The "mini-drill" test on the Mojave rock target completed
successfully, but MAHLI images taken after the test showed
that the rotary-percussive drilling fractured the rock. This was not
expected, so the tactical team had to quickly change the Sol 869-870
plan. While we were hoping to drill a deeper hole and acquire a sample
of the drill cuttings before the upgrade of the software onboard the rover next week, the rock fragments dislodged by the mini-drill
activity provided a rare opportunity to examine freshly-broken
surfaces. Field geologists usually carry rock hammers so that they can
break rocks and examine the fresh surfaces. On Mars, the
drill has served as MSL's rock hammer! So the Sol 869 plan includes
ChemCam measurements of the fresh chunk of rock and the bottom of the
mini-drill hole, followed by MAHLI close-up images of the dislodged
rocks, both during the day and at night (illuminated
by the LEDs). On Sol 870, the brush will be used to clean off another
potential mini-drill target, dubbed "Funk Valley." MAHLI images of this
new target will be taken before and after the brushing, then the drill
will be "preloaded" (pushed down) against
Funk Valley and a potential full drill target to determine whether the
rock is strong enough to safely drill. Finally, MAHLI images will be
acquired to see the results of the preload tests and the APXS will be placed on the brushed spot for an overnight integration. 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.

Over the weekend, Curiosity did a short drive to get into position to drill at "Mojave." The previously acquired MAHLI images of this target show some really interesting crystals , and we're excited to use CheMin to figure out what minerals are present. The main event in today's two-sol plan is to do a mini-drill at Mojave. Before we do a full drill deep enough to collect rock powder, we do a mini-drill in preparation. We'll also collect a number of MAHLI images before and after the mini-drill to characterize the drilling location. The plan also includes some DAN observations to characterize the subsurface near this site. Then we'll acquire APXS of the mini-drill hole to assess the composition of the freshly exposed material. On the second sol we will move the arm out of the way to image the hole with Mastcam, and then Curiosity will acquire a self-portrait. We like to take these "selfies" at each of the drill hole locations to document the site, and it's also a good way to check up on the state of the rover. Looking forward to more drilling on Mars!

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 drive toward "Pink Cliffs" went according to plan, so in
the Sol 864 plan we will be doing a very short drive (called a "bump") toward
our drilling target: "Mojave" (shown above). Before the drive, ChemCam will analyze 5
locations in a line across a possible mineral vein in the rock, at a target
called "Harrisburg". This type of observation, called a "raster", was
quite common before ChemCam’s focus problems, but this will be the first time
doing a 5-point raster since the focusing laser stopped working. ChemCam is
still collecting images and spectra at multiple focus positions per point, to
make sure we get good data.

After Harrisburg, ChemCam will also study a broken rock
target called "Beers", where it will take spectra and several stacks of images
at different focus positions. This will provide good data for testing the
focus, plus interesting science data from the freshly exposed portion of the
broken rock. Mastcam will provide supporting images for both ChemCam observations,
plus an image of a location where the rover ran over a small sand ripple, at a
target called "Doughnut". (I promise, Homer Simpson did not name our targets
today!) Navcam will also do a dust devil search.

After that, the rover will drive about 10 meters to get into
position for drilling, and we will take Mastcam and Navcam images of the
surroundings. On Sol 865, our main activity is a measurement of methane in the
atmosphere by SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars – the onboard chemistry lab).

And then on Sol 866, we have some routine atmospheric
observations by ChemCam, Mastcam, and Navcam. 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.

It’s time to hit the road again! In the Sol 862-863 plan, we
are wrapping things up at "Whale Rock" and then driving about 85 m toward "Pink
Cliffs", where we hope to drill sometime soon. On Sol 862, Mastcam will take a
few parting shots of Whale Rock and "Western Cliffs" before we drive away.
After driving, we will do our standard post-drive imaging with Navcam and
Mastcam to get a good look at our surroundings.

On Sol 863, Mastcam will look at the sun to measure how much
dust is in the atmosphere (this measurement is called a "tau" because that’s
the symbol used in the equation that shows how much the sun’s light is
attenuated). Navcam will watch for clouds above Mt. Sharp, and ChemCam will
make a passive sky observation. ChemCam will also make some measurements of the
on-board calibration targets. 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.

Happy New (Earth) Year!

After the long holiday plans, the Curiosity team is back to
planning two days at a time. The main priority for the sol 860 plan is to use
MAHLI to take close-up color images of the targets "Sierra Nevada", "Santa Ana,"
and "Tecoya". These targets were analyzed by APXS over the holidays, so it’s
important to get good images to go with the chemistry.

For sol 861, ChemCam will analyze the Tecoya target, and a
target called "Last Chance Canyon". ChemCam will also take a series of images
of "Newberry" to test focusing at long range. Mastcam will take color images of
Newberry and Last Chance Canyon to support the ChemCam observations. The rest
of Sol 861 will be Mastcam images of targets "Telescope Peak," "Fairview
Valley," and "Gem Hill" as part of a campaign to watch for any changes in the
images. Mastcam will also make a routine "clast survey" observation, where it
looks at a patch of ground near the rover to study the sizes of the pebbles and
rocks (collectively called "clasts"). Clast surveys are done periodically to get an idea of how the clasts change throughout the traverse. 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.

