Written by Abigail Fraeman, Deputy Undertaking Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Earth planning date: Thursday, July 3, 2025
The crew was delighted this morning to be taught that Wednesday’s drive had accomplished flawlessly, inserting us in a secure place going through a ~3 foot excessive ridge situated ~35 ft away. This ridge is the japanese fringe of a function the crew has informally named “Volcán Peña Blanca.” This function definitely seemed intriguing in orbital photos, however as soon as we noticed Curiosity’s photos of it from the bottom, we determined it was cool sufficient to spend the time to research it nearer. The photographs from the bottom present much more element than is seen in orbit, together with clear sedimentary constructions uncovered alongside the ridge face which may present essential clues about how the rocks within the boxwork-bearing terrain had been initially deposited – dunes? Rivers? Lakes? The crew picked their favourite spot to strategy the ridge and take a better look throughout Wednesday’s planning, so Curiosity made a pointy proper flip to take us in that course. Utilizing as we speak’s photos, we refined our plan for the precise location to strategy and deliberate a drive to take us there, setting us up for contact science on Monday.
We had the chance to plan 4 sols as we speak, to cowl the U.S. 4th of July vacation weekend, so there was a lot of time for actions moreover the drive. Curiosity is presently sitting proper in entrance of some mild toned rocks, together with one we gave the evocative identify “Huellas de Dinosaurios.” It’s extraordinarily unlikely we’ll see dinosaur footprints within the rock, however we’ll get the prospect to research it with APXS, MAHLI, and ChemCam. We even have a pair of ChemCam solely targets on a extra typical bedrock goal named “Amboro” and a few pebbles named “Tunari.” Mastcam will take a excessive decision of mosaic masking Volcán Peña Blanca, some close by rocks named “Laguna Verde,” a small mild coloured rock named “Suruto,” and varied patterns within the floor. Two ChemCam RMI mosaics of options within the distant Mishe Mokwa face and surroundings monitoring actions spherical out the plan.
