On Sol 2075, our main objective was to conduct a methane experiment using our SAM instrument on an atmospheric sample. However, due to the complexity of this task, it took up most of our planning time. Despite this, we were able to allocate an extra 45 minutes for additional science activities.
The Environmental (ENV) theme group used this time to plan several atmospheric monitoring activities aimed at assessing dust opacity. They took line-of-sight images with Navcam and Mastcam, performed a tau measurement with Navcam, searched for dust devils in Navcam images, and captured a deck monitoring image with Mastcam.
On the other hand, the Geologic (GEO) theme group utilized the extra time to plan a ChemCam LIBS observation on “Little Marais,” which had previously been analyzed on Sol 2074. This additional observation will help further characterize the chemistry of this intriguing feature. Additionally, ChemCam will take an RMI image of the Duluth drill hole to aid in the planning of future drill hole targeting for the weekend.
In conclusion, while today’s planning primarily focused on the methane experiment, we managed to incorporate additional science activities for both the ENV and GEO groups to continue our exploration and analysis of the Martian environment.
