Curiosity is still investigating the Book Cliffs outcrop on our second pass at the Pahrump Hills. To learn more about Curiosity’s activities at the Pahrump Hills, check out this recent press release . I’m on duty as the Geology and Mineralogy Science Theme Lead again today. It turns out that I was also on duty when we were at Book Cliffs on the first pass, so it’s starting to feel a little like Groundhog Day. But it’s an interesting outcrop, and we’ve been able to acquire a lot of great data here. Yesterday we analyzed the lower part of the outcrop (as seen in this Front Hazcam image ), and today is focused on the middle part of the outcrop. We will use the Dust Removal Tool to clear off a fresh surface at a target named "Afton Canyon," and then we’ll use MAHLI and APXS to study the sedimentary structures and chemistry. We’re also planning what we call a "dog’s eye mosaic" of the target "Anaverde," meaning that we’ll acquire a series of MAHLI images across a vertical face – sticking our nose right in there to get a good view. In this plan Curiosity will also image part of upper Book Cliffs at the target "Topanga" to prepare for DRT placement on that area tomorrow.

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 successful drive on Sol 812, Curiosity is well positioned for contact science at the Book Cliffs outcrop. We’ve been taking some really interesting MAHLI images lately, including this one from Sol 810 of the target " Potatoe " ). The plan today is to use the Dust Removal Tool to clear off a fresh surface at the lower part of Book Cliffs (at a target named "Punchbowl"), and then characterize the cleared surface using the MAHLI and APXS instruments. We’ll acquire MAHLI images under different lighting conditions to study the rock textures, and APXS will provide information about the bulk chemical composition of the target. We’ll also acquire MAHLI images of the target "Old Dad Mountain," which is a slightly more resistant part of the lower outcrop. The plan also includes imaging to prepare for possible contact science on the upper part of Book Cliffs, and a Navcam observation to monitor atmospheric activity above Mount Sharp. Looking forward to more contact science tomorrow !

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 continues to investigate the Pahrump Hills. This is the second time that we are driving up the exposed section, and on this pass we’ve selected several key outcrops to study in more detail. The full path of our "walkabout" at the Pahrump Hills can be seen here . Over the weekend Curiosity used her Dust Removal Tool to expose fresh surfaces at several spots at Pink Cliffs, and today we’re planning to image those locations using all of the Mastcam camera filters. Then Curiosity will drive from Pink Cliffs to Book Cliffs. After the drive we’ll acquire Mastcam and Navcam images to prepare for contact science tomorrow . One of the challenges in today’s plan is that our expected downlink data volume is fairly low, meaning that we might not get all of the images down in time for planning tomorrow . But if all goes well and the necessary images are received, then we’re looking forward to getting detailed information about the fine-scale textures and chemistry at Book Cliffs tomorrow . I’m on duty as the Geology and Mineralogy Science Theme Lead this week, so my fingers are crossed for some good data!

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.

With the weekend coming up, we are working on a three sol
plan for sols 809-811. The main activity for sol 809 is using Curiosity’s arm
to brush off the target "Mojave" followed by supporting images with Mastcam and
MAHLI and measurements with APXS. On sol 810, Mastcam has two mosaics in the
morning, one of which is a re-shoot of the "Pink Cliffs" mosaic from sol 808,
but taken in the late afternoon this time so that the low angle of the lighting
highlights the textures. In the evening there is another round of contact
science. We will brush the dust off of the target "Potatoe" (which, despite
what you may think, was not named by Dan Quayle), and do several APXS
measurements along with MAHLI images. MAHLI will also take some pictures of the
target "Pilot Knob Valley". On sol 811, science mostly has the day off after a
couple of late nights of APXS and MAHLI, and the main activity is an
engineering test of the backup computer on Curiosity to make sure that it can
be used as the primary computer if that ever becomes necessary. 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 806, we at the USGS were off for Veteran’s Day, but
Curiosity was still busy! The sol 806 plan had a pretty simple morning science
block with a single Mastcam image of the target "Glendora" along with some
Mastcam and Navcam atmospheric observations. After that, we used the arm to
take close-up images of targets "Ricardo" and "Pelona," and to brush off
Ricardo in preparation for an overnight measurement of its composition using
APXS. The afternoon science block was dedicated to some more atmospheric
observations.

