After a brief detour to study an erosional surface, the Curiosity rover has resumed its climb up Mount Sharp while monitoring Gale Crater for late-season dust storms.
Key facts
- •Curiosity is back on its planned route to climb Mount Sharp after investigating an erosional surface.
- •The rover traveled 100 feet (30 meters) between Sols 4985 and 4987.
- •Mission planners scheduled a future drive of 150 feet (47 meters) to move the rover southwest.
- •Environmental monitoring includes measuring atmospheric 'tau' and conducting dust-devil surveys.
- •The rover successfully performed contact science on bedrock targets despite positioning challenges caused by uneven terrain.
NASA's Curiosity rover has returned to its primary mission of ascending Mount Sharp on Mars following a short investigation of an erosional surface. As Gale Crater transitions into fall, the rover is conducting environmental monitoring to track potential dust storms while continuing its geological survey. Operations for Sols 4982 through 4987 included extensive imaging and chemical analysis of bedrock targets.
By the numbers
Geological Investigations and Operations
During the planning cycle for Sols 4982 to 4985, the rover team utilized the robotic arm to capture high-resolution images and perform chemical measurements on various bedrock targets, including 'El Motacusal' and 'Alto de Carmen.' The Mastcam instrument captured mosaics of the 'Los Toldos' ridge and 'Los Ladrillos' bedrock exposure. ChemCam activities involved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) on several targets to analyze their composition. Following a 100-foot (30-meter) drive, the rover reached a new location for Sols 4985 to 4987. Although the rover's position on a small rock prevented the use of the Dust Removal Tool (DRT), the team successfully performed contact science on targets 'Mamorecillo' and 'Aguas Claras' using MAHLI and APXS instruments.
Environmental Monitoring
The rover is currently monitoring the Martian atmosphere for dust activity as the season changes. Mastcam is measuring atmospheric optical depth, or 'tau,' to assess dust levels. Additionally, Navcam is conducting dust-devil surveys, zenith observations, and cloud monitoring to track local and regional weather patterns.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NASA Breaking News.
