Tag Archives: Naukluft Plateau

Curiosity: RMI looks at Mt. Sharp

Posted on March 17, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1283, March 16, 2016. The Remote Micro-Imager (RMI) on ChemCam takes a 10-frame long-distance look at the sediment layers in the lower part of Mt. Sharp (Aeolis Mons). There’s a lot of geological history to explore there. (Click to … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Driving across the plateau

Posted on March 17, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1284, March 16, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: MSL drove almost 40 meters over the rough terrain on the Naukluft plateau, as planned, and again there are many interesting features near the rover.  Many of the rocks … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Driving over Stimson bedrock

Posted on March 15, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1283, March 15, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: The 26-meter drive planned for sol 1282 completed successfully, giving the rover nice views of interesting features in the Stimson unit.  Some of these features appear to be the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Mastcam on the plateau

Posted on March 15, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1281, March 14, 2016. Five Mastcam (34mm lens) shots show the shaly surface of Naukluft Plateau and the inner rim of Gale Crater, looking toward the west. Note the crater seen in the distance at left center — Curiosity … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Up on the plateau

Posted on March 14, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1282, March 14, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: I’m scheduled on tactical operations tomorrow, so I’m getting back up to speed on recent MSL activities today.  The Sol 1281 drive completed as planned, crossing the Murray-Stimson contact … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: View from the plateau

Posted on March 14, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1281, March 14, 2016. After a 44-foot (13 meter) drive, Curiosity stands on top of the Naukluft Plateau, with a wider view than it has had in recent weeks. Click image above to enlarge. Below: Just the frames centering … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Climbing onto Naukluft Plateau

Posted on March 11, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1279-81, March 11, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ryan Anderson: It’s time to wrap up our investigation of the interesting nodules at the contact between the Murray and Stimson formations and resume driving! The weekend starts off focused mostly … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: MAHLI goes to work on veins, nodules

Posted on March 11, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1278, March 11, 2016. Parked on a flat exposure of Murray Formation bedrock, with mineral veins and little nodules scattered on the rock, Curiosity put its hand-lens imager (MAHLI) to work. (See here and here for the backstory.) Sol … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Nodules: take 2

Posted on March 11, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1278, March 10, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ryan Anderson: Our APXS observation of the nodules in yesterday’s plan didn’t go exactly as planned: it was slightly misaligned with the nodule we were trying to analyze, so the measurement … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Nodules!

Posted on March 11, 2016 by rburnham

Sol 1277, March 9, 2016, update from USGS scientist Ryan Anderson: Our drive yesterday was a success, putting us right on the contact between the “Murray” and “Stimson” units, and in reach of some very interesting nodules. The plan today … Continue reading →

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