Sols 1061-1063: Sample dropoff to CheMin

31 July 2015

This morning, the MSL operations team was very happy to see that drilling into Buckskin was successful! The weekend plan therefore has more arm activities, including transferring the sample to the scoop for inspection. But first, the ChemCam RMI will take pictures of the new drill hole and Mastcam will image a potential location for eventually dumping the sample. The sample will be sieved and a portion of the fine-grained material dropped into CheMin for mineralogical analysis overnight on Sols 1061-1062.

In parallel, the APXS will analyze the potential sample dump location for comparison with future measurements of the dump pile. During the afternoon of Sol 1062, the arm will be moved out of the way so that Mastcam and ChemCam can observe the drill hole and tailings, as well as new targets "Diamond Point" and "Summer Hill." Later that day, SAM will perform a standard (monthly) electrical baseline test. On Sol 1063, the Navcam and Mastcams will observe the Sun and sky, and Mastcam will acquire a stereo mosaic of the outcrop to the right of the rover.



by Ken Herkenhoff