Tag Archives: Murray Formation

Curiosity update: In search of softer rocks

Posted on August 1, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2128, July 31, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ryan Anderson: On Sol 2128, Curiosity will continue toward our third potential drill site within the Pettegrove Point member of Vera Rubin Ridge, where we are hoping to find slightly softer … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Looking for a new drill site

Posted on July 31, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2126, July 30, 2018. Having struck out at two drill sites, Curiosity’s scientists are seeking a new one, sending the rover on a 68-meter (224-foot) drive westward along the ridge top. The Navcam composite above shows the post-drive view … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Continuing to understand Pettegrove Point

Posted on July 31, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2127, July 31, 2018, update by MSL scientist Christopher Edwards: Curiosity completed its drive successfully after the science team regrouped from the incomplete drill, which required a different than anticipated weekend plan. The rocks of the Vera Rubin Ridge … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Zapping Ailsa Craig

Posted on July 30, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2125, July 29, 2018. Penetrating the rock at Ailsa Craig, like that at Voyageurs, proved to be too difficult for Curiosity’s drill. So mission scientists turned the ChemCam’s laser zapper onto the shallow hole and loose tailings, as the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: It’s a hard rock life

Posted on July 28, 2018 by rburnham

Sols 2124-26, July 27, 2018, update by MSL scientist Ryan Anderson: Our attempt at drilling the target “Ailsa Craig” was partly successful: the drill behaved exactly as it was supposed to, but unfortunately we weren’t able to drill very deep. … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Shallow drill hole at Ailsa Craig

Posted on July 27, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2123, July 27, 2018. Curiosity put its drill to work on the brushed surface of the target dubbed Ailsa Craig — and got just a shallow hole. As at the Voyageurs site, the drill dug only a very short … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Preparing to drill at ‘Ailsa Craig’

Posted on July 26, 2018 by rburnham

Sols 2122-23, July 25, 2018, update by MSL scientist Rachel Kronyak: Yesterday, the science team chose a new drill target, “Ailsa Craig,” and we spent the day triaging the target with our contact science instruments, DRT, MAHLI, and APXS. The … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Giving Ailsa Craig the brushoff

Posted on July 25, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2120-21, July 24-25, 2018. With Curiosity positioned to drill at Ailsa Craig (circled in the Sol 2120 Mastcam composite above), mission scientists first brushed off the target rock. The brushed area is seen as a darker oval area in … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Blackjack!

Posted on July 25, 2018 by rburnham

Sol 2121, July 24, 2018, update by MSL scientist Michelle Minitti: Mars dealt us a winning hand today, yielding a sufficiently flat parking space after yesterday’s short bump to allow us to proceed with our plan to drill in this … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Checking the dust at Sgurr of Eigg

Posted on July 24, 2018 by rburnham

Sols 2119-20, July 23-24, 2018. Above is a Sol 2119 Mastcam view of the ridge’s rolling terrain to the rear of the rover. Below is a Sol 2119 Mastcam composite showing the workspace and the Sgurr of Eigg site, with … Continue reading →

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