On sol 807, we did some Navcam cloud monitoring over Mount
Sharp, and made some Mastcam observations of targets "Shoemaker", Pelona, and
Ricardo. After that, we drove toward "Pink Cliffs" and then took some Mastcam
and Navcam of our surroundings to look for good locations for more contact
science. Our expected downlink for sol 807 was limited, so we had to be careful
about prioritizing which data came down first.

Of course, while sol 807 planning was happening, the Rosetta
team (including several of our colleagues on Curiosity) was busy making history
by landing on a comet! The pictures that the Philae lander is returning are
just spectacular – congratulations to the European Space Agency!

In Curiosity’s sol 808 plan, we have some more Mastcam and
Navcam atmospheric monitoring and dust-devil searches. There is also a Mastcam mosaic
of "Pink Cliffs" and of targets "Rosamond" and "Fernando." Then the arm will
get a workout: MAHLI will take a picture of the ChemCam window and the REMS UV
sensor, and then Curiosity will brush the dust off of the target Rosamond,
followed by MAHLI images, and several APXS measurements, including an overnight
integration. 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 planning is no longer restricted, but today's
commands must be sent to the spacecraft earlier than usual, so tactical
planning started 1 hour earlier than usual. The Sol 803 drive put the
rover in a good position for examination of
fine-scale layering using the arm instruments.
The science
team proposed several arm activities on various targets, but time
limitations required reducing the observations to APXS measurements and
MAHLI imaging of two targets, "Ricardo" and "Pelona." The Dust Removal
Tool will be used to brush dust off of the target
Pelona before imaging it with MAHLI and placing the APXS on it for
overnight integration. It was a hectic morning for me as SOWG Chair as
we prioritized science targets and determined what could be included in
the plan and reviewed before the deadline for
uplink to the rover.
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.

I'm not on shift today, but keeping up with planning because I'm scheduled as SOWG Chair again on Monday . And of course I'm curious to see how Curiosity is doing! The arm activities planned for Sols 801 and 802 completed successfully, so this weekend
the rover will drive toward the target "Shoemaker," named after the
founder of the USGS Branch of Astrogeology, Eugene M. Shoemaker. But
first, the arm will be stowed so that Mastcam can
observe the Sol 802 contact science targets, and a full set of MAHLI
images of the wheels will be acquired. Only two sols are being planned
this weekend because Mars and Earth time are getting back in sync,
completing the transition from restricted to nominal
planning. 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 short drive and wheel scuffing activities planned for Sol 799
all completed as planned, leaving the rover in position for detailed
examination of the scuff .

Planning is still restricted, so we are planning 2 sols again today.
On Sol 801, Mastcam and ChemCam will observe the material disturbed by
the scuff, the "wall" of the scuff, and undisturbed material outside of
the scuffed area for comparison. Then the
APXS will be placed on the disturbed target "Kelso" for overnight
integration. Much more arm work is planned for Sol 802: The APXS will
be used to sense the surface, allowing more accurate placement of MAHLI
near targets "Dumont," "Kelso," and "Garlock" for
high-resolution imaging. Then the APXS will be placed on Dumont for
another overnight integration. Planning all of these activities took
more time than usual, so as SOWG Chair I had to watch the clock and push
more than usual to get back on schedule. In
the end, we recovered and the plan is looking good.

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 initial reconnaissance of the Pahrump
Hills outcrop is complete, and the 53-meter Sol 797 drive successfully
placed the rover near the ripples of interest.

So the Sol 799 plan includes a short drive into the ripples and
"scuffing" of a 15-cm high ripple to examine its interior. Some of the Pahrump "walkabout" data have not yet been received
from the rover, so we decided to limit the acquisition
of new data on Sols 799 and 800 to allow more of the walkabout data to
be returned. Before the Sol 799 drive and scuff, ChemCam and Mastcam
will observe a bright outcrop named "Hackberry Spring." Then CheMin
will add more mineralogical data for the Confidence
Hill drill sample by integrating overnight and into Sol 800. I'm SOWG
Chair today, and happy to see the prediction that the rest of the
Pahrump walkabout data will be received by Sol 801.
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 30-meter drive planned for Sol 794 completed perfectly, placing the
rover near laminated blocks shed from the Whale Rock outcrop (visible at upper
right in this image ).
So ChemCam and Mastcam will observe some of these blocks and the
outcrop on Sol 796, before the rover drives away on
Sol 797. I'm MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead again today, so I focused on
planning MARDI imaging during and after the drive. The goal of the
drive is the sandy ripples near the Confidence Hills drill site,
where the physical and chemical properties of the ripples will be investigated. 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.