The MSL project has concluded that the bright object discovered on the ground is harmless, allowing for the commencement of the first sample manipulation tasks. However, due to the intricacy of these activities, the Sol 64 plan did not allow for any “opportunistic science.” Instead, the science team focused on preparing for future sols.
As part of my role as a journalist, I collaborated with the long-term planning team to schedule a ChemCam decontamination (heating) activity. While Sol 66 appears to be an ideal time for this task, plans are always subject to change. Nonetheless, this activity is recommended to be performed on a weekly basis in order to ensure optimal performance and safety.
