Written by Deborah Padgett, MSL OPGS Process Lead at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Earth planning date: Monday, July 21, 2025
Curiosity continues our exploration of the fractured boxwork terrain on the slopes of Mount Sharp. After a profitable 5-meter drive (about 16 toes), our rover is resting in a hole on its method to a boxwork ridge viewpoint. Over the weekend, Curiosity started an atmospheric commentary with the SAM instrument, which can proceed into at this time’s plan. As a result of the SAM instrument is advanced and highly effective, it makes use of quite a lot of vitality when it operates, inflicting what we name a “deep dip” within the battery cost stage. Because of this we now have to attend a bit after the SAM observations full for the battery to recharge sufficient for Curiosity to watch its environment with different science devices, or transfer its arm or wheels. Because of this, the plan at this time doesn’t embody a drive, and speak to science at this location will probably be performed on the second sol of the plan.
On Sol 4607, Curiosity will start the day with SAM atmospheric composition exercise, which can run for a number of hours. After it finishes, we’ll use the rover’s navigation digital camera to carry out a cloud altitude commentary, searching for cloud shadows on the higher reaches of Mount Sharp, and clouds drifting by overhead on the zenith. In a single day, Curiosity’s battery will recharge, permitting us to carry out a focused science block on the morning of Sol 4608. This begins with Navcam observations of mud opacity throughout the ground of Gale Crater, then a measurement of mud within the air towards the Solar with Mastcam. Curiosity then turns Mastcam towards the ridge forward to acquire a 15×1 mosaic heading in the right direction “Cueva De Los Vencejos Y Murcielagos (Cave of Swifts and Bats).” Afterwards, Mastcam will look again alongside Curiosity’s tracks, hoping to see freshly damaged rocks and decide the feel of disturbed floor. Subsequent, ChemCam’s laser spectrograph will zap a nodular rock pillar named for the well-known high-altitude “Lake Titicaca” bordering Bolivia and Peru. A second ChemCam commentary with the RMI telescopic digital camera will examine stratigraphy on the Mishe Mokwa butte with a 5×2 picture mosaic. Mastcam will end off this science block by trying on the pits left behind by the ChemCam laser heading in the right direction “Lake Titicaca.”
Within the afternoon, Curiosity’s arm will attain out to brush the mud from the bedrock goal “La Tranquita,” then observe it with the MAHLI microscopic imager and APXS. MAHLI and APXS may also examine plate-like rock formations at goal “Aqua Dulce.” A 3rd goal with extra advanced rock buildings dubbed “Paposo,” after a pure monument alongside the Pacific Coast of northern Chile, will probably be imaged solely by MAHLI. The following morning will embody one other focused science block. Curiosity will then drive away towards the subsequent viewpoint within the boxwork terrain of Mars.