Curiosity is currently exploring the Blunts Point member of the Murray formation in search of a suitable location to drill in the near future. The SOWG Chair led the team in putting together a busy weekend plan focused on completing contact science at the current location and driving further north into the Blunts Point member.
The plan includes several exciting activities, including a ChemCam water adsorption experiment to investigate seasonal variations in hydrogen in the soil at different times of day. On the first sol, the team will conduct contact science activities such as taking a MAHLI “dogs eye” image of the “Culver” target to assess the relationship between veins and bedding. Additionally, they will use the DRT, MAHLI, and APXS instruments on typical bedrock at the “Floodwood” target, and conduct additional MAHLI and APXS analyses on the “Carleton” target to look for variations in chemistry.
After completing an overnight APXS integration on the “Floodwood” target, Curiosity will conduct another ChemCam water adsorption observation early in the morning on Sol 2048-2049. Mastcam multispectral images will be taken around midday to document these activities, along with a ChemCam passive sky observation and documentation images of ChemCam targets. ChemCam LIBS will also be used on the “Mountain Iron” target to assess the composition of dark nodules.
On Sol 2051, Curiosity will drive approximately 10 meters north to prepare for potential contact science activities or moving to a drill location in
