Sols 1102-1104: Arm error recovery

11 September 2015

The Sol 1101 activities that we planned yesterday did not complete due

to an arm error while it was being stowed. Apparently the shoulder

azimuth motor was too cold, so the rover software halted the stow,

which precluded the drive that was to follow. The rover is therefore

in the same position that it was yesterday.



I'm not scheduled in any operational role today, but I called in to

help plan MAHLI imaging of the ChemCam optical window, to monitor dust

accumulation. The operations team had to scramble to recover from the arm

error and plan science observations, but was able to put together an

excellent weekend plan. On Sol 1102, MAHLI will take the standard

images of the rover wheels, then acquire a full suite of images of a

rock dubbed "Badlands." APXS will then be placed on the rock for an

overnight integration. Arm work will continue on Sol 1103, with MAHLI

images of the ChemCam window. Then ChemCam and Mastcam will observe

targets named "Madison" and "Jefferson." On Sol 1104, the RMI and

Mastcam will take images of a bright ridge on the flank of Mt. Sharp,

then ChemCam and Mastcam will observe "Lincoln." Mastcam will also

acquire another mosaic of the wall of Bridger Basin, then the rover

will drive to the bright Murray outcrop "Saddle" as planned yesterday.

Fortunately, the Sol 1104 orbiter overflight geometry is better than

it was yesterday, so we expect to receive all the data needed for

planning on Monday. Finally, early on Sol 1105, Mastcam and Navcam

will observe the sun and sky soon after the Mars Odyssey orbiter flies

over, so that orbiter observations can be compared with nearly

simultaneous observations from the surface. Overall, not a bad plan,

considering that the operations team had to quickly respond to the arm

error!



by Ken Herkenhoff