Tag Archives: Stimson Formation

Curiosity update: ‘Arm diagnostics’

Posted on December 23, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1201-02, December 22, 2015, update from USGS scientist Ryan Anderson: Based on the latest images from Navcam, Hazcam, and Mastcam it looks like at least some of the “Greenhorn” sample was dumped before the arm ran into difficulties.The plan … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘The best laid plans…’

Posted on December 22, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1200-01, December 21, 2015, update from USGS scientist Ryan Anderson: Unfortunately, over the weekend there was an issue with the rover’s arm while the “Greenhorn” sample was being dumped, which caused the rover to stop what it was doing. … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Dune imaging & dumping the Greenhorn sample’

Posted on December 19, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1198-99, December 18, 2015, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: On Sol 1196 Curiosity drove an additional 33 m closer to the lee side of “Namib Dune.”  The Mastcam images that we took earlier this week are coming down … Continue reading →

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Silica-rich rocks at Marias Pass puzzle rover team

Posted on December 17, 2015 by rburnham

In detective stories, as the plot thickens, an unexpected clue often delivers more questions than answers. In this case, the scene is a mountain on Mars. The clue: the chemical compound silica. Lots of silica. The sleuths: a savvy band … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Aeolian paradise’

Posted on December 16, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1196-97, December 16, 2015, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: On Sol 1194 Curiosity drove 47 m around the lee side of “Namib Dune.”  The latest Navcam images reveal many beautiful aeolian features on the slipface and interdune deposits. … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Driving around Namib Dune’

Posted on December 15, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1194-95, December 14, 2015, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: Over the weekend Curiosity drove 42 m closer to “Namib Dune,” and the view is pretty spectacular.  We’ve received a lot of beautiful Mastcam and Navcam images, which can … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: At Namib Dune

Posted on December 14, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1192, December 13, 2015. Parked beside the part of the Bagnold dune field dubbed Namib, Curiosity’s Navcam profiles the dune. Click to enlarge. Sol 1192 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location.

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Curiosity update: ‘On the road again’

Posted on December 12, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1191-93, December 11, 2015, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: We received the data needed to plan contact science and a drive, and the 3-sol weekend plan is another full one.  I was busy as MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead, planning … Continue reading →

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Curiosity reaches Bagnold sand dunes

Posted on December 11, 2015 by rburnham

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has begun an up-close investigation of dark sand dunes up to two stories tall. The dunes are on the rover’s trek up the lower portion of a layered Martian mountain. A view of the rippled surface … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Drive precluded’

Posted on December 10, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1189-90, December 9, 2015, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Because of a problem with one of the DSN station antennas, the data needed to plan a drive today were not received, so the Sol 1189-90 plan is dominated by … Continue reading →

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