On Saturday, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, MSL, completed its planned drive for contact science on rocks broken by its wheels. The rover was moved less than 6 meters into position, and due to restrictions on planning this week, activities for two Martian days (sols) are being planned.
The first sol, 1344, will involve a “touch and go” maneuver that requires extra staffing for the Rover Planner team. Both arm activities and a drive are scheduled for this sol. In order to complete the drive before the afternoon communication relay with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), the team had to cram a lot of activities into Sol 1344.
Scientific observations were prioritized to fit into the plan, with a target selected for a ChemCam observation of the rock surface named “Impalila.” Following these observations, the rover will drive westward in hopes of returning to its Sol 1311 location. Sol 1345 activities will involve routine sky measurements by the ChemCam and Mastcam instruments, as observations cannot be specifically targeted due to the drive scheduled beforehand.
It is important to note that the dates of planned rover activities described in these reports may be subject to change due to various factors related to the Martian environment, communication relays, and rover status.
