Tag Archives: Mars Science Laboratory

Curiosity update: Party like it’s (Sol) 1999

Posted on March 21, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1999, March 21, 2018, update by MSL scientist Scott Guzewich: Curiosity is but 1 sol away from a major mission milestone, but work always comes before celebrations. Today our major decision was whether to perform contact science at the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Vistas north and south

Posted on March 20, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1996, March 19, 2018. After a drive toward the northeast of about 40 meters (130 feet), Curiosity’s Navcam shot a round-the-horizon set of frames which show the vistas to the north (above) and south (below) from the top of … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Checking out the scenery

Posted on March 19, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1998, March 18, 2018, update by MSL scientist Rachel Kronyak: Today was a fairly quiet day of planning on Mars, the reason being that most of the MSL science team is currently attending the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Under Durness

Posted on March 17, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1995-97, March 16, 2018, update by MSL scientist Michelle Minitti: The science team gave Curiosity a workout in this plan, using just about every watt of power available to carry out a full slate of activities. Sol 1995 starts … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Castle in the sand

Posted on March 15, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1993-94, March 15, 2018, update by MSL scientist Michelle Minitti: As we drive east across the top of “Vera Rubin Ridge” – backwards no less! – we encountered another nice patch of bedrock in Curiosity’s workspace today, motivating multiple … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Bumpy terrain ahead

Posted on March 14, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1991, March 13, 2018. After a 15-meter (49-foot) drive to the east-northeast, Curiosity halted and the Navcam shot the surroundings. Looks like the path forward will be a little bumpy. Click image (4.7 MB) to enlarge it. Sol 1991 … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Taking our time for science

Posted on March 13, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1991-92, March 12, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ryan Anderson: After a successful weekend plan, the team decided that for the sol 1991-1992 plan, we would trade a longer-distance drive in favor of some “touch and go” contact science. … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Driving on

Posted on March 12, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1989, March 11, 2018. Curiosity took another drive to the northeast (42 meters or 138 feet) along the top of Vera Rubin Ridge, followed by a swivel turn in place. The Navcam image at right was taken before the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Stop and smell the argon

Posted on March 12, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1988-90, March 12, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ryan Anderson: We found out this morning that in the Sol 1986 plan, ChemCam was marked as “sick” and did not run its sequences. But on the bright side, it’s a … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Running the ridge top, looking far

Posted on March 9, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 1986, March 8, 2018. This day saw a 46-meter (150-foot) drive by Curiosity, again in the northeast direction along the top of Vera Rubin Ridge. The composite view above shows the end-of-drive position looking ahead in the same direction. … Continue reading →

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