As the uplink lead for the Opportunity Microscopic Imager and engineering cameras (Hazcams and Navcams), I have been faced with a unique challenge: operating two rovers on Mars simultaneously. In the MSL weekend plan, there is scheduled more MAHLI imaging of the rover wheels and a short drive to a promising location for dumping and examining the drill sample.
If everything goes according to plan, next week will be dedicated to upgrading the rover flight software. This is happening at a convenient time as many of the MSL scientists will be at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, allowing for the software upgrade without interrupting scientific observations. During the meeting, there will also be a press briefing to summarize recent science results.
