Tag Archives: Stimson Formation

Curiosity update: ‘MAHLI selfie’

Posted on October 6, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1126, October 5, 2015, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: MSL did well last weekend, but the Sol 1124 MAHLI images of the unsieved part of the drill sample showed that the APXS was not perfectly centered on the … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Zapping Big Sky

Posted on October 6, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1124, October 5, 2015. Small laser zap pits go down the wall of the drill hole at Big Sky, while similar zaps into the drill tailings excavate wider pits because the material is loose. This MAHLI image was taken … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Drill hole and tailings’

Posted on October 3, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1123-1125, October 2, 2015, update from USGS scientist Ken Herkenhoff: The weekend plan includes lots of arm activities and science.  First, on Sol 1123, ChemCam and Mastcam will observe the drill hole and tailings, plus targets named “Frontier,” “Floweree,” “Bozeman,” … Continue reading →

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Curiosity’s drill hole & location: picture perfect

Posted on October 2, 2015 by rburnham

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover drilled its eighth hole on Mars, and its fifth since reaching Mount Sharp one year ago. The drilling of the hole 2.6-inches (65 millimeters) deep in a rock the team labeled “Big … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Exploring a contact

Posted on September 22, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1110, September 20, 2015.  The ridge outcrop appears to be the overlying Stimson unit, while the light-tone rocks forming a “pavement” at right are the Murray formation. Click to enlarge. Sol 1110 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Doing a brush-off at Murray outcrop

Posted on September 16, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1106, September 16, 2015. In seven frames, the MAHLI imaged an area on the Murray Formation outcrop that was brushed preparatory to drilling. The brushed area lies in the center of the cross and shows faint and incomplete circular … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: MAHLI at the Murray outcrop

Posted on September 16, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1106, September 16, 2015. A three-frame MAHLI composite shows a curiously shaped feature emerging from Murray Formation bedrock that contains light-toned veins. At right, a Hazcam frame from yesterday (Sol 1105) shows the context. Click either image to enlarge. … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Searching for the next drilling location’

Posted on September 15, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1106, September 15, 2015, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: After some additional contact science on the Murray formation (of the location shown in the above Mastcam image), we’re now in search of a good sandstone for our next … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: At the Murray-Stimson contact

Posted on September 15, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1104, September 14, 2015. As Curiosity pauses at the contact between the light-toned Murray Formation and the overlying dark, layered Stimson unit, the Navcam (above) takes in a rough landscape. The yellow box indicates the location of the color … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Murray formation contact science’

Posted on September 14, 2015 by rburnham

Sol 1105, September 14, 2015, update from USGS scientist Lauren Edgar: Over the weekend, Curiosity had a successful ~ 21 m drive, and we’re currently parked in front of a beautiful outcrop of the Murray formation (shown in the bottom … Continue reading →

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