Rover ready for smooth southwest drive on Sol 1353
The post-drive imaging from Sol 1352 shows a path ahead with sandy ripples, but there are also enough rocky patches to ensure safe driving towards the southwest. This news is encouraging for the team, as they plan to head in that direction on Sol 1353. Before the drive, Mastcam will capture stereo mosaics of the Murray-Stimson contact and several areas featuring nodular features. Following the drive, ChemCam will autonomously analyze the chemistry of a chosen target using AEGIS software.
To prepare for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, two sols are being planned in advance. Data from Sol 1352 will be received the following morning to aid in planning for the remainder of the weekend. The activities for Sol 1353 are not exact yet, so Navcam will be monitoring clouds and Mastcam will monitor dust levels in the atmosphere at different times during the sol. Additionally, ChemCam will conduct a calibration activity as part of its routine operations.
Ken Herkenhoff, MAHLI/MARDI uplink lead, had a straightforward day with only usual planning for the MARDI twilight image. Please note that rover activities mentioned in these reports may change due to various factors related to Mars’ environment, communication relays, and rover’s current status.