On December 19th, the MSL tactical team planned 10 sols (!) on Mars, so that everyone could take a nice break over the holidays. That means that today we are assessing all of those sols of data, and checking out all of the "presents" that Curiosity acquired for us! At the start of the break, Curiosity carried out some contact science on the target "Santa Ana," which is at the base of the Whale Rock outcrop at Pahrump Hills. Curiosity used the Dust Removal Tool (DRT) to expose a clean surface, and we acquired a nice Mastcam image of that surface. This Navcam image shows the arm outstretched over "Santa Ana", as well as some of the interesting textures in the rocks surrounding it ("Sierra Nevada" is the block to the right of the arm, and "Tecoya" is the long skinny block to the lower right). Today we are planning 3 sols of targeted science, and 4 sols of REMS and associated background activities to carry us through the New Year’s holiday. The first sol of this plan includes several ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the targets "Santa Ana," "Peach Springs" and "Lane Mountain" to characterize their texture and composition. The plan also includes a Navcam observation to monitor the atmosphere above Mt. Sharp. Then Curiosity will brush the target "Tecoya" to remove the dust, and use the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) to determine its bulk chemical composition. The second sol involves a number of environmental monitoring observations. Curiosity will use the Navcam, Mastcam, and ChemCam passive to assess the composition of the atmosphere and search for dust devils. We will also use Navcam to acquire a sunrise movie, as well as to look for clouds and assess the wind direction near the zenith (the point in the sky directly above the rover). On the same sol we will move the APXS to the target "Sierra Nevada" to see how its composition compares to "Tecoya." The third sol will be fairly light, and consists of a Mastcam observation of the fresh surface at "Tecoya" using all of the camera filters. The remaining sols (856-859) will consist of standard environmental monitoring, until we resume our regular planning schedule for Sol 860. Wishing Curiosity and the MSL team a happy and healthy start to the New Year! 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 Sol 842 command
sequences were successfully received by Curiosity, and all the data
needed for planning were returned to Earth, including MAHLI images of the right
front wheel. These and other data were thoroughly analyzed, and the slip risk
assessment team concluded that it is safe to brush the target "Santa
Ana." So after multiple remote sensing ChemCam and Mastcam observations
on Sol 843 and 844, the Dust Removal Tool will be
used late in the afternoon on Sol 844.

To give the MSL tactical team a break next week, we
are planning 10 (!) sols today. Essentially, it's a normal 3-sol weekend
plan, with only REMS and associated background activities for the rest
of the plan. Because we don't want to risk
leaving the MAHLI dust cover open in the unlikely event of an arm
fault, no MAHLI activities are included in the plan. So it was an easy
day for me as MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead; I simply suggested Mastcam 100 mm
imaging of the brushed spot in lieu of the usual
MAHLI documentation images. After the Mastcam image is acquired, the
APXS will be placed on Santa Ana for an overnight integration. A full
multispectral Mastcam observation (all filters, both eyes) of the
brushed spot is planned just after noon on Sol 845,
when the illumination will be better for measuring subtle spectral features. 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.

Unfortunately, the Sol
841 command sequences could not be sent to MSL because of a transmitter
problem at the Deep Space Network (DSN) antenna.

This reminded me not to take for granted communications between Earth
and Mars, even though such problems are rare. Bad weather over a DSN
station can prevent transmission or receipt of radio signals. Because
of such risks, every bundle of command sequences
sent to the Mars rovers includes a few sols' worth of "runout"
sequences. These tell the rover what to do if new commands are not
received. So MSL is safe and healthy, but not doing much on Sol 841
besides sending more data back to Earth (through the Mars
orbiters, as usual).

As you might expect, the Sol 842 plan includes most
of the observations planned for Sol 841. But the arm activities had to
be moved earlier to ensure that the MAHLI images of the right front
wheel will be received on Earth in time for
weekend planning on Friday.
These images should help determine whether it is safe to brush using
the Dust Removal Tool. To make room for the arm activities before the
critical MRO data relay, Mastcam observations of targets dubbed
"Telescope Peak," "Fairview
Valley," "Gem Hill," and "Juniper Hills" were moved later, after the
MRO communications pass. 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.

I was happy to see that the Sol 840 MAHLI images we planned on Monday
came out nicely. There was no MSL tactical planning yesterday, because
of the offset between Mars time and Pacific time, and planning started
at 6 AM PST today. We were hoping to be able to brush off one of the
Sol 840 MAHLI targets,
but there is still concern about the risk of slipping off the small
rock under the right front wheel during brushing. Such slippage might
damage the Dust Removal Tool, but MAHLI imaging is safe (as it was on
Sol 840), so MAHLI images of "San Andreas" and
"Oro Grande" are planned for Sol 841. In addition, MAHLI images of the
wheel will be acquired to better assess slip risk.

Mastcam and ChemCam observations of various targets are also planned for Sol 841. The ChemCam team continues to test and refine new procedures for acquiring good chemical and imaging data without using the autofocus laser, which is no longer working well. Excellent ChemCam data are being acquired, but it takes longer without the autofocus laser. 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 5-meter drive planned for Sol 837 placed the rover near dubbed "Whale Rock" as intended.

Front Hazcam images show blocks that appear to have fallen from the outcrop and in-place bedrock patches; both can be reached by the arm instruments, so the Sol 840 plan includes MAHLI images from 25 cm standoff distance of the block and bedrock targets "San Andreas," "Tecoya," "Gem Hill" and "San Bernardino." The arm will also be used to image the wheels and clean out CHIMRA (the sample handling equipment).

I'm SOWG Chair today, and all has gone well so far. But, as usual, the risk of rover slip must be assessed before arm activities can be planned. The rover is now tilted over 18 degrees, more than it has been tilted for any arm activities during the mission so far, so slip risk assessment requires more time and effort than it has in the past. As I write this, we are still "go" for arm activities, and of course I'm hoping that won't change.

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.