Curiosity Rover Resumes Ascent Up Mount Sharp
Curiosity Mars rover resumes ascent up Mount Sharp, conducts scientific experiments and observations, and monitors for dust storms.
Introduction To Mars Exploration
The Curiosity Mars rover has resumed its ascent up Mount Sharp after a brief detour to investigate an "erosional surface." As the rover transitions into fall in Gale Crater, it is still on the lookout for late-season local and regional dust storms. The latest update from the Curiosity team provides insight into the rover's activities from Sols 4982 to 4987, which included a range of scientific experiments and observations.
Scientific Experiments And Observations
The plan for Sols 4982 to 4985 began with Curiosity standing face to face with a unique geologic feature just above the erosional supersurface contact. The Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) was used to reacquire selected images for the mosaic of target "Tres Morros," allowing the science team to have a detailed and focused view of the underside of this feature. The Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) took measurements of the bedrock target "El Motacusal" after it had been brushed with the Dust Removal Tool (DRT), as well as a second measurement on the "as is" bedrock target "Alto de Carmen." Both of these APXS targets were documented with high-resolution images taken by MAHLI. ChemCam activities included Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) on bedrock targets "Lagunas Bravas" and "Parququcha," as well as ChemCam Remote Micro-Imaging on Mishe Mokwa.
Environmental Monitoring Activities
In addition to the scientific experiments, the Curiosity team also conducted a range of environmental monitoring activities to monitor for dust storms. The Mastcam took a flurry of dust-imaging observations to measure optical depth, or "tau," of the atmosphere. A higher tau value is associated with an increased amount of dust in the atmosphere. APXS joined in on the action by planning an overnight atmospheric measurement. The Navigation Camera (Navcam) took on most of the heavy lifting to monitor for dust storms, including multiple large dust-devil surveys, zenith observation, in-crater line-of-sight observations, and suprahorizon cloud movies.
Future Plans For The Curiosity Rover
After completing the planned activities for Sols 4982 to 4987, the Curiosity rover will continue to climb Mount Sharp. The planned drive distance of 150 feet (47 meters) will take the rover southwest of its current location. The team will return on Monday to start a new week full of contact science, remote sensing, and driving on Mars. The Curiosity rover has been operating on Mars for over 14 years, and it continues to provide valuable insights into the geology and environment of the Red Planet.
Conclusion And Future Outlook
The Curiosity Mars rover has resumed its ascent up Mount Sharp, and it continues to conduct a range of scientific experiments and observations. The rover's activities from Sols 4982 to 4987 provided valuable insights into the geology and environment of the Red Planet. As the rover continues to climb Mount Sharp, it will encounter new and exciting geological features that will help scientists to better understand the history and evolution of Mars.
Sources
This is an original synthesis by Qivorane based on reporting from the outlets below.