Written by Lucy Thompson, APXS Collaborator and Senior Analysis Scientist on the College of New Brunswick, Canada
Earth planning date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
As we traverse the boxwork terrain, we’re encountering a collection of extra resistant ridges/bedrock patches, and areas which might be extra rubbly and have a tendency to kind decrease reduction polygonal or trough-like options. We got here into planning this morning in one of many trough-like options after one other profitable drive. The science crew is excited by figuring out why we see these totally different geomorphological and erosional expressions. Is the rock that contains the extra resistant ridges and patches a distinct composition to the rock within the troughs and low reduction areas? How do the rocks differ texturally? May the resistant bedrock be an indicator of what we are going to encounter after we attain the massive boxworks that we’re driving in the direction of?
We managed to search out a big sufficient space of rock to soundly brush (goal – “Guapay”), after which we are going to place APXS and MAHLI to find out the composition and texture. ChemCam may also analyze a distinct rock goal, “Taltal” for chemistry and texture, and we may also purchase an accompanying Mastcam documentation picture. The resistant ridge that we’re planning to drive in the direction of (“Volcan Pena Blanca”) and ultimately examine shall be captured in a Mastcam mosaic. ChemCam will make the most of their long-distance imaging capabilities to picture the “Mishe Mokwa” butte off to the southeast of our present location, which probably incorporates bedrock layers that we are going to ultimately go via as we proceed our climb up Mount Sharp.
After a deliberate drive, taking us nearer to the “Volcan Pena Blanca” ridge, MARDI will picture the brand new terrain beneath the wheels, earlier than we execute some atmospheric observations. Mastcam will make a tau remark to watch mud within the environment and Navcam will purchase a zenith film. Commonplace DAN, RAD and REMS actions spherical out the plan.