On Saturday and Sunday, the Curiosity rover traveled 51 meters closer to the Bagnold Dunes. As the Geology Science Theme Lead, my task for Sol 1173 is to plan a science block, drive, post-drive imaging, and some untargeted science activities in the afternoon. Our objective for today’s plan is to closely monitor the dunes and document the bedrock along the rover’s path.
The day will begin with Mastcam observations to track two of the dunes and a small sandsheet in front of the rover. Following this, a drive will be conducted, and post-drive imaging will be taken to prepare for targeting tomorrow. In the afternoon, Navcam observations will be conducted to monitor the atmosphere and search for dust devils.
Later on, additional Mastcam mosaics will be captured to monitor the dunes and bedrock under different lighting conditions. The late afternoon lighting is particularly useful for highlighting subtle textures in the dunes and rocks, which will help determine when it’s best to capture images of these features during our Bagnold Dune campaign.
Overall, our goal is to gather as much data as possible about these fascinating dunes while ensuring that we don’t damage them or disturb their natural environment. We hope that our efforts will contribute to a better understanding of Mars’ geology and provide valuable insights into how life might have existed here billions of years ago.
