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Sols 3226-3227: MSL Drill #33: Maria Gordon

This is a black and white image of the smooth, but slightly rocky surface of Mars. Two hills can be seen in the background.

This image was taken by Front Hazard Avoidance Camera (Front Hazcam) onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 3224.

NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Tosol on Mars, the MSL team is commanding Curiosity to drill sample #33. As previously documented on this blog, this drill target is named in honor of Maria Gordon, a pioneer in women's higher education, geology, and women's rights. Supporting the drill activity tosol, Mastcam, Navcam, and ChemCam are imaging the drill target, Mastcam is imaging the drill tailings, and ChemCam is collecting passive data of the drill tailings. Aside from drill activities, Navcam and Mastcam are also making atmospheric observations, and Mastcam is taking images of "Rafael Navarro Mountain." In addition, DAN, REMS, and RAD are executing standard activities.

Written by Sean Czarnecki, Planetary Geologist at Arizona State University