The weekend drive went well, and Curiosity drove ~ 32 m to the south. This southward path will eventually take us through a gap in the active sand dunes that will be easier for Curiosity to traverse. We’re planning another drive today, which will take us in the direction of the above Navcam image.

Today’s two-sol plan consists of several ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the Murray formation to assess variations in texture and chemistry. We also planned a small Mastcam mosaic to document some nearby cross-stratification and nodules, and a small MAHLI mosaic of the target "Berg Aukas" before driving away. After the drive, we’ll acquire our standard set of post-drive imaging for context and targeting. The second sol includes a small untargeted science block, which we filled with a ChemCam autonomously selected target and a Mastcam observation to monitor the opacity 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.

We received the engineering data that we needed to proceed with the final science activities at the Oudam drill site. Today’s plan is focused on analyzing the pre-sieve dump pile and getting on the road again.

The three-sol plan starts by moving the arm out of the way so we can target the workspace. First we’ll acquire a ChemCam passive observation on the pre-sieve dump pile, followed by several ChemCam and Mastcam observations of nearby veins. Then we’ll use all of the Mastcam filters to study the DRT target "Aubures," and we’ll acquire a Mastcam mosaic to document the local geology. We’ll also target two areas to look for changes and the movement of fine-grained material. Then we’ll move the arm back to the dump pile for MAHLI and APXS observations. On the second sol we’ll use ChemCam to target the dump pile, and then we’ll drive away. We’ll take our standard post-drive imaging, and an autonomously selected ChemCam target. The third sol is devoted to ChemCam and Mastcam observations to monitor the chemistry and opacity 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.

The day started off with some changes to the sol path due to some holes in the downlink. Unfortunately some engineering camera and MAHLI images from Sol 1364 were not fully transmitted, so the team worked quickly to rearrange the intended activities this week. Fortunately that also meant that we could add in some opportunistic DRT, MAHLI and APXS activities on Sol 1366.

The two-sol plan starts off with ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the Oudam drill hole and tailings, and the nearby target "Omulonga." We’ll also acquire some Mastcam and Navcam observations to monitor the atmosphere. In the afternoon of the first sol, we’ll use the DRT, MALHI and APXS to characterize the bedrock target "Aubures" to look for variations in texture and chemistry within the Murray formation. On the second sol we’ll acquire a 360 degree Mastcam mosaic for geologic context, and a routine SAM electrical baseline test to monitor instrument health. Hopefully the Navcam images will be retransmitted so we can continue with our drill site characterization activities later this week!

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.

The Oudam drill campaign continues to go well, with sample
acquired and ready for analysis. Planning is now restricted, so we are
planning 2 sols today. On Sol 1364, ChemCam will acquire passive
spectra of the drill tailings and a LIBS raster of the wall of the drill
hole.
Later that afternoon, the unsieved portion of the drill sample will be
dumped on the ground and imaged by MAHLI from 25 cm to support future
planning. After dark, MAHLI will take pictures of the inside of the
drill hole, the tailings, and the CheMin inlet using its LEDs for
illumination. The APXS will then be placed on the drill tailings for an
overnight integration.

Early on Sol 1365, the Right
Mastcam will extend the mosaic of Hartmann's Valley, adding 22 images.
That afternoon, the APXS will be retracted and vibrated to clean it,
then the arm will be moved out of the way for ChemCam and Mastcam
observations of the drill tailings. Navcam will search for clouds both
near the horizon and at zenith. Finally, CheMin will analyze the drill
sample 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.

The MSL Rover Planners have all the data they need to drill (no
"mini-drill" required), so the plan for this weekend focuses on drilling
into the Oudam bedrock target. The full drill is scheduled for Sol
1361, followed by MAHLI and Mastcam images of the new hole. The rover
will then rest until Sol 1362, when the drill sample will be transferred
to the scoop for Mastcam imaging and sieved. A fine-grained (

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.

Arm work continues to go well, so preparation for drilling and
sample analysis is the focus of the Sol 1360 plan. First, CheMin will
dump the Lubango and Okoruso drill samples out of their cells. Then
ChemCam and Mastcam will observe a bright vein named "Charlottenfelder"
and a bedrock target called "Chameis Bay" before arm activities resume.
MAHLI will take close-up images of the Oudam drill target
and a single image of the "footprint" that APXS likely made on the
Okoruso dump pile yesterday. Overnight, CheMin will analyze an empty
cell to provide a baseline measurement before receiving the new drill
sample. Early the next morning, before handover to the next plan,
observations of the Sun and sky will measure dust in the atmosphere over
the rover and search for clouds and dust devils. The Right Mastcam
will take a 10-image mosaic of the "Otjizonjati" outcrop northwest of
the rover
when it is well-illuminated by the morning sun. Finally, the RMI will
acquire a 5-image mosaic of part of Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp) toward the
south.

