Mars Rover Embarks on 2.5-Hour Drive and Environmental Monitoring Ahead of Upcoming Contact Science Activities

The rover on Mars is set to embark on a 2.5-hour drive on Sol 685, followed by post-drive imaging for targeting. Before the drive, an environmental monitoring block will take place, featuring ChemCam passive spectroscopy of atmospheric composition and a Mastcam measurement of atmospheric dust opacity.

The loose sand in the area means that the rover is expected to cover approximately 60 meters during the drive. After navigating through the ripples, the rover will ascend Zabriskie Plateau, which is named after a sandstone formation near Shoshone, California. However, tomorrow will be a restricted sol as the team waits for data to be transmitted back to Earth.

Following this period of rest, the team hopes to engage in possible contact science activities and more driving over the weekend. It’s important to note that the dates of planned rover activities outlined in these reports may change due to various factors such as the Martian environment, communication relays, and the status of the rover itself.