Exploring Mars: A GSTL’s Experience on a Daring Drilling Mission

Today, I had the opportunity to serve as a GSTL and participate in an exciting drilling mission on Mars. Our plan for the day included not only our main drilling activities but also several targeted science blocks to characterize the drill location and search for potential drill sites on unaltered Stimson bedrock.

During the second sol, our science block consisted of several tasks. We began with Mastcam multispectral characterization of the drill hole to gather crucial color information that would help us distinguish between altered and unaltered bedrock. Next, we created several Mastcam mosaics to further analyze the area. We also planned to assess a fracture that cuts across an impact crater using a small mosaic. Additionally, we scheduled ChemCam targets to assess the block we were currently drilling and potential future sites for further analysis.

Our plan for the second sol also included an additional target to assess unaltered Stimson bedrock, which we are hopeful will yield successful results. We are eagerly anticipating our drilling campaign and look forward to discovering more about the Martian terrain through our scientific investigations.