On Sol 685, the rover on Mars has a busy schedule planned. The day begins with a pre-drive science block, which will involve environmental monitoring. This includes using ChemCam passive spectroscopy to analyze the atmospheric composition and Mastcam measurements of atmospheric dust opacity. The drive itself is expected to cover about 60 meters as the rover navigates through loose sand. Once it passes this area, the rover will climb onto the Zabriskie Plateau, named after a sandstone formation near Shoshone, California.
On Sol 686, there will be limited activities due to the need to wait for data from the rover to come down. However, the team is excited about possible contact science and more driving over the weekend. It’s important to note that these dates are subject to change due to various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and the rover’s status.
