Curiosity Rover Prepares for Weekend Activities on Mars: Chemical Analysis and Environmental Monitoring

On the first sol, Curiosity will begin its weekend by assessing the composition and morphology of a small patch of sand using ChemCam and Mastcam. The rover will then drive southwest, taking Navcam images for future targeting and running a change detection experiment to monitor sand movement in a small sandsheet.

The second sol will focus on environmental monitoring activities using ChemCam and Mastcam to assess the atmosphere’s composition and opacity. In the morning of Sol 1176, the rover will continue the change detection experiment to look for ripple movement and acquire another Mastcam mosaic of the dune to the west.

Additional activities include ChemCam calibration, a Mastcam mosaic of the local bedrock, a clast survey, and Navcam atmospheric observations. Throughout the plan, REMS will take observations to assess wind speeds as the team monitors the dunes. CheMin will dump “Greenhorn” sample and analyze an empty cell in preparation for upcoming sampling. After a busy holiday plan, Curiosity will take time to rest and recharge before continuing its exploration. Safe travels, Curiosity!