Tag Archives: Mars Science Laboratory

Curiosity update: Groundhog Day across the solar system

Sol 1954-56, February 2, 2018, update by MSL scientist Abigail Fraeman: Every February 2nd the people of the United States and Canada observe a quirky holiday called Groundhog Day. In the US, the country turns its eyes to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: Another ‘touch and go’

Sol 1952-53, February 1, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Along with many of my MSL colleagues, I’m attending our semi-annual science team meeting, enjoying the presentations and discussion of recent results and plans for the future. Meanwhile, today’s … Continue reading

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Mt. Sharp photobombs Curiosity’s latest selfie

A new self-portrait of NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle on Vera Rubin Ridge, which it has been investigating for the past several months. Directly behind the rover is the start of a clay-rich slope scientists are eager to … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Remote Micro-Imager profiles an outcrop

Sol 1950, January 30, 2018. The rover’s Remote Micro-Imager turns its aim at a long outcrop that displays finely bedded layering and many roughly vertical fracture lines. Click image to enlarge it. Sol 1950 raw images (from all cameras), and … Continue reading

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Vista by Curiosity looks back over journey so far

A panoramic image that NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover took from a mountainside ridge provides a sweeping vista of key sites visited since the rover’s 2012 landing, and the towering surroundings. The view from “Vera Rubin Ridge” on the north flank … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: North by northeast

Sol 1950-51, January 29, 2018, update by MSL scientist Abigail Fraeman: We are back on Vera Rubin Ridge today after a short diversion into the phyllosilicate unit. Our workspace this morning contained rocks in various shades of red. The remote … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Looking into the Phyllosilicate Trough

Sol 1949, January 29, 2018. The rover’s Navcam shot a composite that looks down into the low-lying area behind Vera Rubin Ridge. This is known as the Clay Unit or the Phyllosilicate Trough because clay minerals have been detected there … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: I love it when a plan comes together

Sol 1947-49, January 29, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ryan Anderson: Going in to planning today, there was a concern that we would run up against constraints on power and complexity that might force us to eliminate some of the … Continue reading

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Curiosity: MAHLI examines surface rocks

Sol 1945, January 25, 2018. With Curiosity parked on the ridge, scientists directed the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to examine a scatter of small rocks, probably made of sandstone, near the rover. Top to bottom at right, the Hazcam … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Vera Rubin Ridge south side

Sol 1944, January 24, 2018. As mission scientists debate the next targets to explore, Curiosity’s Navcam shot a five-frame composite looking down the south side of Vera Rubin ridge. Click the image to enlarge it. Sol 1944 raw images (from … Continue reading

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