Unexpected Change in Mars Rover Plans Leads to Successful Wheel Imaging and Contact Science

Over the weekend, the rover successfully completed a series of planned activities and is now in an ideal location to begin a comprehensive campaign of wheel imaging. Initially, a short drive was scheduled for Sol 512 to adjust the rover’s position for wheel imaging. However, it turned out that the drive was unnecessary, allowing more time for conducting contact science activities.

This unexpected change in plans required quick thinking and flexibility from the Science Theme Groups and myself as SOWG Chair. As we reviewed the data to determine whether the drive was needed, we also took advantage of the additional time to add an extra APXS/MAHLI target for conducting contact science. This included an overnight APXS integration on a target named “Kodak.” With planning being unrestricted this week, we had to begin earlier than usual due to the timing of the uplink.

Our planning session began at 6:00 Pacific time this morning to ensure that all necessary tasks were completed efficiently. The team worked tirelessly to make sure that everything ran smoothly and that we were able to make the most of this unexpected opportunity. We are now well-positioned to continue our work on wheel imaging and contact science, and are excited about what lies ahead for us here on Mars!