re still
keeping the rover busy. Over the weekend the rover drove ~28 meters, and the
plan for Sol 1589 continues our slow ascent of Mt. Sharp. ChemCam is still
marked "sick" while we sort out the error that occurred last week, so the Sol
1589 science block is heavy on Mastcam. After Navcam does an observation to
watch for dust devils, Mastcam will collect mosaics of the targets "Cape Elizabeth",
"Mount Battle", "Mount Blue", and "Hematite Ridge". After that, APXS will
measure the composition of "Cape Elizabeth" and MAHLI will take supporting
pictures. Once the arm activity is done the rover will drive about 30 meters,
squeezing between a couple of large rocks, toward some bedrock that looks good
for more contact science. After the drive, we’ll do some post-drive imaging.

Sol 1590 will start with an early morning Mastcam mosaic of the
north face of "Ireson Hill", and then the rest of the day will be dedicated to
Navcam and Mastcam atmospheric observations. by Ryan Anderson -Ryan is a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the ChemCam team on MSL. Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the martian environment, communication relays and rover status

MSL drove another 13 meters on Sol 1585, again placing the rover in a good position for contact science.
But the telemetry also showed that ChemCam had been marked "sick," so
we will not be able to use ChemCam this weekend while the problem is
diagnosed. The weekend plan is still pretty full, though! First, on
Sol 1586, Right Mastcam will acquire small mosaics of nearby rocks named
"Bell Brook," "Blind Brook," and "Beck Pond," then Left Mastcam will
take another image of the rover deck to look for changes in the dust and
sand on the deck. The rover will rest until late that afternoon, when
the illumination will be good for MAHLI imaging. MAHLI will take a
single image before the DRT is used to brush off a bedrock target dubbed
"Belle Lake," then take a full suite of images (plus extra stereo
images) of the brushed spot. MAHLI will also acquire a full suite of
images of another bedrock target called "Bluffer Pond" before the APXS
is placed on the same target for a short integration. Just before midnight ,
the APXS will be placed on Belle Lake for a longer integration. On Sol
1587, the arm will be retracted and stowed to allow Mastcam to acquire a
full multispectral set of images of Belle Lake. Navcam will search for
dust devils before the next drive. In addition to the standard
post-drive activities, the arm will be unstowed to allow Navcam to take
stereo images of the new arm workspace. MARDI will take images during
twilight on Sols 1587 and 1588 to look for any changes due to winds.
Navcam will again search for dust devils on Sol 1588, and CheMin will
perform some maintenance activities overnight.

by Ken Herkenhoff
Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

After a 31-meter drive on Sol 1584, MSL is in position for contact science on a block of bedrock in front of the rover.
So, as MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead today I focused on planning a full suite of
MAHLI images of a target named "Jewell" that appears to expose
sedimentary structures. The Sol 1585 plan also includes ChemCam and
Right Mastcam observations of Jewell, a single Right Mastcam image of
another bedrock exposure dubbed "Bernard Mountain," and a Navcam dust
devil survey. The rover will then drive again and acquire images in the
new location. Later in the afternoon, Mastcam will measure the amount
of dust in the atmosphere and Navcam will search again for dust devils.
After the usual MARDI twilight image is taken, ChemCam will perform
some calibration activities at various temperatures.

by Ken Herkenhoff Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

On Sol 1583 Curiosity drove 16 m, which set us up for touch-and-go contact science today. I was the GKOP again, and it was a fun day of planning contact science and remote sensing. The plan starts with a short APXS integration on the target "Frost Pond," (seen in the middle of the above Navcam image) to investigate the chemistry of a typical Murray bedrock block. Then we’ll take a full suite of MAHLI images on the same target. Later in the plan we’ll acquire a ChemCam observation of "Frost Pond" for comparison, and we’ll also take a Mastcam image for documentation. We’ll also acquire a small Mastcam mosaic of "Burnt Brook" to investigate some color variations, and a Navcam observation to search for dust devils. After another drive, we’ll take post-drive imaging for targeting. Later in the afternoon we’ll use Mastcam to monitor the movement of fines on the rover deck and take a systematic clast survey, and ChemCam will take another AEGIS observation.

By Lauren Edgar

--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

After a 25-meter drive on Sol 1578, MSL is surrounded by more dark sand than usual, but there is enough rock exposed that we had a lot of science targets to choose from today. Due to the US holiday on Monday ,
we are planning 4 sols today. The first sol will include only REMS
atmospheric observations while the rover recharges after the SAM methane
measurement the night before, but the rest of the plan is packed! Sol
1580 starts with ChemCam passive (no laser) measurements of the sky and
calibration targets. Then we'll use the laser to zap rock targets "Oak
Bay" and "Rockport" and take Right Mastcam images of them. Mastcam will
also acquire a mosaic of bedrock exposures just west of the rover,
measure dust in the atmosphere, and take another image of the rover
deck. Later that afternoon, ChemCam and Right Mastcam will observe
disturbed sand at "Kennebec," an undisturbed ripple called "Spruce Top,"
and bedrock targets named "Traveler" and "Mars Hill." Right Mastcam
will also acquire a 3x1 mosaic of a more distant outcrop dubbed "Ogler
Point."

Sol 1581 is dominated by contact science,
starting with full suite of MAHLI images of Mars Hill. MAHLI will also
take close-up images of nearby "Camera Hill" and acquire a 3-image
mosaic of the layered outcrop target "Small Falls." The APXS will be
placed on Camera Hill for a short integration, then on Mars Hill for an
overnight integration.

On Sol 1582, Navcam will search
for clouds and dust devils before the rover drives away. After the
drive, AEGIS will again be used to autonomously select a ChemCam target
and acquire data, and MARDI will take another image during twilight.
Finally, the rover will get some well-earned rest overnight.

by Ken Herkenhoff Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.

Curiosity had a successful drive of 45 m on Sol 1577. We’re continuing to characterize the Murray formation by investigating changes in composition and sedimentary structures as we ascend Mt. Sharp. Today’s plan provided another opportunity for touch and go contact science, starting with MAHLI imaging of the "Megunticook" outcrop. This outcrop shows some interesting textures, as seen in the above Navcam image. After MAHLI imaging of the outcrop, we’ll acquire ChemCam LIBS on the same target. Then Mastcam will be used to document the outcrop and look for changes in texture, as well as to provide some stereo data for structural measurements. After a ~35 m drive, Curiosity will take post-drive imaging for context and targeting. The plan also includes an overnight SAM experiment to investigate methane in the atmosphere.

By Lauren Edgar

--Lauren is a Research Geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center and a member of the MSL science team.

Dates of planned rover activities described in these reports are subject to change due to a variety of factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays and rover status.