Exciting Things Await for Mars Rover on Sol 686: Plans for Science and Driving!
The rover on Mars will have a busy day tomorrow with planned activities for Sol 686. The team has big hopes for contact science and more driving over the weekend. However, it’s important to note that the dates of planned rover activities are subject to change due to various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and the rover’s status.
On Sol 685, the rover has plans to drive for 2.5 hours and take post-drive imaging for targeting. Before the drive, there will be an environmental monitoring session involving ChemCam passive spectroscopy of atmospheric composition and a Mastcam measurement of atmospheric dust opacity. The drive itself is expected to cover a distance of approximately 60 meters as the rover continues to navigate through loose sand. Once through this area, the rover will ascend onto the Zabriskie Plateau, named after a sandstone formation near Shoshone, California.
The team is excited about what they might discover on Sol 686 as they wait for data to come down from the rover. They hope that tomorrow’s activities will bring new insights into Mars’ geology and atmosphere. Despite any changes in plans due to unforeseen circumstances in the Martian environment or communication issues, they remain committed to exploring every inch of this incredible planet.
