Heading toward a cluster of craters: Sols 3880-3881

While many of us were up late watching fireworks here on Earth, Curiosity wrapped up a very busy weekend on Mars. The team was pleased that our four-sol plan over the 4th of July holiday executed as expected, but planning today was unusual because the new images of the terrain in front of the rover could not be loaded into our planning software. Although we were not able to select ChemCam and Mastcam observations, the science team put together an exciting plan and drive for sols 3880 and 3881.

The rover will use DRT plus MAHLI, APXS, and Mastcam multispectral data to characterize the bedrock at "Roghi" (I got the honor of picking the name for this target!) as well as a MAHLI observation of "Xerocambos," a fin-like, gray vein sticking out of the bedrock. A large Mastcam mosaic of the layered butte named "Chenapau" is also in the plan.

The science team planned ChemCam AEGIS activities on both sols; AEGIS is an acronym for Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science and is a mode where the rover identifies and selects a geological target from navigation camera images based on a set of guidelines set by scientists on the team. A full slate of ENV atmospheric observations round out the plan, including images and movies to monitor clouds, a tau observation to monitor dust, and a dust devil survey.

The 50-meter drive will get us closer to the exciting cluster of impact craters on our route. We look forward to seeing you Friday, Curiosity!