Tag Archives: Aeolis Mons

Curiosity update: New method of wheel imaging

Posted on July 19, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2115, July 18, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ken Herkenhoff: The priorities for Sol 2115 are to image the rover’s wheels and acquire the images needed to plan a drive back to the Sol 1999 location, where we might … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: At the (very) Hard Rock Cafe

Posted on July 18, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2114, July 18, 2018. The first of two Remote Micro-Imager photos taken about 20 minutes apart shows how far Curiosity’s drill got when it tried to dig into the hematite-rich rock at the Voyageurs site: Not far. Then the … Continue reading →

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Light-toned Gale Crater rocks made by hot-spot volcanism?

Posted on July 18, 2018 by rburnham

In August 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory’s rover Curiosity landed at the base of Gale crater, a 5-kilometer-high mountain that formed when a meteor hit Mars billions of years ago. Using its 2-meter-long arm to drill into the planet’s surface, … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Finishing up at the Voyageurs drill site

Posted on July 17, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2114, July 17, 2018, update by MSL scientist Mark Salvatore: After our attempt to drill the Voyageurs target did not reach sufficient depth due to the impressive hardness of the rock , the team is beginning to finish up … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Hard as a rock

Posted on July 17, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2113, July 16, 2018, update by MSL scientist Lauren Edgar: Unfortunately, we found out this morning that the “Voyageurs” drill target was a much harder rock than expected. While our drill plan executed perfectly, our bit stopped short of … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Drilling at Voyageurs

Posted on July 16, 2018 by rburnham

Sols 2111-2112, July 15-16, 2018. With Curiosity at the Voyageurs outcrop, the drill went to work. The Mastcam view above shows the drill site (arrow). Below is the Hazcam view of the drill at work, and at right is the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Let the drill fest begin!

Posted on July 13, 2018 by rburnham

Sols 2110-12, July 13, 2018, update by MSL scientist Lauren Edgar: Drilling on another planet is no easy feat, and each time we have the opportunity to do so on Mars feels pretty special. The focus of the weekend three-sol … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Voyageurs

Posted on July 13, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2109, July 12, 2018, update by MSL scientist Abigail Fraeman: I first became involved with Curiosity shortly after starting my third year of graduate school in the fall of 2011. My graduate advisor was selected to join the mission … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Getting ready to drill

Posted on July 12, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2108, July 12, 2018. With Curiosity now parked at its next drill site, the rover prepares. In the foreground is the targeted area. Click the image (6 MB) to enlarge it. Sol 2108 raw images (from all cameras).

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Curiosity update: Back towards Stranraer

Posted on July 12, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2108, July 11, 2018, update by MSL scientist Roger Wiens: After being out of commission for over a year, Curiosity’s drill is making not just a comeback, but a strong one, with imminent plans for a second drill hole … Continue reading →

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