Tag Archives: Zabriskie Plateau

Curiosity: Approaching Amargosa Valley

Sol 738, September 3, 2014. Slabby, shaly rocks cover the Zabriskie Plateau, as Curiosity approaches the head of Amargosa Valley (three-frame composite from the rover’s Navcam). Rover drivers are hoping Amargosa will provide a better route down off the plateau … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Rocky terrain to the west

Sol 729, August 25, 2014. Having given up on the too-soft sands of Hidden Valley, rover drivers now need to find a path going generally westward through the rock garden atop Zabriskie Plateau (three-frame Navcam composite). NASA description (middle image): … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Sol 714, August 9, 2014

Hidden Valley (center) offered Curiosity softer driving than the rock-strewn surface of Zabriskie Plateau, but apparently too soft for good driving. So the rover has backed up and out of Hidden Valley onto the Zabriskie Plateau caprock on the valley’s … Continue reading

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Sandy valleys lie ahead in Curiosity’s path

The main map here shows the assortment of landforms near the location of NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover as the rover’s second anniversary of landing on Mars nears. The gold traverse line entering from upper right ends at Curiosity’s position as … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Scenic route’

Sol 706, July 31, 2014, update on Curiosity from MSL Scientist Lauren Edgar: “Today we planned contact science (APXS and MAHLI) on a rock target named Thimble, and an extra MAHLI image of an adjacent rock named Poleta. These…” [More … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: ‘Hidden Valley’

Sol 705, July 30, 2014, update on Curiosity from MSL Scientist Lauren Edgar: “Today we are planning Sol 705, and Curiosity is just about to drive down from the Zabriskie Plateau into Hidden Valley, where the terrain should be much….” … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Sol 703, July 29, 2014

Peering down into Hidden Valley with the Navcam (two-frame composite): softer driving ahead mixed with sand ripples. NASA description: This image [left frame] was taken by Navcam: Left B (NAV_LEFT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 703 (2014-07-29 11:39:13 UTC). … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Sol 702, July 28, 2014

The Navcam looks at the head of Hidden Valley (upper center), Curiosity’s route down off rock-strewn Zabriskie Plateau. In the foreground, an outcrop of layered rocks. NASA description: This image was taken by Navcam: Right B (NAV_RIGHT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Sol 701, July 27, 2014

Rolling toward Ouch! Small but sharp and pointed rocks lie in Curiosity’s path as it heads across Zabriskie Plateau’s caprock toward Hidden Valley and easier driving on sand. NASA description: This image was taken by Front Hazcam: Left B (FHAZ_LEFT_B) … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Sol 696, July 22, 2014

Zig, and then zag: looking north back over Curiosity’s track across rock-littered Zabriskie Plateau. NASA description: This image was taken by Navcam: Right B (NAV_RIGHT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 696 (2014-07-22 09:02:59 UTC). Sol 696 raw images (from … Continue reading

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