Rover Science Continues at Vera Rubin Ridge: Studying the Geology and Chemistry of Mars with MAHLI, ChemCam, and Mastcam

At the Vera Rubin Ridge location “e,” we continue our scientific activities. We have gathered a wealth of observations at this site, including detailed imaging and geochemical analyses. Our focus for today is on studying the small-scale features of the rocks in front of the rover to better understand their formation.

During the early afternoon science block, we will be using ChemCam to study three particular targets: “Macleans Nose 2,” “Funzie 2,” and “Ullapool.” These targets are repeat observations from the weekend to gather more information. Additionally, we will be taking a small Mastcam mosaic to document the terrain of the VRR beyond the rover’s location.

After the science block, we will deploy the rover’s arm to investigate some interesting rock features. The first target is “Rona,” a large white vein that will be studied using the MAHLI camera for high-resolution images of its interior. We will also conduct an APXS observation to determine the composition of the vein. Additionally, we will take more MAHLI images of the target “Loch Maree,” a patch of dark gray material.