On Mars, the planning day was executed smoothly, starting with a science block featuring various spectroscopic ChemCam observations. The ChemCam instrument can be operated in both passive and active modes, and today’s plan utilized both. Active observations required shooting a laser at specific rock targets like “Coatbridge” and “Pitscurrie,” analyzing the resulting plasmas to determine the spectral characteristics of the local geology. Mastcam images provided context for these measurements.
In the second science block, while REMS monitoring was ongoing, environmental observations were conducted. These included Navcam movies to look for dust devils and clouds. These observations are crucial for understanding the environmental conditions on Mars and how they may impact the mission. The team on Mars is dedicated to gathering as much data as possible to further our knowledge of the Red Planet.
