Tag Archives: Namib Dune

Seeing Mars in a grain of sand

Posted on October 24, 2018 by rburnham

[Ed. note: The following is a guide to two recent special issues of the Journal of Geophysical Research; both collect papers reporting on studies of the Bagnold Dunes in Gale Crater. The guide complements the MSL report posted earlier here.] … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Approaching Naukluft

Posted on February 24, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1262, February 23, 2016.  Five Navcam frames, looking generally north-northwest, profile the edge of the Naukluft Plateau. The rover must traverse this feature or go around it to skirt the dunes that stand in the way of driving toward … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Climbing onto Naukluft Plateau

Posted on February 23, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1261, February 22, 2016. The view grows wider as Curiosity drives up onto Naukluft Plateau to get around High Dune (at right). Click to enlarge. Sol 1261 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location.

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Curiosity: Loomings

Posted on February 16, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1255, February 16, 2016. Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons to be strictly correct) looms behind the rover, as it rolls across the Murray Formation’s rocks, northwest out of the cul-de-sac between Namib Dune (seen on the left) and High Dune … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Full plan

Posted on February 13, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1253-55, February 12, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: The dune sand samples were dumped onto the ground, but it appears that the sample was partly blown by the wind.  There is enough sample left to investigate with … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Bump, set… Scuff!

Posted on February 5, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1244, February 4, 2016, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: Today’s plan is focused on bumping towards a bedrock target to set us up for contact science in the weekend plan.  As we bump forward, we’ll use the rear … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Forward and backward, at Namib Dune

Posted on February 4, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1243, February 4, 2016. The Navcam shot a semi-panorama, broken here into two segments: the way westerly and forward (top), and a look behind (below) at Namib Dune. Click either to enlarge. Sol 1243 raw images (from all cameras), … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Getting ready to leave Namib Dune

Posted on February 4, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1243, February 3, 2016, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: The contact science activities on Sol 1242 were successful, which completed our investigation at the Namib Dune sampling location. I love the above Navcam image, which shows just how … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Last analyses of the dump piles

Posted on February 3, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1242, February 2, 2016, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: Today was the last day for science activities at Namib Dune, as we’re planning to drive away on Sol 1243.  It’s fun looking at the disturbed sand in the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Wrapping up at Namib Dune

Posted on February 1, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1241, February 1, 2016, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: Curiosity is still parked at Namib dune, and we are we are close to finishing the science investigation here.  The team is still working to diagnose the CHIMRA anomaly, … Continue reading →

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