The Mastcam-Z international science and operations team, as well, has played important roles in helping to define the requirements for the cameras, critique the design approach, and help to perform some of the initial component and engineering model tests that validated the flight design. The team will also play an active role in the calibration of the cameras over the next month or two, and in the rapid assessment of the calibration data in order to verify that the cameras will perform as expected in the harsh Martian environment and over the duration of the nominal mission (and, hopefully, beyond!).

What a thrill to work with such a great team, and to finally get to see the fruits of our collective labor emerge as an actual camera... FLIGHT HARDWARE. Magic.

Next stop, delivery of the cameras first to ASU and then to JPL for calibration and final environmental testing for integration on the Mars 2020 rover, this winter and spring! Stay tuned!!!