It’s time to wrap up our investigation of the interesting
nodules at the contact between the Murray and Stimson formations and resume
driving!

The weekend starts off focused mostly on contact science. On
Sol 1279, APXS will analyze two neighboring locations on a group of nodules
collectively called "Khomas", and then on Sol 1280 APXS will analyze a third
location on Khomas. MAHLI will collect supporting images, and will also take
some pictures of the targets "Etendeka" and "Maieberg".

In the morning on Sol 1280, the rover will make some
atmospheric measurements using Navcam, Mastcam, and ChemCam, followed by a 20-spot
ChemCam analysis of the target "Marienfluss", right across the Murray-Stimson
contact. Mastcam will take a support image of Marienfluss, plus a small mosaic
of a target called "Kerpfenkliff".

Then on Sol 1281, we will get moving again with a ~70 meter
drive that should take us up onto the Naukluft plateau. During the drive, MARDI
will collect some images of the terrain underneath the rover. After the drive
we have post-drive imaging, and I added a request for some Navcam images of Mt.
Sharp to help target potential long distance ChemCam RMI images next week. 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 APXS observation of the nodules in yesterday's plan didn't go exactly as planned: it was slightly misaligned with the nodule we were trying to analyze, so the measurement was mostly of the neighboring bedrock. That meant planning today started with a discussion of whether the chemistry from ChemCam was sufficient, or if we should spend another day and nail the APXS measurement as well. In the end we decided to try again and make sure we get all the data we want about the nodules before moving on.

The Sol 1278 plan starts with ChemCam analyses and Mastcam images of the targets "Tsarabis", "Lofdal", "Kunene", and "Nababis". Mastcam also has two mosaics to capture the contact between the "Murray" and "Stimson" formations and the transition from knobby nodule-rich bedrock to less nodule-rich bedrock. After that, MAHLI will collect images of the nodule targets "Sperrgebiet", "Maieberg", and "Konigstein" and APXS will try again to do an overnight measurement of the composition of Sperrgebiet. Since this is the second try, the rover planners have yesterday's data to work with and should be able to place the APXS more accurately. If all goes well, we should be able to wrap up at this location and drive away in the weekend plan!

by Ryan Anderson

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 yesterday was a success, putting us right on the
contact between the "Murray" and "Stimson" units, and in reach of some very
interesting nodules. The plan today is mostly focused on studying those
nodules. ChemCam has an observation of a nodule and neighboring bedrock at the
target "Vogelfederberg" followed by a "depth profile" on one of the nodules
named "Verbrandeberg". For the depth profile, we will only analyze two
locations on the target, but we will shoot each location with the laser 150 times
instead of the normal 30 shots. These extra shots allow us to measure changes
in the chemistry in the outer surface of the target. After the depth profile,
ChemCam will analyze two other nodule and bedrock locations named "Maieberg"
and "Mikberg". Mastcam will take documentation images of all of these targets.

Later in the day, we will use MAHLI to take some images of a
nodule named "Sperrgebiet"’, plus a broader mosaic of the nodular texture. APXS
will then measure the composition of Sperrgebiet and the neighboring bedrock.
Tomorrow the plan is to back out of our current location and then drive up onto
Naukluft plateau! 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 weekend drive went well, and put us in a great location
for some contact science, right near the contact between the "Murray" and "Stimson"
formations, with some interesting veins and textures in the nearby rocks. Given
our nice location, we opted not to do any driving in the Sol 1275 plan and
instead study the area in front of us.

The Sol 1275 plan started off with a ChemCam passive sky
observation and ChemCam LIBS and RMI observations of the targets "Palmhorst", "Palmwag",
and "Mirabib". Mastcam took documentation images of each of the ChemCam targets,
plus a couple of mosaics of the Murray-Stimson contact. Later in the day, MAHLI
took some images of Mirabib before and after brushing the dust off, as well as mosaics
of Palmwag and Palmhorst. APXS then analyzed the composition of Palmwag and
then did an overnight measurement of Mirabib.

In today’s plan, our goal is to place the rover in position
to study some interesting knobby textures. Prior to the drive, Navcam will do
some atmospheric measurements and ChemCam will analyze the targets "Duruchaus",
"Eiseb", and "Aranos". As usual, Mastcam will take some documentation images of
the ChemCam targets. Mastcam also has a mosaic of fine laminations in the rock
at the Murray-Stimson contact, another mosaic to extend the coverage of the
contact, and a small 2x1 mosaic of Mirabib and nearby veins using all of
Mastcam’s science filters. After that, we will do a short drive toward the
knobby texture followed by post-drive imaging. The knobby texture is not in a
great position for us to continue driving after we analyze it, so we’ll likely
return back to our current position before continuing up onto Naukluft
plateau. 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.

We are planning only 2 sols today because tactical operations will transition to nominal next week (working all 5 weekdays). On Sol 1273, Mastcam will acquire a multispectral image of the contact between the Murray and Stimson geologic units. This set of images, taken using all of the Mastcam filters, will be acquired just after noon , when the illumination of the contact should be better than in previous images . Then ChemCam and Mastcam will observe bedrock targets "Kleinberg" and "Tumas 2" and Mastcam will acquire a stereo mosaic of a low ridge southwest of the rover. Later in the afternoon, the arm will go to work doing contact science: First, MAHLI will take images of a bedrock target named "Schwarzrand" before the DRT brushes it off. The MAHLI will acquire a full suite of images of the brushed spot and of Kleinberg before the APXS is placed on Kleinberg for a couple 2-hour integrations. Then the APXS will be moved over to Schwarzrand for an overnight integration. The Sol 1274 plan starts with a drive toward the plateau to the southwest of the vehicle, followed by imaging needed to plan contact science in the new location. Post-drive images of the likely drive direction will also be acquired, in case we decide not to do contact science on Monday .



