MISSION UPDATES | August 26, 2021

Sols 3219-3220: Almost There

Written by Ryan Anderson, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center
This image was taken by Right Navigation Camera onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 3218.

This image was taken by Right Navigation Camera onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 3218. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Download image ›

If all goes according to today’s plan, we should end up about 7 meters from our next drill location. We’ve noticed a change in the texture of the rocks over the last few drives, so we are eagerly collecting data as we approach the drill site to help understand what caused the change.

The Sol 3219 plan starts off with APXS and MAHLI observations of the target “Smailholm” followed by a ChemCam chemistry measurement on the bedrock target “Dunlop.” ChemCam will also use its telescope to take a long distance mosaic of the layers on “Rafael Navarro Mountain.” Mastcam will then document the area around targets Dunlop and Smailholm, and collect two more mosaics covering a layered outcrop named “Dunnideer” and the layers at the base of the more distant “Siccar Point.” After that, we’ll drive and collect all the usual post-drive images.

On Sol 3220 Navcam will make several observations, measuring the amount of dust in the atmosphere and watching for clouds and dust devils. Mastcam will also make an atmospheric dust measurement. After the atmospheric observations, ChemCam will autonomously target a patch of bedrock and analyze it. Overnight APXS will measure the atmospheric composition and ChemCam will run some passive calibration activities.