On Sol 1352, the post-drive imaging shows that there are sandy ripples ahead on the rover’s path. However, there are also enough rocky patches to ensure smooth driving towards the southwest. This is good news for the team as they plan to head in that direction on Sol 1353. Before the drive, Mastcam will capture stereo mosaics of the Murray-Stimson contact and a few areas to the west featuring nodular features. Following the drive, ChemCam will autonomously analyze the chemistry of a chosen target using AEGIS software.
As we prepare for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, two sols are being planned in advance. The data from Sol 1352 will be received early next morning to help with planning for the rest of the weekend. The activities for Sol 1353 are not yet finalized, so Navcam will keep an eye out for clouds while Mastcam monitors dust levels in the atmosphere at different times during the sol. Additionally, ChemCam will conduct a calibration activity as part of its routine operations.
As MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead, Ken Herkenhoff had an easy day with only usual planning for MARDI twilight image. Please note that these dates may change due to various factors related to Mars’ environment, communication relays, and rover status updates from time to time.