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.

The remaining Okoruso drill sample was successfully dumped onto the ground on Sol 1358,
so MSL is ready for a new drill sample. In preparation, the Sol 1359
plan includes an arm preload test on "Oudam," the next drill target, and
cleaning out CHIMRA with imaging to verify that everything is clean.
Before all the arm activities, ChemCam and Mastcam will observe the
Okoruso dump pile and a bedrock target named "Otjosondu." The Left
Mastcam will also acquire a 5x2 mosaic of the "Fraktuur Dorp" area and
extend the "Hartmann's Valley" mosaic. Late in the afternoon, when
lighting will be better, MAHLI will acquire images of bedrock target
"Onguati" and a full suite of images of the dump pile. The APXS will
then be placed on the dump pile for an overnight integration. The
tactical team did a great job of picking targets and preparing command
sequences, so it was an easy day for me as SOWG Chair.

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.

Our activities over the weekend went well, and after a
couple of complicated multi-sol plans we get to do a nice simple one-sol plan
today! The Sol 1358 plan starts with ChemCam observations of the targets "Otiiha",
"Otjihase", "Otjikoto", and "Otjimbingwe" to assess variations in the bedrock
chemistry. Mastcam will document those targets, and then we will dump out our
remaining Okoruso sample. APXS then has an overnight observation of the target "Oudam".

I was on downlink for ChemCam today, so while everyone was
putting together the plan for today, I was busy analyzing the tons of great
data that we got down over the long weekend! 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

Our drive went well and Curiosity is now sitting on a nice
patch of the Murray formation, putting us in a good position for a very busy
holiday weekend! On Sol 1355, ChemCam has observations of the targets "Auchas",
"Kaisosi", "Inamagando", and "Horingbaai". Mastcam will document those targets
and then do some multispectral observations of the targets "Kunjas" and "Navachab",
plus a mosaic of the contact between the Murray and Stimson units. Navcam will
round out the science block with some atmospheric observations.

Sol 1356 was an unusual one, with a bunch of small science
blocks spread throughout the day. These were to enable a series of measurements
leading up to a coordinated set of observations in the afternoon between the
instruments on the rover on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. (Yes,
this means a new HiRISE image of Curiosity is coming soon!)

First thing in the morning on Sol 1356, Mastcam and Navcam
have a photometry observation. This is repeated a few hours later along with a
multispectral Mastcam observation of the target "Inamagando". A few hours
later, the photometry observation is repeated again (the idea is to see how the
brightness changes as the sun angle changes) and ChemCam has a passive sky
observation. Finally, there is another photometry observation, a Mastcam "sky
survey" observation, and Mastcam "sky flats". These are followed by a
long-distance ChemCam RMI image that I managed to squeeze into the plan. I am
hoping that the similar time of day (and therefore similar lighting) will make
it easier to compare the HiRISE and RMI images. After the RMI, Sol 1356 will
wrap up with one final photometry observation.

On Sol 1357 we will drive again, followed by standard
post-drive imaging. This plan will take us through the long weekend, so our
next planning day will be on Tuesday. 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

The Sol 1352 post-drive imaging shows that, while there are sandy ripples ahead ,
there are enough rocky patches that the rover should not have any problem
driving toward the southwest. This is what we were hoping, so we are
planning to drive in that direction on Sol 1353. But first, Mastcam
will acquire stereo mosaics of the Murray-Stimson contact and a couple
areas toward the west with nodular features . After the drive, ChemCam will again autonomously measure the chemistry of a target selected by the AEGIS software.

To
get a head start on planning for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, two
sols are being planned today. We expect to receive the Sol 1352 data
needed for planning the rest of the weekend tomorrow
morning. The Sol 1353 activities cannot be precisely targeted, so
Navcam will look for clouds and Mastcam will measure the amount of dust
in the atmosphere at various times that sol. In addition, ChemCam will
perform a routine calibration activity. Once again it was an easy day
for me as MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead, with only the usual MARDI twilight
image to plan.

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.