I've been traveling so have not been able to keep up with MSL's progress lately. It was good to catch up today!



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.

Today’s 2-sol plan is focused on targeted remote sensing, imaging to prepare for contact science, and CheMin analysis of the Gobabeb #6 sample. We’re in a great position on the east side of the Naukluft Plateau, and we’re trying to understand the local stratigraphy and diagenetic features. The first sol includes ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the targets "Uniab" and "Tumas," followed by imaging of the area in front of the rover to prepare for possible contact science in the weekend plan. The second sol starts with an early morning science block for atmospheric monitoring observations. Sol 1272 also includes CheMin analysis of a sample that we acquired back at Namib dune. In the afternoon, Curiosity will acquire a long-distance RMI mosaic of Peace Vallis, and will continue monitoring atmospheric opacity and studying the sky above Mount Sharp.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, Opportunity is perched on a steep slope, trying to make her way up to an interesting outcrop on Knudsen Ridge. It’s another great day on Mars!

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.

Here is Monday’s blog post (can we blame the delay on leap day?). Curiosity is currently making her way toward the Naukluft Plateau, and Monday’s plan was full of driving and remote sensing. On the first sol, Curiosity will acquire ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the target "Swartpunt." Then we’ll drive toward the Naukluft Plateau, and acquire post-drive imaging to prepare for future targeting and document the Murray formation along the way. The second sol includes a number of ChemCam calibration activities, and a Navcam movie to monitor the atmosphere above Mount Sharp. We’ll also acquire a large Mastcam mosaic to study the stratigraphy exposed on the east side of the Naukluft Plateau.

I’ve been working MER operations this week, so it’s been fun to check in and see what’s happening on the other side of the planet!

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.

Today’s plan has a nice mix of science and driving. The
rover will start off on Sol 1266 with ChemCam observations of the targets "Ugab",
"Rooibank" and "Stockdale". We will zap the Rooibank target using two different
laser energies to see if that helps us figure out the amount of hydrogen in the
target. Afterwards, Mastcam has some documentation images of the ChemCam
targets, and then we will do some contact science: MAHLI will take some images
of "Waterburg", then the DRT will brush the dust off of "Stockdale" and MAHLI
will take some pictures of that target too. After the DRT, Mastcam will observe
the Stockdale target with all of its science filters, and APXS will then do an
overnight observation on the brushed location.

On Sol 1267, Mastcam has a big mosaic of the edge of the
Naukluft plateau, which will give us a nice view of the geology there and help
us decide what to do as we get closer. After that, the rover will continue
driving toward the plateau and do the usual post-drive imaging, plus some
additional Mastcam off to the right hand side of the rover.

On Sol 1268, we have a bunch of untargeted observations.
ChemCam has a passive sky observation, and Mastcam will observe its calibration
targets so the filter observations of Stockdale can be calibrated. Mastcam also
has tau observations at two different times. To wrap up the plan, Navcam will
do its usual atmospheric monitoring 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.

We had a successful ~70 meter drive toward the Naukluft plateau, and the drive in today’s plan should put us about halfway to the base
of the plateau. The Sol 1264 plan starts with some targeted science: first we
have a Mastcam mosaic of the scarp that forms the edge of the plateau, and then
ChemCam will analyze the two targets "Awahab" and "Awa Gamteb". After the
targeted science, the rover will drive about 30 meters and do standard
post-drive imaging so we can do targeted science (and possibly contact science)
over the weekend.

In the early morning of Sol 1265, we have a bunch of
atmospheric observations with Navcam and Mastcam to watch for clouds and
measure the amount of dust in the atmosphere. Then later in the day Mastcam
will repeat its dust observations. I was involved in planning this morning and
we were hoping to get some long-distance RMI observations of Mt. Sharp in the
Sol 1265 plan, but they had to be removed because the software we use to write
the commands was giving different coordinates than what we were expecting from
the images. It’s always disappointing to have observations pulled from the
plan, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when you start to get weird results
from the software. Pulling them from the plan allows us to figure out what the
issue was, and we can get the images I wanted some other time.
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.

We’re gearing up for a nice long drive toward the "Naukluft
Plateau" in today’s plan! The sol 1262 plan starts off with ChemCam of the
bedrock targets "Gemsboktal" and "Ghaub", with Mastcam documentation. Mastcam
will also take a picture of the interesting wind-blown ripples of the target "Hoachanas".
After that, we will drive 70 meters or so to the northwest, stopping on a small
ridge. After the drive, the rover will do standard post-drive imaging of our
new surroundings. Overnight, CheMin will analyze its sample from Scoop #5 on
the target "Gobabeb".

Sol 1263 will be all untargeted observations. Mastcam will
observe the rover deck to assess how much dust and sand are on the rover, and
ChemCam has two long distance RMI mosaics of the stratigraphy of the Peace
Vallis alluvial fan (these can be untargeted because they’re so far away that
the camera pointing doesn’t really change much when we drive). Mastcam then has
a standard "tau" observation, and Navcam has some cloud monitoring of the
southern horizon. Later in the day, Navcam has some more atmospheric
monitoring, and Mastcam will repeat the tau observation. 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.